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EMORYUNIVERSITY
CANDLERSCHOOLOFTHEOLOGY
ANARRATIVEBLACKPULPIT:THENARRATIVELECTIONARYASA
TOOLFORCHRISTIANTRANSFORMATION
ADOCTORALPROJECTSUMMITED
INPARTIALFULFFILLMENTOF
THEREQUIREMENTSFORTHEDEGREEOF
DOCTOROFMINISTRY
INTHEFIELDOF
BIBLICALINTERPRETATIONANDPROCLAMATIONBY
J.LEEHILL,JR.
ATLANTA,GEORGIA
APRIL2017
ADVISOR:JEHUHANCILES
DIRECTOR:BRENTSTRAWN
2
Introduction IamasonoftheBlackChurch,andIlovetheBlackChurch.Iloveitbothas
thehistoricalby-productofanoppressedpeople’sstriving,andthatofauniquely
Americanreligioustraditionthatisconstantlybeingnegotiatedandrenegotiatedin
itsmanysettings.TheBlackChurchIgrewupinwasnotalargechurch,butasmall,
family-centeredBaptistchurchjustsouthofRichmond,intheCommonwealthof
Virginia.Itwasarelativelyvibrantchurchwherepreachingmaintainedaprized
placeintheworshipservice.WorshipatFirstBaptistChurchofBermudaHundred
wasalotlikeclimbingamountain,reachingtheapexwithastirringsermonand
thendescendingfromthatmountain-topexperiencehavingknownthe
transformativepowerandpresenceoftheLord.
InmychildhoodchurchtherewasrarelyaSundaythatmypastordidnot
preach.Hewasathoughtfulpreacher,alwaystakingcaretohandletheWordwith
accuracyandprecision;ensuringthathiswordswerepunctuatedwithpowerfrom
onhigh.Sermonsalmostalwaysendedinsweatyexcitation,withafinelytuned
melodicwhoopthatroseandfellamidaflurryof“Amens,”“Yes,Lawds”and“Thank
YouJesus’”fromthosewhomadeupthesmallBlackChurchontheshoresofthe
AppomattoxRiver.ThepulpitintheBlackChurch,whetheritissituateduponthe
sandyshoresofSanDiego,orinthesometimesfrigidfieldsofFerguson,isknownto
beaplacewherethe“persistentcallsforjustice,churchreforms,moralandethical
3
responsibility,andspiritualredemption”canalmostalwaysbeheardonaSunday
morning.1
IlovetheBlackChurchandIcherishbeingpartofauniquelyAmerican
traditionlayeredwithrichreligious,social,andculturaltextures.Iloveworshipin
theBlackChurch,whetheritisinahighlyliturgicalEpiscopalcongregationoratwo-
stepping,fire-baptizedChurchofGodinChrist.IloveBlackpreachingandholdin
highregardthetaskandthesacredresponsibilitythatcomeswithitswork.Ilove
theBlackChurch,butinrecentyearsIhavedevelopedabitofalover’squarrelwith
itsrelativelynewfoundcomfortwithbiblicalilliteracyandlackofChristian
transformation,especiallyasitrubsagainstitshistoricidentityasacenterforBlack
justiceandliberation.Ihavedevelopedadeepfrustration,inthelastdecadeofmy
professionalministry,withthelowlevelsofbiblicalliteracywithintheBlack
Church—bythisImeanaparishioner’sintimacywith,andbroadunderstandingof
thestoriesofGodasrevealedintheChristianScriptures.Morerecently,my
frustrationhasledmetofearthatthestaggeringlylowlevelsofbiblicalliteracyare
fundamentallyhinderingtheBlackChurchfrombeingtheplaceofprophetic
transformationGoddesires,andtheworldneeds,ittobe.Myexperiencehasborne
witnesstothefact,atleastinthesettingswhereIservedlargelyAfricanAmerican
Protestantcommunities,thatthemajorityofthoseinpewsarelargelyunacquainted
withthestoriesofGod,especiallythestoriesofGodintheHebrewBible.2WhatI
1KenyattaR.Gilbert,TheJourneyandPromiseofAfricanAmericanPreaching(Minneapolis:FortressPress,2011),19. 2SeeBrentStrawn,TheOldTestamentIsDying:ADiagnosisandRecommendedTreatment(GrandRapids:BakerAcademic,2017),chapter1andespeciallychapter
4
believehasbeenborneoutovertimeisthatthosewholackbiblicalintimacy,
knowing,andunderstandingthewaysofGodinScripture,arelackingChristian
transformation.IftheBlackChurchisgoingtolivetransformationallyintheworld,
theBlackChurchmustbecomemorebiblicallyliterate.
TheBlackChurchmustreclaimbiblicalteachinginthepulpitandbiblical
imaginationinthepews.TheBlackChurch,specificallytheBlackpulpit,mustonce
againbecometheplacewherethelong,broadnarrativesofGod’sactivityare
proclaimedinworshipforthetransformationoftheworld.IftheBlackChurchisto
maintainitsplaceasasourceofempowermentforthebroken,aBlackNarrative
Pulpitisneeded.ABlackNarrativePulpitoffersimaginativebiblicalpreachingin
theBlackChurch,addressingtheissueofbiblicalliteracy,andincitingChristian
transformationamongthoseinthepews.IftheBlackChurchistomaintainits
sourceofhopeforthosewithouthope,aBlackNarrativePulpitisneeded.Ifthe
BlackChurchistohaveanypromiseofrelevancybeyonditsoftenmanufactured
emotionalism,health,wealth,name-it-and-claim-ittheologicalsuppositions,aBlack
NarrativePulpitwithcontent-richpreachingisneeded.TothisendCleophusLaRue
contendsthatBlackpreachersmust“thinkmoredeeplyabouttheaimsandendsof
theirpreaching—namely,tostopputtingsomuchemphasisoncelebratoryendings”
and“focusmoreonthesubstantivecontent”inthesermon.3
ABlackNarrativePulpitofferstransformativepreachingintheBlackChurch
whenitutilizesthepowerofstorytellingasatoolforshapingbeliefpatternsand2where“harddata”ispresentedthattracksthetrendsofbiblicalliteracyintheProtestantChurch,specificallythebroadlackoffluencyoftheHebrewBible. 3CleophusJ.LaRue,RethinkingCelebration:FromRhetorictoPraiseinAfricanAmericanPreaching(Louisville:WestminsterJohnKnoxPress,2016),xi.
5
behaviors,recognizingthatsincetheearliestperiodsoftime,acrossculturesand
acrossdisciplines,humanshaveusedthepowerofstorytochangelives.ABlack
NarrativePulpitofferssoul-stirringpreachingintheBlackChurchwhenitpromotes
theuseofstoryandnarrative,particularlythestoryofGodasrevealedinScripture,
asastartingpointforansweringhumanity’sdeepquestionsofmeaningandvalue.
ABlackNarrativePulpitofferspropheticBlackpreaching,preachingthatcallsinto
beingGod’snewreality—thenewworldthatGodlongsforustoembodyinthe
world.4ABlackNarrativePulpitpresentspreachingintheBlackChurchwhenit
addressestheconcernsofbiblicalilliteracybypreachingthemajorstoriesofGod,
sequentiallymovingthroughourpresentcanon.ABlackNarrativePulpitoffers
systematizedpreachingintheBlackChurchwhenitemploystheNarrative
Lectionary,alectionarydesignedtoaddressbroadconcernsofbiblicalilliteracyin
themainlinechurch,toestablishcommunitieswhereempoweredandtransformed
disciplesofJesusChristlearnhowtolivetransformedintheworld,andalso
transformtheworldinwhichtheylivetowardGod’saims.
TheNarrativeLectionarywasdevelopedin2010bytwoprofessorsatLuther
TheologicalSeminary,RolfJacobsonandCraigKoester,whodesignedthelectionary
toaddressconcernsofbiblicalilliteracytheywerefindingwithintheEvangelical
LutheranChurchinAmerica(ELCA).Thelectionarytheycreated,theNarrative
Lectionary,wasdesignedtoaddresstheirconcernthroughpreachingandworship.
4FormoreonpropheticpreachingseeLenoraTubbsTinsdale,PropheticPreaching:APastoralApproach(Louisville:WestminsterJohnKnoxPress,2010),andespeciallyMarvinA.McMickle,WhereHaveAlltheProphetsGone:ReclaimingPropheticPreachinginAmerica(Cleveland:PilgrimPress,2006)forspecificityonpropheticpreachingintheBlackChurch.
6
JacobsonandKoesterdevelopedthislectionarybecausetheyfeltthattheRevised
CommonLectionaryfailedpeopleoffaithinitsinabilityto“fosterasenseof
movement”withinthelargerbiblicalstory.5TheyfelttheRevisedCommon
Lectionary,anditsmanyattemptedcorrections,wastoosporadic,choppy,and
disjointed,sotheybuilt,fromthegroundup,anewlectionarythatwouldmove
sequentiallythroughthebiblicalstory,highlightingmajorstoriesfromGenesisto
Acts.6Usingafour-yearsequence,KoesterandJacobsoncreatedtheNarrative
Lectionarybelievingthatpeopleoffaithwouldmoreeasilygrasptheoverarching
storyoffaith,andbecomebiblicallyliterate,iflengthy,orderly,lectionsofscriptures
werefaithfullyreadandpreachedinworship.
ThisdoctoralprojectseekstoexaminetheuseoftheNarrativeLectionaryin
aBlackChurch,ChristianFellowshipCongregationalChurchofSanDiego(United
ChurchofChrist),todetermineifitsconsistentusecontributestogreaterbiblical
literacyandsupportsChristiantransformation.TheuseoftheNarrativeLectionary
hasgrownsignificantlyovertheyearstoincludemanydifferentdenominational
traditionsandcongregationsthroughouttheworld—buthasyettobesignificantly
embracedbytheBlackChurch.Thisprojectseekstobroadenthereachofthe
NarrativeLectionarybyexaminingaspecificBlackChurchasitemploysthisnew
lectionarytool.
5SteveThorngate,“What’stheText:AlternativestoCommonLectionary,”ChristianCentury130,no.22,22. 6SeeTimothyAndrewLetzeke’sarticle“LectionariesandLittleNarratives:ChildrenoftheRevisedCommonLectionary”inLiturgy29,no.4(2014)forfurthercommentaryanddebateontherecentattemptstofixtheRevisedCommonLectionary.
7
Theprojectfirstpresentsaculturalandtheologicalanalysisofthe
congregationinwhichthedoctoralprojectwasset;anAfricanAmerican
congregationoftheUnitedChurchofChristlocatedinSanDiego,California.This
sectionexploresthestoriedhistoryofthecongregation,whichdatesbackto1886,
itsculturalbackground,andthedenominationalheritagethatistreasuredbyso
manyofthecongregants.Aspartoftheanalysisofthecongregation,thissection
closelyexaminesthecongregation’stheologicalperspectivesandpositions.
Theproject’ssecondsectionpresentsabriefscholarlyanalysisofmodern
lectionaries,theirformation,andthegrowthoftheiruseinProtestant
congregations.Theexaminationoflectionarieswillmakeapparentthe
opportunitiesthatlectionariesoffercongregationswhoconsistentlyemploythem:
aboveall,lectionariesarebeneficialtoolsforChristianformationandeducation.
