WATCH: HuffPost Live Segment on 'Black Pastors Losing Their Way'
Watch this HuffPost Live segment hosted by Marc Lamont Hill featuring Rev. Floyd Flake, Marcia Dyson, Shayne Lee and Urban Cusp's Rahiel Tesfamariam. Black preachers were once the moral leaders of the community. But in the age of sex scandals and big money, have Black ministers lost their way?
You can also watch the segment on HuffPost Live.
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Interesting subject; Marc Hill needs to do less commentary and ask more questions.
Cudos, to Rev. Flake, but the excessive use of the word “I” is both revealing and troubling. Flake’s economic horizon proffers financial prosperity that is evidenced by his continued tropes regarding economic empowerment. Once may preach “the gospel” and yet command a religious cartel that generates a hunger for the ‘stuff’ that preachers have acquired (material goods).
Rahail: great comments and balance regarding the temptations and hunger for visibility and (false) relevance. Stay focused and humble in the work and message that you are promoting.
Marcia Dyson challenges me on certain levels, and I sometimes wonder what her real motivations are. Perhaps I’m not being fair to her, given her husband’s noted visibility (That’s another commentary altogether). Kudos to her regarding the seduction of female followers re: the vicarious/surrogate position that is given to pastors (kudos Rahiel)
It’s always good to hear from the scholars (the prof in Houston) that brings a more objective viewpoint to the discussion.
I should note that scandals occur throughout the black and “white”/non-black church.
What may be most troubling is that we’ve not broken the chains of white manipulation, i.e. the sugary message of Osteen that is embraced by so many people of color.
The White Messiah complex continues to dominate within many of our churches, because we yet take our cues from theological orientations that are fundamentally Western, and Eurocentric (despite what the respected Dr. Flake may say, his version of empowerment is merely a black form of Western, Protestant work ethic, Calvinist theology).
–Vishes