Muchthatiswritteninthissectionseekstobuildastrongcaseforthebenefitsof
usingalectionary.Whetheritbesequentiallectionariesthatmoveacongregation
fromcreationaccountsinGenesistoinvitationstobearliberating“witness”in
Revelation,orthematiclectionariesliketheAfricanAmericanLectionary,which
takesintoaccounttheculturalcalendaroftheBlackChurch,Iarguethatthebenefits
ofusingalectionaryfaroutweighanyresistancetoit,eventhekindofresistanceto
BlackpowerlessnessandoppressionthatgavebirthtowhatE.FranklinFrazierhas
calledtheInvisibleInstitution,whereenslavedpreacherswerefreetopreach
withouttheconstrainsofWhiteoppressorstellingthemwhattextstopreach,and
8
whattextnottopreach.7Whiletherearemanylectionaries,manyofwhichhave
hadtobeomittedforthesakeofbrevity,myfundamentalargumentwhichleans
upontheworkofSamuelDeWitttProctor,contendsthatBlackChurcheswho
regularlyusealectionaryarefarbetterequippedtoprovideawell-balancedbiblical
dietforthoseinthepewsthanBlackChurcheswhofindlectionariestobetoo
confining.8
ThethirdsectionthenturnstoacriticalexplorationoftheNarrative
Lectionary,closelyexaminingitsformationandhistory,itsgoals,anditsclaims.The
fourthsectionoftheproject,then,isareflectionontheuseoftheNarrative
LectionaryinChristianFellowshipCongregationalChurch(UCC)asatoolto
contributetogreaterbiblicalliteracy,spark“biblicalimagination”,andmovethe
congregationtowardChristiantransformation,specificallyasevidencedinsocial
witness.9Thewayinwhichtransformationisapproachedinthissectionisthrough
biblicalnarrativeacquisitionandpracticalapplication—thegoalbeingtoestablisha
communityoffaith“transformedbythepowerofthelivingGod…[and]empowered
totransformneighborhoodsandcommunities,cities,andculture.”10
MajorTermsandResearchMethodology
7BrianBlount,CanIGetaWitness?ReadingRevelationthroughAfricanAmericanCulture,(Louisville:WestminsterJohnKnoxPress,2005),40. 8SeeAppendix2foraTimelineofModernLectionaryDevelopment. 9JoyMoorewritesofusingbiblicalimaginationinpreachingas“arealityratherthantoexplainanexperience”(“PreachingtheStoryinaSound-BiteCulture”inGenerationRising[AndrewCThompson;Nashville:AbingdonPress,2001],31). 10KennethC.Ulmer,“TransformationalWorshipintheLifeofaChurch,”inWorshipThatChangesLives:MultidisciplinaryandCongregationalPerspectivesonSpiritualTransformation,ed.AlexisD.Abernethy(GrandRapids,BakerAcademic,2008),196.
9
ThroughoutthepaperIreferencetwomajorterms,BlackChurchandbiblical
literacy.ThetermBlackChurch11denotesanyBlackChristiancongregationinthe
UnitedStatesandespecially,butexclusively,thoseassociatedwiththehistoricBlack
denominations:theAfricanMethodistEpiscopalChurch;theAfricanMethodist
EpiscopalZionChurch;theChristianMethodistEpiscopalChurch;theNational
BaptistConvention,USA;theNationalBaptistConventionofAmerica;the
ProgressiveNationalBaptistConvention;andtheChurchofGodinChrist.Theterm
alsodenotesBlackChristiancongregationsintheUnitedStatesthatarenotapartof
theabovementioneddenominations,suchastheUnitedChurchofChrist,theUnited
MethodistChurchandthePresbyterianChurchUSA,tonameafew.Theterm
biblicalliteracyIdefineasbothafluencyofandintimacywiththebiblicaltext.Itis
abroadunderstandingofthestoriesofGodasrevealedintheChristianScriptures.I
definebiblicalliteracyasmovementalongaspectrumwithagoalofgreaterliteracy.
Understandingliteracyasmovementalongaspectrumisnotaboutanilliterate
communitysuddenlybecomingliterate,particularlythroughtheuseofthe
NarrativeLectionarypreachingtool,butitismovement,overtime,towardsa
greaterunderstandingoftheentirebiblicaltextandGod’smessageinit.
Theprimaryresearchmethodsusesthroughoutthisprojectwere
ethnographic.12IstudiedthepeopleofwhomakeupthecongregationofChristian
11SeeC.EricLincolnandLawrenceH.Mamiya,TheBlackChurchintheAfricanAmericanExperience:AfricanAmericanChristianSpirituality(Durham:DukeUniversityPress,1990),1.12SeeMaryClarkMoschella,EthnographyasaPastoralPractice(Cleveland:ThePilgrimPress,2008).InthistextMoschella details the process of becoming an ethnographic researcher and raised questions that helped me to better understand the congregation and the community in which my church is located. Her text proved helpful
10
FellowshipCongregationalChurch(UCC).Themethodsincludedanalyzingsurveys
thatweredesignedandcreatedforthisresearch,journalingconversationsand
dialogueswithmembers,andchurchrecordsandminutesofthemeetingofthe
congregationandChurchCouncildatingbackto1886.Theserecordedminutes
providedinvaluablematerialthatenabledmetounderstandthethemesofnaming
andrenaming,howthecommunitywasbeingreflectedinthelifeofthe
congregation,andhowthesocialexperienceofthecommunityandthechurchaided
initsabilitytotrulyliveoutitsidentityasafellowshipofbelieversinChrist.Ifound
Moschella’stextespeciallyhelpfulasIsoughttounderstandhow,inthe1940’s,a
largelyWhitecongregationbecamewillingto“testwhetherornottherewasenough
vitalityin[the]religiousexperiencetoinspiremenandwomentonormalnatural
brotherlyrelations”throughchurchmembershipandchurchgrowthwithayoung
Blackminister.13Strangelyenough,thisvitalityisbeingtestedagaininthe21st
century.
CongregationalAnalysis
TheSettingandHistoryofaBlackUCCChurchinSouthernCalifornia
ChristianFellowshipCongregationalChurchofSanDiego,UnitedChurchof
ChristisoneoftheoldestCongregationalchurchesincontinuousoperationinthe
CityofSanDiego.ItwasorganizedonthesecondSundayinNovember1886when
theRev.J.W.Harwoodfirstconductedservices.Thechurchwasfoundedasthein exploring the effectiveness of preaching and biblical literacy, and how listening and journaling can become an evaluative tool for ministry effectiveness.13Fromasmallpamphletentitled,“TheChristianFellowshipStory,”datedNovember14,1965.
11
SecondCongregationalChurchandmembersoftheFirstCongregationalChurch
contributedliberallytotheestablishingofthenewchurch.Thecongregation
predatestheestablishmentoftheUnitedChurchofChrist,anditspredecessor
denominationstheCongregational-ChristianChurchandtheEvangelicalReformed
Church,whichmergedinthe1957tocreatetheUnitedChurchofChrist.
Whenthecongregationfirstformedin1886astheSecondCongregational
Churchtherewasasenseofexcitementandjoyinthegrowingcommunityof
believerswhowererealizingthisnewendeavorintheCityofSanDiego.Thenew
church,whichwasamissionoutgrowthoftheFirstCongregationalChurchofSan
Diego,foughthardagainstmeagergiving,fires,internalquarrels,consistentclergy
turnover,andclosuretomaintainitselfasaviablepresenceintheCityofSanDiego.
Attheturnofthecentury,thecongregationdecidedtorenameitself.Theinitial
renamingofthechurchcameasresultoftheseearlystrugglesofthecommunityas
itsoughttoestablishitselfapartfromFirstCongregationalChurchwithwhichitwas
affiliated.Whilethechurch’srecordedminutesin1905donotciteanofficialname
changeofthecongregationfromSecondCongregationalChurch,theoralhistory
ascribesthechangeinnametothisdate,andtheearliestofficialdocumentwiththe
church’snewname,LoganHeightsCongregationalChurchisdatedin1907.14The
congregationatthattimedoubleditsmembershiptomorethan500,andwithina
decadehaderectedanewbuildingandburneditsmortgage.
TheLoganHeightsYears:AGrowingDiversity14Thenewchurchnameappearsonthecoverofthe“1907ChurchBookandDirectory”oftheSecondCongregationalChurch,SanDiego,California.
12
Asecondrenamingofthechurchhappenedduringaperiodofhistorywhen
manyoftheCongregationalchurchesinSanDiegowereadopting“Community”into
theirnames,andsomewerewithdrawing“Congregational”altogether.Withinthe
archivesofthechurchthereisaphotograph,believedtobedatedin1946,where
theRev.LowellE.Cantrell,aseminarianwhowascalledasministerofthechurchin
1945,ispicturedstandingamongaraciallyintegratedgroupofschool-agedchildren
beneathabannerbearingthewords:“LoganHeightsCommunity
Church…interdenominational,interracial.”TheadditionofthenameCommunity
andtheraciallyintegratedschool-churchstandingtogetherinthe1940’s,
underscoresthegrowingdiversityofLoganHeights,anditseffortstobecomemore
community-mindedinreachingpeopleasdisciplesofJesusChristwhohavebeen
transformedbytheGoodNewspreachedandtaughtwithinthecongregation.
By1949thecommunityofLoganHeightswasbecomingmorediverse,
vibrantandalive,andthegrowingcongregationstrovetoreflectthisdiversityand
vibrancy.AstheLoganHeightscommunityshiftedinracialmakeup,the
membershipofLoganHeightsalsobegantoexperiencethisshift.Somewithinthe
congregationwerenotkeenoncontinuingtheministryinLoganHeightsbecauseof
the“stigma”associatedwiththediverseandgrowingneighborhood—thestigma
beingthegrowingnumberAfrican-Americans.IntheminutesofaNovember
quarterlymeetingin1949,thefollowingiswrittenattheendoftheregularbusiness
meeting:“ChangingchurchnamefromLoganHeightsCommunityChurch
(Congregational)toChurchofChristianFellowship(Congregational)willbeplaced
ontheagendaoftheAnnualMeeting.Thisisinkeepingwithmovesofother
13
organizations...togetawayfromthestigmausuallyassociatedwithLogan
Heights.”15
In1947thecongregationdecidedtocallitsfirstAfrican-Americanminister,
theRev.E.MajorShavers,toserveasco-pastorofthenewlyre-namedcongregation,
andappealtothenewracialdemographicofLoganHeights.Veryquicklythe
congregationbegantotakeontheidentityofitslocalcommunity,filledwith
educated,middle-classAfrican-Americans,manybeingeducators,military,and
businessprofessionals—groupsthatstillmakeupthebaseofthecongregation
today.
ChristianFellowshipandtheFutureofEmeraldHills SanDiegoislocatedinSouthernCaliforniaandhasbeennamedoneofthe
mostbeautifulplacesinAmericatolive.ItisthesecondlargestcityinCalifornia
andtheeighthlargestcityintheUnitedStates.Thereareroughly3million
residentsinthecountyand1.3millionwithinthecity.Mostnotably,SanDiegois
hometoover70milesofbeautifulbeaches,theworldfamousSanDiegoZooand
SafariPark,SeaWorld,Legoland,thelegendaryBalboaPark,andnearly100golf
courses.Twohourstothenorthonecanskiandsnowboard,andreturninthesame
daytosurfinthePacificorrowinMissionBay.WhileSanDiegoisnotthemost
affordableplacetolive,itsmoderateclimate,lowcrime,andgoodpublicschool
systemsmakeitanidealplacetoliveandraiseafamily.WhatmakesSanDiegoso
uniqueisitlayersofmulticulturalism,helpedtremendouslybySanDiego’sposition
15November5,1949,ChurchMinutesofLoganHeightsCongregationalChurch,SanDiego,California.
14
asabordercitytoMexico,anditsstrongmilitarycommunities.Thiscreatesboth
uniquechallengesandopportunitiesforthosewhochoosetomake“America’s
FinestCity”theirhome.
ChristianFellowshipToday TodayChristianFellowshipCongregationalChurchisworkinghardto
remainabeaconoflightandhopeinsoutheastSanDiego,California,withacurrent
membershipofapproximately150persons.SanDiegoiswidelyknownasamilitary
town,andChristianhasasignificantnumberofmemberswhohaveatleastone
memberoftheirfamilywhohasserved,oriscurrentlyserving,intheArmedForces,
mostlytheUSNavy.Asrelatestoadulteducationalattainment,mostadultmembers
holdundergraduatedegrees,andanumberofmembersholdterminaland
professionaldegrees.ThechurchisculturallygroundedasaBlackmainline
congregation,whichisastronglyrepresentedethnicgroupintheSoutheastern
communityofSanDiego.WhileSanDiegoistheeighthlargestcityintheUnited
StatesandthesecondlargestcityinCalifornia,itisnothometolargenumbersof
African-Americans.Lessthan7percentofthecitypopulationidentifythemselvesas
Black.Thecongregation’sdesiretoberemainaBlackmainlinecongregation,and
thechallengingdemographicsofthecity,willrequirethechurchtocarveouta
uniquenichewithintheBlackreligiouslifeandcultureofSanDiego,ifitisgoingto
surviveforfuturegenerationsofBlackSanDiegans.Theuniquetheologicalniche
thatthechurchpresentlyoccupiesisthatofbeingamainlineBlackChurchthat
embracesBlackcultureandliberationtheology.ChristianFellowshippresentsitself
asawell-educated,middle-class,BlackBible-basedchurchthathasgrownoverthe
15
courseofthisproject,tobeacceptingandaffirmingofhumanity’sdiversityand
sexualdifference,genderequalityandworkerjustice,andthepracticeof
environmentalstewardship.Thechurchhascometoembrace,particularlyinthe
lastyear,adeepsenseofcalltobeacommunitythatcaresfortheimmigrant,the
marginalizedandoppressedandother“bluesbodies.”16
Lectionaries
“Manypreachersfeelthatalectionarypreachingschedulemaybetooconfining,butexperiencewithitprovessomethingdifferent…theSpiritwasguidingthosewhopreparedthelectionary…[anditisan]exercise...onwhichGodhasbreathed.”17
Thedistinctivepracticesofreading,hearingandpreachingSacredScripture
arevitaltoChristianfaith,formationandultimatelyChristiantransformation.The
needforChristiancommunitiestoknowandunderstandthefullnessoftheirbiblical
heritageischallengingtoday—evenwiththeconveniencesofmoderntechnology
thatplacemanyofthesetextsinthepalmourhands.IntheAfrican-American
Christiancommunity,theprimarywayinwhichpeopleoffaithareshapedand
formedisthroughpassionateandpropheticpreaching.Throughstirringsermons,
peopleoffaithcometoknowthestoriesofcreation,thestoriesofAbrahamand
Sarah,Hagar,Moses,Vashti,Hezekiah,David,Mary,Jesusandtheearlychurch.Itis
asignificantresponsibility,therefore,thatthepastoralleadercarefullyguideand
16KellyBrownDouglas,BlackBodiesandtheBlackChurch:ABluesSlant(NewYork:PalgraveMacmillan,2012),73-78. 17SamuelDeWittProctor,TheCertainSoundoftheTrumpet:CraftingaSermonofAuthority(ValleyForge:JudsonPress,1994),37-38.KindleEdition.
16
directthespiritualandbiblicaldevelopmentandmaturationofacongregation.A
lectionary,acollectionofreadingsassignedforeachgivenday,canserveasan
importanttoolinhelpingtoensurethatacongregation’sspiritualdietiswell
balancedwithScripturefromboththeHebrewBibleandtheChristianTestament.
BriefHistoryofModernLectionaryDevelopment Thedevelopmentsof21stcenturycommonlectionariesaretheresultsof
manyyearsoflabortoensurethatoursacredtextsarenotlosttopresent
generationsinworshipandstudy.Thedevelopmentofanylectionaryisa
programmaticwayforpeopleoffaithtorecite,remember,knowandlivewitha
foundationalbiblicalcommitmenttothefaith.ThomasO’Loughlinsuggeststhatit
wasimportantforIsrael,whentheygatheredforworshipandstudyinthe
synagogue,tofindthemselvesconstantlymovingincyclefrom“memory-makingto
identity-shaping.”18Thisprocessofformingandshapingidentityhasdeepand
lastingrootsintheritualistichearing,recitingandkeepingofGod’sHolyWord.
Muchofthatprocessofhearing,reciting,keepingandculturalidentityshapingin
thechurchhasbeensystematizedandorganizedintothecommonlectionariesof
the21stcentury.
Ourcommonlectionariesaretheresultof“thousandsofyearsofJewishand
Christianexperience.”19However,itwasinDecemberof1963thattheRoman
CatholicChurchsignaledamajorshiftinginthewayinwhichscripturewas
18ThomasO’Loughlin,MakingtheMostoftheLectionary:AUser’sGuide(London:MorehousePublishing,2012),11. 19GailR.O’DayandCharlesD.Hackett,PreachingtheRevisedCommonLectionary:AGuide(Nashville:AbingdonPress,2007),3.
17
presentedinitscongregations.ThislaterpromptedProtestantcommunitiestolook
atthewayinwhichthepresentationofscriptureswere(orwerenot)orderedor
systematized.InagatheringoftheConstitutionontheSacredLiturgy(1963),the
RomanCatholicChurchdecreedthat“thetreasuresoftheBiblebeopenedupmore
lavishlysothatricherfaremightbeprovidedforthefaithfulatthetableofGod’s
word[and]amorerepresentativeportionofholyscripturewillbereadtothe
peopleinthecourseofaprescribednumberofyears.”20Sixyearslater,in
Decemberof1969,theRomanCatholicChurchbeganusinganewlectionary,called
theLectionaryforMass.Thechurch’spreviouslectionary,theTridentine
Lectionary—whichwasasingle-yearlectionaryestablishedin1563bytheCouncil
ofTrentandusedbytheRomanCatholicChurchformorethanfivehundredyears
and“includedreadingsfromtheGospelsandtheepistlesonly”—wasreplacedin
1969undertheauthorityofVaticanII.21ProfessorO.WesleyAllenJr.notesthatthe
“newlectionarymarkedamajorshiftinliturgicalandhomileticalpracticefor
RomanCatholics…[and]begantoattracttheattentionofthoseoutsidetheRoman
CatholicChurchaswell.”22
InOctober1963,attheinvitationoftheArchbishopofCanterbury,ayear
beforetheestablishmentoftheNorthAmericanConsultationonCommonTexts
(CCT),aforumconsistingofChristianChurchesintheUnitedStatesandCanada20TheRomanCatholicChurch,“ConstitutionontheSacredLiturgySacrosanctum\Concilium,”TheRomanCatholicChurch.accessedJanuary21,2017,http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html. 21FritzWest,ScriptureandMemory:TheEcumenicalHermeneuticoftheThree-YearLectionaries(Collegeville:TheLiturgicalPress,1997),25. 22O.WesleyAllen,Jr.,PreachingandReadingtheLectionary:AThree-DimensionalApproachtotheLiturgicalYear(Danvers:ChalicePress,2007),3.
18
withaprimaryfocusonworshiprenewal,theJointLiturgicalGroupwasestablished
andbeganitsworkofbringingintorealizationatwo-yearProtestantlectionary.In
1967,twoyearsaheadofVaticanII’swork,theJointLiturgicalGroupdevelopedone
oftheearliestknownlectionariesfortheProtestantchurch.TheworkoftheJoint
LiturgicalGroup,however,didnotstandinoppositiontotheworkthattheRoman
CatholicChurchwasbeginningtorealizethroughitsreformationefforts,butstood
insupportoftheRomanCatholic’sthree-yearlectionarydesignwithgreathopethat
itwouldpositivelyshapeandreformtheChurch.
ThemovementofthelectionaryinAmericanProtestantcirclesbegansome
timearound1970whenPresbyteriansbegantoincorporateaversionofthe
LectionaryfortheMassintoitsworshipbook.Withinayearofthismovebythe
PresbyterianChurch,otherreligiousbodiesfollowedandbegantopublishversions
oftheLectionaryfortheMassintheirworshipbookswiththesupportoftheNorth
AmericanConsultationonCommonTexts.TheseincludedtheChristianChurch
(DisciplesofChrist)in1971,theUnitedChurchofChristin1974,theUnited
MethodistChurchin1976,theAmericanEpiscopalChurchin1977,andtheNorth
AmericanLutheranChurchin1978.LiturgicalscholarJamesF.Whitestatesthat
“oneofthemostusefuldevelopmentsofthepost-VaticanIIerahasbeenthe
ecumenicallectionary.”23FritzWest,apastoralscholaroftheUnitedChurchof
Christ,pointsoutthesignificanceoftheperiodoftimeinwhichAmerican
Protestantbodiesbeganadoptinglectionarytexts.Westnotesthatitwasduringa
timeofgreatdivisionduetowar,racismandpoliticalscandalthattheselectionaries23JamesWhite,IntroductiontoChristianWorship,rev.ed.(Nashville:AbingdonPress,1980),81.
19
begantoemergeamongNorthAmericandenominations.Thisseemstosuggestthat
theearlydevelopmentoflectionariesamongdenominationsinNorthAmericagrew
outofadesireforsomesenseofunityamidthe“turmoil”thatroiledtheworldfrom
1968to1974.24
ABlackCritique:BlackChurchResistance
TherearemanywhobegrudgethesystematicapproachtoChristian
preaching,formation,educationandtransformationinthechurchthatthe
lectionaryoffers,andthisisespeciallypronouncedamongthoseintheBlack
Church.Itiscommonknowledge,asMarthaSimmonshasremarked,“thatBlack
folksjustdon’tusethelectionary.”25AbriefMondaymorninginternetsearchof
sermonspreachedinBlackpulpitsacrossthecountryonanygivenSundayproves
thatthemajorityofBlackpulpitsdonotfollowanyofthemodernlectionariesthat
areavailable,includingtheAfricanAmericanLectionary,whichSimmonsdeveloped.
PastorswhostandinBlackpulpitsoftentakeexceptiontotheuseofalectionary,
andfavorinsteadascripturalfocusemergingfromtimespentinprayeror
meditationatbest,oraSundaymorningscrambleatworst.Thisisnottosuggest
thatBlackpulpitswherealectionary-basedpreachingisavoidedarepulpitsthat
haphazardlyselecttexts,orareallcommunitieslackinginbiblicalliteracy,butitis
tosuggestthattheconsistentandregularuseofalectionarypresentsafar-better,
24West,21. 25Part3ofaForumonLectionaries:AfricanAmericanLectionary,NarrativeLectionaryandPanelDiscussion,YouTubevideo,1:52:00,lectureseriessponsoredbyTheConsultationonCommonTexts,accessedonApril25,2016,postedbyTaylorBurtonEdwards,February15,2016,https://youtu.be/aDA1VIlxbog?t=1m15s.
20
scripturaldietforpeopleinthepewsandthepreacherswhopreparethemeal.One
findswithexperience,asSamuelDeWittProctorwritestopreachers,thata
systematicapproachtopreachingandChristianformationinthechurchlikethe
lectionaryprovidesmayfeel“tooconfining,butexperiencewithitprovessomething
different.”26
ThemostcommonreasonIhavefoundforresistingtheuseofalectionaryas
atoolforworshipandteachingintheBlackChurchistheideathatitconfinesor
quenchesthefreedomoftheSpirit.Thisideaisoftencitedbecauselectionariesdo
placelimitsonthepreacher—bindinghimorhertoparticulartextsorbooks,even
withwhatsomemayclaimtobegenerousofferingoffourdifferentreadings.Those
whoresistusinglectionariesarethosewhoenjoythefreedomofbeingabletomove
unencumberedthroughouttheentireBibletoselecttheirpreachingtext—one
SundayRevelation,thenextMathew,thenextLuke,andsomeobscureversefrom
PhilemononthefourthSunday.SomeBlackpreachersthereforepushbackagainst
therequirementtoselecttheirtextfromasamplingoftextsthathavebeendecided
uponbyindividuals,mostofwhomareWhiteandlargelyremovedfromtheir
particularcontextandthecultureoftheBlackChurch.Butsuchresistancecosts
themsomething,andthatpriceIbelieveisbiblicalilliteracyandalackofChristian
transformation.Apreacherwhomissestheopportunitytoengageinaform
systematizedmovementthroughthebiblicalcannonwithhisorhercongregation,in
favorofcherry-pickingfavoredorprizedbiblicaltextswilloftenavoidthetough
textsthatchallengefoundationaltheologiesandecclesiasticalnorm;often
26Proctor,37.
21
disadvantagingthepreacherandthecongregationtowhomtheyarecalledtojustly
“shepherd”and“feed.”27
I,dohowever,believethatresistingtheuseoflectionariesintheBlack
Churchisfarmorecomplexthansimplyresistingtextuallimits,andthedesirefor
morefreedomintheSpirit.ProctorcorrectlyremindstheBlackChurch,andits
preachersinparticular,that“theSpiritwasguidingthosewhopreparedthe
lectionary…andthatthetotalexerciseisonewhichGodhasbreathed.”28
Nevertheless,amorenuancedexaminationoftheBlackChurchmightconcludethat
aresistancetolectionariesmightdwellintheDNAoftheBlackChurch—beforeit
gatheredinsecretcirclesalongriverbeds,underthecanopyofbrilliantstars,inthe
husharborsofVirginiaandNorthCarolina.Itcouldbearguedthattheresistance
BlackChurchesfeeltowardthetextuallimitsofthelectionaryremindsthoseinthe
BlackChurchoftheoppressiveinjusticethatracistWhitesheldoverBlackswhen
worshipinthevisibleinstitutionwascontrolledandmaintained“underWhite
supervision.”29Inthisvisibleinstitution,oppressivebiblicaltextswerepreachedto
enslavedAfricansthat“advocatedsubmissionanddocilityamongslaves,”andwas
“moreattentivetotheespousalofWhitesocialandbiblicaldoctrines”thanBlack
liberationandfreedom.30UnderWhitesupervisionandawayfromringshoutsand
theAfricanizedreligionofthe“InvisibleInstitution”wheretransformation,Black
27Ezekiel34,CommonEnglishBible.28Proctor,37. 29HenryH.Mitchell,BlackChurchBeginnings:TheLong-HiddenRealitiesoftheFirstYears(GrandRapids:WilliamBEerdmansPublishingCompany,2004),8. 30MarthaSimmonsandFrankThomas,PreachingwithSacredFire:AnAnthologyofAfricanAmericanSermons,1750tothePresent(NewYork:W.W.Norton&Company,2010),22.
22
liberation,andfreedomweresought,enslavedBlackpreacherswereoftenforcedby
Whiteoppressors,tocategoricallyprioritizeBlackoppressionandpowerlessness
usingrecommendedbiblicaltexts.31
TheresistancetodaythatmanywhostandinBlackpulpitshaveto
lectionaries“recommending”textsforuseisthusfarmorecomplicatedthanmere
resistancetotextuallimitsandadesireforSpiritualfreedom.Itisresistancetothe
visibleinstitutionthattried,andevenpresentlyworks,todiminishBlacklifeand
denyBlackliberationandfreedom.ItisresistancetoWhitereligiousauthorities,
culturallyandcontextuallydistantfromtheBlackChurch,asisthecasewiththe
NarrativeLectionaryandtheCommonLectionary,whopresentconfiningtextual
limitsonBlackpulpitsunderthepretenseofChristianUnity,maskedinthe
nomenclatureofsystemization,stilltellingBlackpreacherswhattopreachand
prioritizingbiblicaltextsthatinformwhatthoseinBlackpewsbelieve.This
legitimateresistanceanddistrustoftheoverarchinggoalsandaimsofculturally
distantlectionaries,isgroundedinthediscoveryofaTruththatemergedwhenthe
BlackChurchdiscovereditsfreedomawayfromtheoppressivegazeof“Mister
Charlie.”32Thequestiontobefurtheredinthissectioniswhetherornota
lectionarythatmaintainsconfiningtextuallimitsbutembracesBlackculturaland
contextualsensitivity—alectionarycreatedanddevelopedfortheBlackChurchand
bytheBlackChurch,isabletoloosenthegripofresistancethatmanyintheBlack31E.FranklinFrazier,TheNegroChurchinAmerica(NewYork:SchockenBooks1963),16. 32Forthemostsignificantuseof“Charlie-ism,”seeJamesBaldwin’splayandsocialcommentary“BluesforMisterCharlie”inwhichhecritiquestheChristianfaithinitshistoricjustificationofBlacksufferingandpowerlessness,anditspromotionofWhitesuperiorityandthewhitenessofGod.
23
Churchhavetolectionariesingeneral.Itistothishistoric(re)formationand
developmentthatwenowturn.
ABlackResponse:TheAfricanAmericanLectionary In2007theRev.Dr.MarthaSimmons,anordainedBaptistandUCCminister
andacademic,begandevelopingtheAfricanAmericanLectionary.Soberaboutthe
resistancethatmanyBlackChurcheshaveagainstlectionaries,Simmonsrealized
earlyinherdevelopmentprocessthatiftherewastobeanysuccessingettingBlack
Churchestoconsiderusingalectionarythatherlectionarywouldhavetobe
altogetherdifferentindesignfromallotherlectionaries,andprovidearelevant
culturalandcontextualemphasisthatwasmissinginotherlectionaries.The
lectionarySimmonscreatedisrelevanttotheBlackChurchinthatitfollowsthe
BlackChurchcalendar,celebratingHistoricallyBlackCollegesandUniversities
(HBCU)Sunday,Usher’sDay,Women’sDay,Men’sDay,ChurchandPastor’s
AnniversaryandWatchNightService—worshipdaysintheBlackChurchthatare
importanttothelectionary’sprimaryconstituency,theBlackChurch.Tosaythat
thisonlinelectionary,www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org,isexpansiveand
broadisanunderstatement—Simmonsestimatesthat“thesitehasmorethan220
thousandpagesofcontentfortheBlackChurch.”33
ThecreationofalectionaryfortheBlackChurch,andbytheBlackChurch,
wasbirthedoutofSimmons’concernsofbiblicalilliteracysheidentifiedas
33Part3ofaForumonLectionaries:AfricanAmericanLectionary,NarrativeLectionaryandPanelDiscussion,YouTubevideo,1:52:00,lectureseriessponsoredbyTheConsultationonCommonTexts,accessedonApril25,2016,postedbyTaylorBurtonEdwards,February15,2016,https://youtu.be/aDA1VIlxbog?t=1m15s.
24
presidentandpublisherofTheAfricanAmericanPulpitpreachingjournal.The
AfricanAmericanPulpit,whichisnolongerinpublication,wasapremierquarterly
thatserved“asarepositoryfortheverybestofAfricanAmericanpreaching,”and
soughttoprovide“practicalandcreativeresourcesforpersonsinministry.”34In
herroleaspublisher,Simmonsreceivedseveralthousandsermonmanuscriptsfrom
pastors,ministersandseminariansforpossiblepublication.Inreviewingthose
sermonsSimmonsbecameoverwhelminglyconcernedaboutwhatshesensedwasa
lackofbiblicalliteracyinBlackpulpitsacrossthenation.Indevelopingtheworld’s
firstonlinelectionary-resourceofitskind,SimmonshassignificantlyhelpedBlack
Churchesbyprovidingotherwiseunattainableaccesstoexcellentscholarshipand
culturalresources,butaccordingtoSimmonsadecadelaterthestateofbiblical
literacyintheBlackchurch,especiallyinthepews,remainslargelyunchangedsince
thelectionary’sinception.Whatwearelefttoconcludeisthateveniftherearenow
biblicallyliterateBlackpreachers,thisdoesnotalwaystranslateintobiblically
literateBlackfolksinthepews.
ItmustbenotedthatSimmons’effortsinthecreationoftheAfrican
AmericanLectionaryarebothsignificantandhistoric.Herworkhasexposed
thousandsofBlackChurchestotheideaoflectionary-basedworshipandpreaching.
ThesuccessoftheAfricanAmericanLectionaryhasnotbeeninitsabilitytoimprove
biblicalliteracyinthepews,butitssuccesshasbeeninitsabilitytoresourceits
primaryconstituency,theBlackChurch,andotherswithinterestsintheBlack
Church,withbiblical,culturalandtheologicalresourcesfromsomeofthebrightest
34TheAfricanAmericanPulpit,Volume11,Number2,Spring2008,3.
25
mindsoftheBlackChurch.Thecontributionsofthesescholar-pastorsareas
diverseastheirprimaryfieldsofstudy:JamesAbbington(Music/Worship),Brad
Braxton(NewTestament),J.CameronCarter(Theology),CainHopeFelder(Hebrew
Bible),StaceyFloyd-Thomas(Ethics),LukePowery(Homiletics)andMitziSmith
(NewTestament)tonameafew.
TheAfricanAmericanLectionaryiswithoutadoubtatimeless,dynamic
repositoryofexcellentcultural,liturgicalandtheologicalresourcestoassistBlack
preachers,butitfailstoaddressbiblicalilliteracyinthepews.Atthe2016Forum
onLectionaries,sponsoredbytheConsultationonCommonTexts,Simmons
confessedthattheAfricanAmericanLectionarystruggledtoaddressbiblicalliteracy
amongthoseinBlackpewsassuccessfullyasitdidthoseinBlackpulpits:“We
understoodthatwemaynotgetpeopletodomoreBiblereadingathome,butthe
hopewasthatatleastthepastorwoulddoabetterjobofmakingthetext…more
exegeticallysound.”35
ThepresenceoftheAfricanAmericanLectionaryhaswithoutquestion
helpedtheBlackChurchembracetheideaofalectionary,butithasnotimproved
biblicalliteracyinthepewsthroughitssuccessfuldevelopmentofmoreexegetically
soundBlackpulpits;Blackpulpitsmayhavebecomemorebiblicallyliterate(and
theologicallysound),butnotthoseinBlackpews.Thisisnottosuggestthatthosein
thepewsoftheBlackChurcharebiblicallyilliterate,butitistosaythatliteracy
35Part3ofaForumonLectionaries:AfricanAmericanLectionary,NarrativeLectionaryandPanelDiscussion,YouTubevideo,1:52:00,lectureseriessponsoredbyTheConsultationonCommonTexts,accessedonApril25,2016,postedbyTaylorBurtonEdwards,February15,2016,https://youtu.be/aDA1VIlxbog?t=1m15s.
26
mustbeconstrueduponaspectrumandthatonemovesfromonelevelofbiblical
literarytogreaterbiblicalliteracy.Admittedly,theAfricanAmericanLectionaryhas
notmovethoseinthepewsoftheBlackChurchfartheralongthespectrum.What
weneedintheBlackChurchtodayisnotbite-sizenuggetsoftheBible,nortidy
tidbitsofexegeticallysoundbiblicalwisdomthatfitsneatlywiththeBlackChurch
calendar.TheBlackChurchneedsBlackNarrativePulpits—Pulpitsthatproclaim
theoverarchingstoryofthewholeBibleandencouragepeopleinthepewstoread
theBible,afterhavinghadtheirbiblicalimaginationsparkedbythestoryofGodin
worship.TheBlackChurchneedsBlackNarrativePulpitsthattellthestoryinsuch
awaythatthosewhositinthepewsunderstandthetext,evenifthereisnotan
annualcelebrationofHomecoming,Usher’sDay,FriendsandFamilyDay,Deacon
andDeaconessSunday,andChurchAnniversarieswherefellowshiphallsfeature
overflowingpunchbowlsofcherryKool-Aid,yellowsheetcakenotingthe
anniversarynumber,andsecretspecialmixofsaltedpeanutsandmelt-in-your-
mouthbuttermintsthatonlyBigMommaknowshowtoprepare.Ifconcernfor
biblicalliteracyistobetakenseriouslyintheBlackChurch,aBlackNarrativePulpit
isneeded.
MystrongestcomplaintoftheAfricanAmericanLectionaryis,verysimply,
thatitseekstodotoomuchandyetsimultaneouslyfailstofullymeettheneedsthat
Simmonsfirstidentified:namely,biblicalliteracy.Initsdesiretoreachthebroad
andexpansivediversityoftheBlackChurchthroughcultural,theological,and
liturgicalresources,itfailstochipsawayatthelackofbiblicalliteracyintheBlack
Church.Tobesure,Scriptureispresentedandisthefocusofeverylection,buta
27
lectionarythatlacksanorganizedsequencetoleadcongregantsalongGod’smeta-
narrativeinthetextfromweektoweekdoesnothingtostemthegrowingtideof
biblicalilliteracy.Buildingbrandnewexegeticalcontextfromweektoweek,instead
ofbuildinguponanalreadyestablishedcontext,ischallengingworkforeventhe
moststudiedpreacher.Criss-crossingthecanonfromHebrewBibletoEpistle,
preachingfromJohnoneweekandLukefromthenextmakesdevelopingbiblically
literatedisciplesmoredifficultthanitoughttobe.Whatisneededtofullyaddress
Simmonsmotivatingconcerniscontinuousflowfromweektoweek,and
unfortunatelytheAfricanAmericanLectionarydoesnotprovidethis.Somewhere
alongthelinefrominceptiontoconceptionSimmons’motivatingconcernofbiblical
literacyintheBlackChurch,especiallyforthoseinthepews,waslost.ButIbelieve
thereishopeinreclaimingbiblicalliteracyinthisgeneration,andIbelievetheway
forwardfortheBlackChurchisinestablishingaBlackNarrativePulpit.
TheNarrativeFramework
“Astory—agoodstory—longstoberetoldandreheardagainandagainuntilweseescenesfromthestoryineveryencounter;untileverychoicewemakeisbornoftherealitycreatedinitstelling;untiltheimaginationsofourcommunityaresoshapedbythatnarrativethateveryoneunderstandsinaflashthereferencesmadeinasingleline…thechurchmustbecomeconversantagainwiththestoriedrealityofChristianScripture.Thenarrativecounts!”36
36JoyMoore,“PreachingtheStoryinaSound-BiteCulture”inGenerationRising:AFuturewithHopefortheUnitedMethodistChurched.,AndrewCThompson(Nashville:AbingdonPress,2001),33.
28
Storiesareapartofusall.Weusethemtoorganizeourexperiencesand“to
makesense”ofbothourlivesandrelationships.37Askapersonhowtheyfellinlove,
theywilltellyouastory.Askpersonhowtheyfirstcametoknowthefaith,theywill
tellyouastory.Askapersontotellyouabouttheirfavoritemeal,theywilltellyoua
story.Storyandnarrativeshapealmosteveryaspectofourlives.RogerSchank,an
expertinstory-centeredmodelsofleadershipinbusiness,educationandartificial
intelligencesuggeststhat“wetellstoriestodescribeourselvesnotonlysoothers
canunderstandwhowearebutalsosowecanunderstandourselves…[and]we
interpretrealitythroughourstoriesandopenourrealitiesuptootherswhenwe
tellourstories.”38Storiesshapeourlivesandexpertsinvariousdisciplinesfrom
theology,psychology,philosophy,biologyallagreethatwelive,seeandexperience
muchoflifethroughthelensofstory.39Theideaofanarrativethatseveral
disciplineshavecometoembraceisdueinparttothephilosophyofStephenCrites,
whosuggeststhatweorganizeourexperiencesoflifeinstory-likeforms.40
R.RuardGanzevoortsuggeststhatincomingtounderstandtherolethat
narrativesplayinourworld,aworkingdefinitionofnarrativeisneededthatdoes
notlimitnarrativetoatextualform,butisopenanddynamicenoughtoincludethe
37JohnWinsladeandGeraldMonk,NarrativeMediation(SanFrancisco:Jossey-Bass,2000),3. 38RogerSchank,TellMeAStory:NarrativeandIntelligence(Evanston:NorthwesternUniversityPress,1995),44. 39SeeGalenStrawson,“AgainstNarrativity,”Ratio(NewSeries)17,no.4(2004)428,thoughheconteststheaccuracyofthisclaimhedoesacknowledgesthatthereiswidespreadagreementamongexpertsintheseandmanyotherfields. 40StephenCrites,“TheNarrativeQualityofExperience,”JournaloftheAmericanAcademyofReligion39,no.3(1971):291-311.
29
shapingandformingofidentity.41Ganzevoort’ssuggestionunderscoresthe
scholarshipofJoyMooreandDaleAndrews,twoAfricanAmericanpractical
theologians,whobothusestoryandnarrative,particularlythestoryofGodas
revealedwithinScriptures,asastartingpointforansweringthedeepquestionsof
meaningandvalue.MoorewritesthataspeopleofChristianfaithwemustproclaim
anewthestoryofScriptureandallow“ourselvestobeformedby[thebiblical]
story....[T]heBibleopensupaworldshowingushowtolivelifenow.”42And
Andrewsnotesthatthenarrativeapproachtopracticaltheologyoughtnotsimply
be“aretrievalofthe‘goodolddaysandways,’butratherthediscernmentofGod’s
redemptiveactivityinourhistoryandday-to-daylives.”43Weareshapedbystory,
andforChristiansthebiblicalstoryistobethatprimarystory-shapingstoryforour
lives.WhenGod’sstorymeetsourstory,livesarechangedandtransformedforthe
good,andourstoriesbecomeinextricablytiedtoGod’sstory.
OneofthecorebeliefsofthecreatorsoftheNarrativeLectionaryisthatthe
bodyofChrist,theChurch,cannotexistwithoutthestoryofGod’scoming“alongside
ourstories”andbecomingthestorythattellsusthetruthaboutlivesandtheworld
inwhichwelive.44CraigKoesterfurthersthisideabysuggestingthatGod’spromise
forhumanityisextendedwhen“thestorieswetellaboutourselvesarechallenged
41R.RuardGanzevoort,“NarrativeApproaches”inTheWileyBlackwellCompaniontoPracticalTheologyed.,BonnieJ.Miller-McLemore(Malden:Wiley-Blackwell,2012),216. 42Moore,33. 43DaleP.Andrews,PracticalTheologyforBlackChurches:BridgingBlackTheologyandAfricanAmericanFolkReligion(Louisville:WestminsterJohnKnoxPress,2002),95. 44RolfJacobson,“WeAreStories:NarrativeDimensionofHumanIdentityandItsImplicationforChristianFaithFormation”WordandWorld32,no.2(2014):126.
30
andrewritteninlightofthestoryofGod.”45ThenarrativesthatwefindintheBible
arethestoriesthatwehaveofGod,andwhiletheyarenottheonlystories,theyare
storiesthatreveal,ifonlyinpart,whoGodisandhowhumanityhasinteractedwith
Godinthepast.TheBibledoesnottellusonlythestoriesthatwelovetohearthat
haveneatandtidyendings,buttheBiblealsoinvitesustopayattentionto“textsof
terror,”alongwithotherstoriesthatmakeusterriblyuncomfortable,andbitterly
frustratedwithGodandhumanity.46RolfJacobsonsuggeststhatthetextswe
encounterinthebiblicalstoryfunctionattheirbestwhen“God,thegreatstoryteller,
comesalongsideusandoffersusabetterstory.Astorythattellsuswhowereally
areandmakespromisestobestowthatnewidentityonus.”47
OurworldtodayisfilledwithsomanystoriesofGod,andthisisbothagift
andachallengetothebodyofChrist.ThefactthattheUnitedStateshasbecomeone
ofthemostreligiouslydiversenationsonearthisbothagiftandhonor,particularly
asweseektolearnfromotherreligioustraditionsanddiscovermanythingsthatwe
haveincommon.48Yet,withthisdiversityhascomeasachallengefortheChurchto
discoveranewhowtoproclaimitsstoryoffaith.NolongercantheChurch,thebody
ofChrist,“relyonawidevarietyofculturalco-tellerswhohelpedteachtheChristian
45CraigKoester,WereYouThere?(John18-19):TellingtheStoriesofJesus’Trial—andOurs”WordandWorld34,no.3(2014):263. 46PhyllisTrible,TextsofTerror:LiteraryFeministReadingsofBiblicalNarratives(Philadelphia:FortressPress,1984).InoneoftheearliestknownwomanistdebatesonTrible’scritiqueseeKoalaJones-Warsaw,“TowardaWomanistHermeneutic:AReadingofJudges19-21”inAFeministCompaniontoJudges(ed.AthalyaBrenner;Sheffield:SheffieldAcademicPress,1993),172-186. 47Jacobson,127. 48SeeDianaEck,ANewReligiousAmerica:Howa“ChristianCountry”HasBecometheWorld’sMostReligiouslyDiverseNation(SanFrancisco:Harper,2001),whowritesaboutpluralismandreligiousdiversityinAmerica.
31
story…[likethe]publicschoolsystems,theartistsonstageandscreen,andtheprint
andradiomedia”asitoncedidyearsago.49TheChurchmustlearnanewthe
importanceoftellingitsstory,fromGenesistoRevelation,orwewillcontinuetoslip
downtheslopeofbiblicalilliteracyandlacktheexperienceChristian
transformation.Thisdoesnotassumethatmostknowthebiblicalstory,butitdoes
takeseriouslythefactthebiblicalstorymustbetoldbytheChurch.
Whatistrue,weknow,isthatthebiblicalstoryisnotsolelyproclaimedtoa
peoplewhounderstandtheirlivestobeshapedbythestoryofGod.Manyofthose
whohearthebiblicalstoryarenomorefamiliarwiththenarratives,andthelarger
narrativearcofGod’sstory,thantheyarefamiliarwithquantumphysicsor
neurobiology.ThestoriesofGodareproclaimedinpulpitstothosewhoselivesrub
againstthebroaddiversityofpeoplewholivetheirlivesinagloballydiverseworld.
Thisisnottosuggestthatthebroaddiversityweenjoyshouldbescaledback,butit
istosuggestthattheChurchmustproclaimthewholestoryofGodwithoutshying
awayfrom“thegospelpromises.”50
IfwhatRobertSchankhassuggestedistrue,thatwedefineourselvesboth
throughstorieswehearandtell,thentheChurchmustcompellinglytellthestory
notsimplytocomeagainstthemountinglackofbiblicalliteracy,buttobecomea
peoplewholivetransformedlivesintheworld.AsRichardBauckmannotes,we
mustbuildcommunitieswhereweare“constantlyretellingthestory,neverlosing
sightofthelandmarkevents,neverlosingtouchwiththemainlinesoftheological
49Jacobson,130. 50RobertJensen,“HowtheWorldLostItsStory”FirstThingsFirst36(1993):24.
32
meaninginScripture’sowntellingandcommentaries,alwaysremainingopentothe
neverexhaustedpotentialofthetextsintheirresonanceswithcontemporarylife.”51
NarrativeLectionary
RobertJensenwritesthat“itisthechurch’sconstitutivetasktotellthe
biblicalnarrativetotheworldinproclamationandtoGodinworship,andtodoso
inafashionappropriatetothecontextofthatnarrative;thatis,asapromiseclaimed
fromGodandproclaimedtotheworld.”52TheNarrativeLectionary,developedby
RolfJacobsonandCraigKoesterofLutherTheologicalSeminaryinSt.Paul,
Minnesota,wasconceivedbyJacobsonatadenominationalgathering(2010)where
hecontemplatedinabreakoutsessionwithlocalchurchpastors,“whychurches
don’tpreachtheOldTestamentinbigbrushstrokesfromLaborDaythrough
Christmas,preachonegospelfromChristmasthroughEaster,andpreachearly
churchstoriesandActsuntilPentecost.”53Theideaquicklybecamealiturgical
experimentwhenDanSmith,anordainedministeroftheEvangelicalLutheran
ChurchinAmerica(ELCA),recruitedahandfulofELCAchurcheswhoagreedtoput
theideaintopracticeintheirlocalcongregationifJacobsonweretocreateit.
Afterthedenominationalgathering,wordabouttheexperiment,first
conceivedasanine-monthprojecttoaddressthe“perceivedbiblicalilliteracyinthe
51RichardBauckman,“ReadingScriptureasaCoherentStory,”inTheArtofReadingScripture,ed.EllenF.DavisandRichardB.Hays(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,2003),44. 52Jensen,19. 53Thorngate,22.
33
ELCA,”spreadquicklyandatitslaunch,intheFallof2010,KoesterandJacobson
hadapproximately40preachersandcongregationsreadytoembracethenew
idea.54TheNarrativeLectionary,atpresent,hasgrowntoincludecongregations
frommanydifferentProtestantdenominationswithinthecountryandaroundthe
globe.JacobsonandKoestercreatedtheNarrativeLectionarywiththeaimsof
exposing“peopletopreachingonthemajorstories”andreinforcingthrough
worship“theimportanceofthebiblicalstory.”55
TheNarrativeLectionaryisstructuredasafour-yearlectionary.56Itconsists
ofapreachingtextandanalternativereadingtocomplementthepreachingtext.
Thenarrativeemphasisisreflectedinmuchlongerlectionsthanthosepresentedin
theRevisedCommonLectionary.Scholarsandpractitionersagreethatpeopleof
faithmustbecomemoreconversantinthebiblicalnarrativesgiventousin
Scripture.Today,toooften,wereadandlistentotweetsof140charactersandshort
headlines,insteadoflisteningandreadinglongernarratives,butthisshouldnotbe
sointhechurch.TothisendMoorewrites,“ourcongregationsneedtobetaught
againhowtolisten…SundaysermonsshouldbelesslikeCNNHeadlineNewsand
morelikethestorytellingweseeinthebestofmodernfilmmaking.”57Weneed
greatercontextaroundthetextsthatwehearinworship.Thoseinthepewneedto
hearthefulleststorypossible,notjusttheoneversethedrawsanemotional
response.Weneedthenarrative.54TimothyAndrewLetzeke,“LectionariesandLittleNarratives:ChildrenoftheRevisedCommonLectionary,”Liturgy29,no.4(2014):29,accessedJanuary24,2017,doi:10.1080/0458063X.2014.922004. 55Ibid.,29. 56SeeAppendices1,forNarrativeLectionaryYears1-4. 57Moore,37.
34
TheNarrativeLectionary,withitslongandexpandednarratives,disciplines
boththepastorandthecongregationtothesacredartoflistening.Forexample,on
theNarrativeLectionary’sopeningSundayinYear2andYear4theprimary
preachingtextsareGenesis2:4b-25andGenesis1:1-2:4a,respectively.On
TransfigurationSundayinYear1andYear3theprimarypreachingtextsare
Matthew16:24-17:8andLuke9:28-45,respectively.Theselectionspresentdecent-
sizedsamplingsofthelongnarrativesthatallNarrativeLectionarycongregations
mustdisciplinethemselvestohearinworship.ThecuratorsoftheNarrative
Lectionaryfundamentallyassertthroughitsintentionalnarrativeframingofthetext
that“thechurchmustbeconstantlyretellingthestory…alwaysremainingopento
theneverexhaustedpotentialofthetext.”58
TheNarrativeLectionaryhascreatedthefollowingstructureforitsfour-year
cycle.Forsixteenweeksinthefall,beginninginSeptember,theprimarypreaching
textsaretakenfromtheHebrewBibleandmovefromstoriesinGenesistothe
returnfromexile.EachyeartheprimarypreachingtextbeginsinGenesiswiththe
storyofcreationandmovestothestoriesofAbrahamandSarahandtheiroffspring;
“eachyearpreachesitswayrapidlythroughtheOldTestamentstory.”59Inthe
seasonofAdvent,theNarrativeLectionarygoesadifferentdirectionthanthe
RevisedCommonLectionaryinthatitfocusesonpropheticstoriesofGod’sactivity.
Forexample,ontheFirstSundayinAdventinYear1thestoryofHabakkukisthe
selectedpreachingtext.OntheSecondSundayinAdventinYear3theselected58RichardBauckman,“ReadingScriptureasaCoherentStory,”inTheArtofReadingScripture,ed.EllenF.DavisandRichardB.Hays(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,2003),44. 59RolfJacobson,“TheNarrativeLectionary”LutheranForum46,no.1(2012),26.
35
preachingtextistakenfromJoel2.OntheThirdSundayinAdventinYear2the
selectedpreachingtextistakenfromEzraontherebuildingofthetemple.
IntheNarrativeLectionaryfromtheFirstSundayofChristmastoEastertide,
overthecourseofsixteentotwentyweeks,thestoryofJesusispreachedusingone
Gospel,followinginthetraditionoftheRevisedCommonLectionary.Howeverwhat
isuniqueabouttheNarrativeLectionary’sfocusononeGospelisthatit“isreadin
sequencewithanefforttoavoidoverlappingstoriesbetweentheGospels.”60This
importantsequencingallowsforboththepreacherandcongregationtobringout
uniqueaspectsofnotonlythethemeandfocusoftheparticulargospelwriter,but
alsonarrativenuances.Forexample,inexploringthepreachingtextsfortheThird
SundayafterEpiphany(Luke5:1-11)inYear3,Iwasabletoremindthe
congregationofthepreachingtextfromtheSecondSundayafterEpiphanywhere
theyheard/readoftheestablishedrelationshipthatJesushadwithSimonPeterin
thehealingofSimonPeter’smotherfromahighfever.IntheRevisedCommon
Lectionary,thelectionofLuke5:1-11ontheFifthSundayafterEpiphanyis
proceededbyLuke4:21-30ontheFourthSundayafterEpiphany.Animportant
textualnuance,whichnamestheestablishedrelationshipbetweenSimonPeterand
JesusthroughthehealingofSimonPeter’smother-in-law,iscompletelyomittedin
theRevisedCommonLectionary,butincludedintheNarrativeLectionary.
InthefinalofficialweeksoftheNarrativeLectionary,sixtosevenweeksin
theseasonofEasterconcludingonPentecostSunday,thepreachingtextsarefrom
60TimothyAndrewLetzeke,“LectionariesandLittleNarratives:ChildrenoftheRevisedCommonLectionary,”Liturgy29,no.4(2014):29,accessedJanuary24,2017,doi:10.1080/0458063X.2014.922004.
36
theActsoftheApostlesandtheepistles.InmovingtohighlightthegiftoftheHoly
Spirit,theNarrativeLectionaryturnsfromitsfocusonthedevelopmentoftheearly
churchandjoinswiththeRevisedCommonLectionaryinfocusingitspreachingtext
onActs2.
WhiletheNarrativeLectionarydoesseektoconform“bothtotherhythmsof
theliturgicalyear,especiallyitsmajorfestivals,aswellastotherealitiesofthe
annualcycleofourculture,”itdoesnottakeitscuesfromtheliturgicalcalendarin
mostcases.Forcongregationsthataredeeplycommittedtotheliturgicalcalendar
orhavetraditionalcelebrationslikethoseoftheBlackChurch,theNarrative
Lectionarymustbeadapted.Forexample,incelebratingChristtheKingSundayin
Year3,theNarrativeLectionary’sprimarypreachingtextisJeremiah36:1-8,21-23,
27-28;and31:31-34,whichinviteschallengingpreachingorperhapssometimes
abandoningthelectionaryaltogetherasIdidonHistoricallyBlack
College/UniversitySunday(FifthSundayafterEpiphany),choosingbothtoremain
inthebookofJohnandtofollowthetextsequentially,whenIpreachedasermon
entitled“Thirsty”fromJohn7:37-52(astorythattheNarrativeLectionaryleaves
out)insteadoftheselectedpreachingtextofJohn4:1-12.61
ThecuratorsoftheNarrativeLectionarydonotassumethattheNarrative
Lectionaryisidealforeverycongregation.Theythinkofitstillverymuchasatool
thatshouldbeadaptedandtheyhopethateverycongregationfeels“freetotweak,
tinker,tryouttheirownideas:inshort,tousetheirevangelicalfreedomwelland
61Seewww.soundcloud.com/revjlhj,foronlinecontentofothersermonsIpreachedatChristianFellowshipCongregationalChurch(UnitedChurchofChrist)throughoutthisproject.
37
wisely.”62TheideaoftweakingandtinkeringwiththeNarrativeLectionaryoffers
BlackChurchesthefreedomofbeingabletotaketheimportantmilestonesofthe
BlackChurchcalendar,likeHBCUSunday,andshapeaculturallyrelevant,biblically
soundworshipservicethatnotonlyimprovesbiblicalliteracybutalsoestablishes
transformationalcommunitiesoffaithwhoareshapedbyGod’sstory.
WhatbothJacobsonandKoesterassertisthatthenarrativestoryofourfaith
arekeytobuildingtransformationalcommunitiesofthefaith—communitiesthat
arenotsimplybiblicallyandreligiouslysmartinthattheyknowbiblicalfacts,but
communitieswhereindividualshavebeentransformedbythepoweroftheWord.
AsJoyMoore,comments,“thekindofliteracyweneedisnotjustaknowledgeof
individualBibleversesbutaholisticknowledgeofthestoryofGod”thatmakesusa
“story-shapedcommunity,”thatisreadytoengageinthetransformationofthe
worldaccordingtoGod’saims.63Whenwehear,particularlyinthepresentationof
thegospelnarratives,thewayJesusbroughtthosefromthemarginsintothecenter
ofthecommunity,thewayheembodiedradicalwelcomeandinclusionwoven
togetherinacompellingmessagefromthepreacherinvitingthecommunityto
becomemoreChrist-like,whichistheworkoftransformation,communitiesare
changedforthegood,andtothegloryofGod.TheNarrativeLectionary,Ibelieve,is
anexcellenttooltodevelopandshapetransformationaldisciplesofJesusChrist.
62Jacobson,26. 63Moore,31,38.
38
ABLACKNARRATIVEPULPIT
WhencommunitiesoffaithcomeintouchwithGod’sstory,whentheyare
familiarwiththeliberatingnarrativearcofGod’sjourneywithhumanity,they
becometransformedwithknowledgeandtheabilitytomaketransformativeactsin
theworld.Inmyethnographicresearch,congregantssharedwithmethe
connectionstheyweremakingtosocialjusticeeffortsasaresultofthenarrative
preachedusingtheNarrativeLectionary.Onerespondednotedonthesermon
survey,“IfeltIwascalledtodomorefortheunderprivilegedandhomeless”while
anothernoteda“commitmenttowelcomeotherpeopletoourchurch.“64
ABlackNarrativePulpitiswhereimaginative,soul-stirring,prophetic,
biblical,NarrativeLectionary-based,blackpreachingoccursinBlackChurches.
WithintheBlackChurch,preachingisoftenahigh,celebratory,pastoral-prophetic
dialecticalmomentwherethechurchwaits,witheageranticipation,toparticipate,
toreceiverevelation,educationandhope.PreachingintheBlackChurchremainsto
thisverydayaprimarymodeofreligiousinstructionandeducation.65The
responsibilitiesofpreachingcarryevenmoreweighttodaythantheydidseveral
decadesagowhenreligiouseducationonSundaymorningandWednesdayevening
tookgreaterprecedenceinthelivesorparishioners.Today’sBlackpreachersmust
notsimplybe“trivocal”,maintainingpastoralauthorityasprophet,priestandsage,
64SeeAppendix3.65SeeOlinP.Moyd,TheSacredArt:PreachingandTheologyintheAfricanAmericanTradition(ValleyForge:Judson,1995)whopointsoutthesignificanceof“TellingtheStory,”especiallyinChapter6.
39
asKenyattaGilbertsuggests,66butmustbecomequadvocal.Today’sBlackpreacher
mustusetheBlackpulpit,morenowthaneverbefore,toteachthoseinthepews.
Transformationexpertbellhookssuggeststhatthosewhoareengagedmost
activelyintheworkoftransformationthrougheducationbelievetheirjobis“not
merelytoshareinformationbutshareintheintellectualandspiritualgrowth”of
people.67ABlackNarrativePulpitisimaginative,soul-stirring,prophetic,biblical,
NarrativeLectionary-based,BlackpreachingthatengendersGod-infusedwisdom
throughstorythatencourages“criticalthinking,heightenedimagination,and
liberatingpractice”amongthoseinBlackpews.68
ForthelastalmostsevenyearsIhaveservedasthepastorofaBlackChurch,
andforthelastfouryearshaveused,almostexclusively,theNarrativeLectionary.
Thisaffordedmefirsthandexperienceofhowusingthislectionary,establishinga
BlackNarrativePulpit,hascontributedtogreaterbiblicalliteracyandChristian
transformationinthelifeoneBlackChurch.DevelopingaBlackNarrativePulpit
pavedthewayformycongregationtobecomebetteracquaintedwiththebroad
movementofthebiblicalstory.Inmyresearchthroughconversationswith
membersandIrecallawomanreachingbroadlyacrossthebiblicalcannon
showcasingwidefluencyandliteracyacrossthespectrumduringtheBibleStudy.I
rememberhermakingfascinatingconnectionsbetweenGenesisandRevelationas
shespokeoftheshalomandwholenessthattheGodcreatedintheGarden,and66KenyattaR.Gilbert,TheJourneyandPromiseofAfricanAmericanPreaching(Minneapolis:FortressPress,2011),11. 67bellhooks,TeachingtoTransgress:EducationasthePracticeofFreedom(NewYork:Routledge,1994),13. 68PeterHodgson,God’sWisdom:TowardaTheologyofEducation(Louisville:WestminsterJohnKnoxPress,1999),8.
40
relatedittonewcreationGodlongstoseefulfilledattheeschaton.Thelanguageof
shalomandwholeness,islanguageshedevelopedasaresultofhearingNarrative
Lectionarysermonsinthefallofyear,whentheNarrativeLectionaryinvites
preachingonthesubjectofcreationinGenesis.69
TheNarrativeLectionaryhasalsoencouragedmycongregationtobecome
moreChrist-like,trulyyearning“todojustice,embracefaithfullove,andwalk
humbly”withGodwhichistherealizationofChristiantransformation.70Inmy
researchmemberscongregationnotedonthesurveythattheyfeltcalled“tocarry
homelessbagsinmycarforthoseIseeinthestreet,”whileanotherwas“reminded
thatrecyclinginmyhomeisanactof[biblical]justice.”ABlackNarrativePulpit
utilizestheresourcesoftheBlackChurch,inthiscasetheprizedplaceofpreaching,
andtheresourcesoftheNarrativeLectionarytocontributetogreaterbiblical
literacyandencouragetransformativeactsthatbuildupthebodyChristand
transformourworldtowardGod’saims.
IthasnotbeeneasytoestablishaBlackNarrativePulpitatChristian
FellowshipCongregationChurchofSanDiego(UCC).WhenIinitiallyundertookthis
projecttherewasgreatresistance.Severalencouragedmetoabandonthe
lectionaryideacompletelyandjustpreachwhatevertheLordlaidonmyheart.This
groupfeltthatmysermonswouldbemorespiritedifthisweretheapproachto
sermondevelopmentandformation.Theideaofknowingthebiblicaltextmonths
inadvancedtroubledmanywhofeltthatthiskindofadvancedknowingsignified
thatitwasnota“fresh,”“inseason,”or“rightnow”Word.Others,especiallythose69SeeAppendix3.70Micah6:8,CommonEnglishBible.
41
whohadcamefromtheUnitedMethodistChurch,PresbyterianChurchUSA,and
EvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmericapushedfortheRevisedCommon
Lectionary(RCL).ManyofthemcitedstrongreasonstousetheRCL,chiefamong
themwasbeingabletobeindialogueonMondaymorningorSundayeveningwith
friendsfromaroundthecountryandcomparenotes,or,perhapsmoreaccurately,
determinewhichpreacherdidabetterjobwiththetext!OtherwhowantedtheRCL
citedverypoorreasons,likewantingtokeepanexpensivecolorbulletinthatthe
denominationprovidedfeaturingreflectionsontheRCLinwordandart.Through
educationalmomentsinbusinessandministrymeetings,alongwithnotesinthe
bulletinandcontinuousconversationgroundedinthelanguageofbeingonthe
“NarrativeLectionaryjourney”thechurchhascometoappreciatetheunique
qualitiesofourBlackNarrativePulpit.
Oneofthemostsignificant,butlessthanenduringcomplaintsofthe
NarrativeLectionaryinuseatChristianFellowshiphasbeenthereadingoflengthy
passagesofScripture.BeforeestablishingaBlackNarrativePulpit,thecongregation
hadgrownaccustomedtoonlythepreachedtext,oftenjustaverseortwo,being
readinworship—notalongtextandanaccompanyingreadingastheNarrative
Lectionarysuggests.ThesecomplaintscameprimarilyfromtheSundaymorning
liturgistswhoheldresponsibilityforreadingthelessons,butsecondarilyfrom
volunteerswhosejobwastoputtogetherourweeklybulletin.Theirtaskwasindeed
adifficultone:tofit,ontheFifthSundayafterEpiphany,Matthew14:13-33and
Psalm95:1-5inthebulletin—inareadable-sizefont!Thetaskbecametoomuch,
andasthecongregation’sattentiontothelongnarrativesandthereading
42
performanceoftheliturgistimproved—withthehelpofspecialScripturereading
workshopsliturgiststooktoheartthat“proclamationbeginswiththespeakingand
hearingoftheScriptures”—itwasdeemedunnecessarytoprinttheScripturesinthe
weeklybulletinandthechurchhasbecomeacommunitythatpracticesactive
listeningeachSundaymorning.71
ThemostenduringfrustrationoftheNarrativeLectionaryinuseatChristian
FellowshipisthelongfallandwinterweekswhereJesusisnoticeablyabsentfrom
preaching.JacobsonandKoester,earlyinthedevelopmentofthelectionarynoted
thissimilarconcernaspastorsprovidedfeedbackonsomeofthechallengesofits
usewithintheircongregations.Thelongwinterweeksoftenwearymy
congregationtopointwhereIwonderifthechoir’ssingingof“GiveMeJesus…Give
MeJesus”isadoubleentendredirectedatthelectionary.Attimesduringthis
somewhatlongstretchsomehaveflatlysaid,asIhavegreetedthematthedoor,that
mysermonswasgoodbutneededa“dashmoreofJesus.”EventhoughJacobson
andKoesterencouragepastorstorememberthatthereadingandpreachingofthe
HebrewBible“takeplaceinthemidstofaChristianliturgythatmentionsJesusand
theTrinityoften”itisoftenafarmorechallengingexperienceforthoseinthe
pews.72InestablishingthisBlackNarrativePulpitwehavesoughtto“focus
primarilyupontheworldwithinthetextinrelationtotheworldinfrontofthe
text—tolookforwardfromIsrael’sscripturestowardthoseenduringfaith,both
71G.RobertJacks,GettingtheWordAcross:SpeechCommunicationforPastorsandLayLeaders(GrandRapids:W.W.EerdmansPublishingCompany,1995),9. 72Jacobson,26.
43
JewishandChristian,thatappropriatethismaterialasScripture”whentheprimary
preachingtextsaredrawnfromtheHebrewBible.73
InestablishingthisBlackNarrativePulpit,overthelastfouryears,Ihave
workedhardtodevelopandrefinemypreachingmethod.Indoingso,Ihave
exploredandtestedseveraldifferentpreachingmethods,amongthemFrank
Thomas’methodofcelebrationinTheyLiketoNeverQuitPraisin’God,PaulScott
Wilson’sweeklongmethodinThePracticeofPreaching,JamesHenryHarris’method
ofself-understanding,storyandilluminationinTheWordMadePlain,andmany
others.ButthemethodthatIhavemostconsistentlyreturnedto,againandagainin
establishingaBlackNarrativePulpit,isthemethodarticulatedinTheCertainSound
oftheTrumpetbySamuelDeWittProctor.Inthisexcellentlittlebook,Proctor
encouragesthepreachertoslowlyandcriticallythinkthroughhisorherpreaching
textbyfollowingatime-testedpreachingprocessthathewasfirstattractedtowhen
heheardthe“clarionpreaching”ofHarryEmersonFosdickatTheRiversideChurch
intheCityofNewYork.Themethod,firstfoundinthephilosophicwritingofGeorg
WilhelmFriedrichHegelintheeighteenthandnineteenthcenturies,beginswitha
proposition(mainidea),whichdevelopsintoasubject(title,theme),whichistobe
debatedwithanantithesis(whypreachthis),whichthendevelopsintoathesis
(propositionexpanded),whichisexpandedtoaskrelevantquestions(the“sowhat”
ofthesermon),andfinallyconcludeswithasynthesis(resolution/whatistobe
celebratedinthetext).Whenpreachingisconsistentlyapproachedusingthistime-
testedmethodaBlackNarrativePulpitcanleadtototransformationinthepews.73R.W.Moberly,OldTestamentTheology:ReadingtheHebrewBibleasChristianScripture(GrandRapids:BakerAcademic,2013),283.
44
TheBlackNarrativePulpitatChristianFellowshipCongregationalChurch
(UCC)hasworked,overthelastfouryears,toestablishatransformationalbiblically
literateBlackChurch.Thecongregationhasdevelopedanintimacywiththebiblical
textthattheydidnothavebefore.Thecongregationthinkscriticallyaboutthetexts
andisunafraidofquestioning,challengingtexts,oroutrightdisagreeingwitha
biblicaltext.AsaresultofestablishingaNarrativeBlackPulpitatChristian
Fellowship,thechurchhasgainedcomfortwiththebroadarcofthebiblical
narrative.Thishasbeenproventhroughsurveys,conversations,andotherfeedback
loopsinwhichmembersrecallthebroadconnectionsacrossthebiblicalcanon
showingnotonlyfamiliaritywiththetextbutasenseofintimacywiththestoryof
Godandbiblicalthemes.Thecongregationhascometoknowandunderstandthe
text,andnowlongstoembodythekindofworldthatthetextinvitesthemtocreate,
whichisthemostsignificantsignoftransformation.
ThemostsignificanttestimonyoftransformationinthelifeofthisBlack
ChurchisthatofbecomingaBlackChurchthatwelcomesandaffirmspersonswho
identifyasLGBTQIandthosewhoaredifferently-abled.74KellyBrownDouglass
suggeststhattheradicalwelcomeof“bluesbodies”intothefullnessoftheBlack
ChurchembodiestheverynatureofbeingatransformativeBlackChurch:a
communitywitha“morallyactivecommitmenttoadvancethelife,freedom,and
74SeeHoraceGriffin,TheirOwnReceivedThemNot:AfricanAmericanLesbiansandGaysinBlackChurches(Cleveland:PilgrimPress,2006)forthemostcurrentscholarshiponQueerTheologyandtheBlackChurch.
45
dignity”ofallBlackbodies.75Intestimonyofthis,thechurchhasbecomethefirst
BlackUnitedChurchofChristcongregationinthenationtoholdofficialdesignations
bythedenominationasbothan1)OpenandAffirmingcongregation;welcomingand
affirmingofpersonswhoareLGBTQI,and2)AccessibletoAllcongregation;
affirming,celebratingandcreatingspaceforpersonswhoaredifferently-abled.76
Developingapracticalunderstandingofatheologyoflimitshasprovedhelpedin
understandingdisabilitytheology.77Inthistheologywearetounderstand
disablismnotasanexceptionalinstancethatrubsagainstthenormsofwhatit
meanstobefullyhuman,butasoneofthemanylimitsthathumanityhas,orwill
have,intheirlifetime.Atheologyoflimitsmovesdisablismfromaplaceofpityand
empathytoaplacewherenormsbecomemorefluidandthedisabledarenolonger
expectedtobe“treated”or“rehabilitated”intoanidealizednormativeability.
IbelievethatestablishingaBlackNarrativePulpithasbeenasignificantmost
importantfactorthatledtotransformingChristianFellowshipfromonethat
75Douglas,xiii.Formoreon“embodiedBlacktheology”seeforexampleEboniMarshallTurman,TowardaWomanistEthicofIncarnation:BlackBodies,theBlackChurch,andtheCouncilofChalcedon(NewYork:PalgraveMacmillan,2013). 76SeeNancyEiesland,TheDisabledGod:TowardALiberatoryTheologyofDisability(Nashville:AbingdonPress,1994)whereshecallsforradicalinclusionandaffirmationofpersonswholivewithdisabilityintothefulllifetheChurch,andthecreationofliberatingimages,ideasandvaluesofpersonswhoaredifferently-abledthatviewthemaswholepersons,notbrokenandinneedoffixing. 77DeborahCreamerinDisabilityandChristianTheology(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,2009),64,suggeststhathumanity’s“limitsneednotbeseenasnegativebutrather…animportantpartofbeinghuman.”FormoreonatheologyoflimitsanddebateonnormativeabilitywithindisabilitytheologyseeJohnSwintonwhosuggeststhatdisabilityshouldbeunderstoodasa“socialexperiencethatisshapedandformedbytheparticularcontextinwhichaperson’sperceiveddifferenceisexperienced”inhisarticle“Disability,AbleismandDisablism,”inTheWileyBlackwellCompaniontoPracticalTheology(Malden:Wiley-Blackwell,2012),444.
46
outrightrejectedLGBTQIanddifferently-abledpersonsfromthe“fulllife,
membership,leadership,mission,fellowship,worship,andsacraments”ofthe
church,toonethatradicallyinvitesandwelcomes“alltobeartheresponsibilities,
blessingsandjoysofmembershipministryandlife”inthechurch;affirming“the
inherentvalue,worthanddignity”of“allpersons”as“childrenofGod,createdin
God’simage.”78Inhearingthelongexpandednarrativesoverthecourseoffour
yearsthroughtheNarrativeLectionary,andtrulylongingtoembodythenarrative
worldofthetext,mycongregationhasbecomeatransformationacommunityof
loveandgrace—activelyseekingoutthosewhoareoppressedandmarginalized,
invitingthemtotable,andcreatingspacewithinthecommunityforsacredstoriesto
beheard.Inthecongregationalmeetingwherethevotewasbeingcalled,to
determinewhetherornotourcongregationwouldformallywelcomeandaffirm
personswhoareLGBTQIanddifferently-abled,thecommunityoccupiedaposture
ofsacredlistening,theverysameposturetheyheldwhenlisteningtothelong
narrativesofJesusduringworshipusingtheNarrativeLectionary.79The
congregation,afterlisteningtoseveralstories,respondedwiththesame
compassion,loveandgracethattheyheardinthestoryofJoseph,Hannah,the
widowatNain,andJarius’Daughter.ThetransformationalshiftfrombeingaBlack
UCCcongregationwhothoughtlittleaboutdenominationaltheology,toonethat
78The“OpenandAffirming&AccessibletoAllStatementofChristianFellowshipCongregationalChurchofSanDiego(UnitedChurchofChrist). 79Seehttp://www.servedupsober.com/religion-inclusion-addicitonforacompleteablogpostofablacklesbianwomanwhosharedherstoryattheAnnualMeetingofChristianFellowshipCongregationalChurch(UCC)onJanuary29,2017,insupportofthemotiontobecomeanOpenandAffirming(ONA),AccessibletoAll(A2A)congregationoftheUnitedChurchofChrist.
47
votedalmostunanimouslytoradicallyincludeallpersonsinthelifeofthechurchis
asignificanttransformation,onethatIbelievecouldnothavebeenmadewithout
theNarrativeLectionary.
EstablishingaBlackNarrativePulpithasstrengthenedworship,contributed
togreaterbiblicalliteracy,andincitedChristiantransformationatChristian
FellowshipCongregationalChurch(UCC).EstablishingaBlackNarrativePulpit
openedthewayforthiscommunitytocreativelyembodyanewworldshapedby
thebiblicalstoryrevealedintheChristianScriptures;astorythathashelpedthis
churchliveoutitsuniquecallingtobeaculturallyrelevant,biblical,story-shaped
communityoffaith,justice,liberation,andholylove.Furtherresearchonthetopic
shouldseektodetermineifthefindingsexperiencedatChristianFellowship
CongregationalChurch(UCC)mightbesimilarlyexperiencedinotherBlack
NarrativePulpits.
48
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53
APPENDIX1:NarrativeLectionary80
Year1Matthew(2018-2019)
LiturgicalDay Theme PreachingText AccompanyingReading
13thSundayafterPentecost
FloodandPromise Genesis6:16-22;9:8-15
Matthew8:24-27
14thSundayafterPentecost
CallofAbraham Genesis12:1-9 Matthew28:19-20
15thSundayafterPentecost
JosephinPrison Genesis39:1-23 Matthew5:11-12
16thSundayafterPentecost
RescueattheSea Exodus14:10-14,21-29
Matthew2:13-15
17thSundayafterPentecost
CovenantandCommandments
Exodus19:3-7;20:1-17
Matthew5:17
18thSundayafterPentecost
JoshuaRenewstheCovenant
Joshua24:1-15 Matthew4:8-10
19thSundayafterPentecost
DavidandBathsheba 2Samuel12:1-9;Psalm51:1-9
Matthew21:33-41
20thSundayafterPentecost
Solomon’sWisdom 1Kings3:4-9,16-28Matthew6:9-10
21stSundayafterPentecost
ElishaHealsNaaman 2Kings5:1-14 Matthew8:2-3
22ndSundayafterPentecost
Micah Micah5:2-4;6-8 Matthew9;13
23rdSundayafterPentecost
SwordsandPlowshares Isaiah36:1-3,13-20;37:1-7then2:1-4
Matthew5:14
ChristtheKingSunday Jeremiah’sTempleSermon
Jeremiah1:4-10;7:1-11
Matthew21:12-13
FirstSundayofAdvent FaithasaWayofLife Habakkuk1:1-4;2:2-4;3:17-19
Matthew26:36-38
SecondSundayofAdventEsther Esther4:1-17 Matthew5:13-16
ThirdSundayofAdvent LighttotheNations Isaiah42:1-9 Matthew12:15-21
FourthSundayofAdventJesusasImmanuel Matthew1:18-25 Psalm23:1-4or23:4
ChristmasEve BirthofJesus Luke2:1-14[15-20]Psalm96:10-13
ChristmasDay ShepherdsVisit Luke2:8-20 Psalm95:6-7FirstSundayofChristmas
MagiVisit Matthew2:1-12 Psalm96:10-13
SecondSundayofChristmas
FlighttoEgypt Matthew2:13-23 Psalm11:1-13
80WorkingPreacher,“NarrativeLectionaryFAQ”accessedApril28,2017,https://www.workingpreacher.org/narrative_faqs.aspx.
54
FirstSundayafterEpiphany
Jesus’Baptism Matthew3:1-17 Psalm2:7-8
SecondSundayafterEpiphany
TemptedintheWilderness
Matthew4:1-17 Psalm91:9-12
ThirdSundayafterEpiphany
Beatitudes Matthew5:1-20 Psalm1:1-3
FourthSundayafterEpiphany
TreasureinHeaven Matthew6:7-21 Psalm20:7
FifthSundayafterEpiphany
Feeding5,000 Matthew14:13-33 Psalm95:1-5
Transfiguration BearingtheCross Matthew16:24-17:8
Psalm41:7-10
AshWednesday WhoistheGreatest Matthew18:1-9 Psalm1467c-10or51:1-3
FirstSundayinLent Forgiveness Matthew18:15-35 Psalm32:1-2SecondSundayinLent LaborersintheVineyardMatthew20:1-16 Psalm16:5-8
ThirdSundayinLent WeddingBanquet Matthew22:1-14 Psalm45:6-7
FourthSundayinLent Bridesmaids Matthew25:1-13 Psalm43:3-4
FifthSundayinLent LastJudgment Matthew25:31-46 Psalm98:7-9
PsalmSunday TriumphalEntry Matthew21:1-13 Psalm118:26-29MaundyThursday WordsofInstitution Matthew26:17-30 Psalm116:12-15
GoodFriday Crucifixion Matthew27:27-61 Psalm22:1-2,14-18
HolySaturday Easter Easter Matthew28:1-10 Psalm118:19-24SecondSundayofEaster GreatCommission Matthew28:16-20 Psalm40:9-10
ThirdSundayofEaster Peter’sVision Acts10:1-17,34-35 Matthew9:36-37
FourthSundayofEaster Paul’sMission Acts13:1-3;14:8-18Matthew10:40-42
FifthSundayofEaster GospelasSalvation Romans1:1-17 Matthew9:10-13SixthSundayofEaster God’sLovePouredOut Romans5:1-11 Matthew11:28-30
SeventhSundayofEasterHopeasResurrection Romans6:1-14 Matthew6:24
Pentecost NothingCanSeparateUs Acts2:1-4/Romans8-18-39
Matthew28:16-20
NarrativeLectionaryYear2Mark(2019-2020)
LiturgicalDay Theme PreachingText AccompanyingReading
SixteenthSundayafterPentecost
GardenofEden Genesis2:4b-25 Mark1:16-20orMark10:6-8
SeventeenthSundayafterPentecost
IsaacBorntoSarah Genesis18:1-15;21:1-7
Mark10:27
EighteenthSundayafterPentecost
JacobWrestlesGod Genesis32:22-30 Mark14:32-36
55
NineteenthSundayafterPentecost
MosesandGod’sName Exodus1:8-14[15-2:10];3:1-15
Mark12:26-27a
TwentiethSundayafterPentecost
HearOIsrael Deuteronomy5:1-21;6:4-9
Mark12:28-31
Twenty-FirstSundayafterPentecost
Ruth Ruth1:1-17 Mark3:33-35
Twenty-SecondSundayafterPentecost
DavidAnointedKing 2Samuel5:1-5;6:1-5/Psalm150
Mark11:8-10
Twenty-ThirdSundayafterPentecost
KingdomDivided 1Kings12:1-17;25-29
Mark10:42-45
Twenty-FourthSundayafterPentecost
ElijahatMountCarmel 1Kings18:20-39 Mark9:2-4
TwentyFifthSundayafterPentecost
Hosea Hosea11:1-9 Mark10-13-14
ChristtheKingSunday Isaiah’sVineyardSong Isaiah5:1-7;11:1-5 Mark12:1-3FirstSundayofAdvent Josiah’sReform 2Kings22:1-10[14-
20];23:1-3Luke24:30-32
SecondSundayofAdvent
IsaiahoftheExile Isaiah40:1-11 Mark1:1-4
ThirdSundayofAdvent RebuildingtheTemple Ezra1:1-4;3:1-4;10-13
Luke2:25-32
FourthSundayofAdventZechariah’sSong Luke1:5-13,57-80 Psalm11:3
ChristmasEve BirthOfJesus Luke2:1-14(15-20) Psalm146:5-10orLuke1:46-55
ChristmasDay ShepherdsVisit Luke2:8-20 Psalm108-1-4FirstSundayofChristmas
BeginningofGoodNewsMark1:1-20 Psalm91;9-12
SecondSundayofChristmas
Jesus’MinistryBegun Mark1:21-45 Psalm103:1-5
FirstSundayafterEpiphany
JesusHealsandTeachesMark2:1-22 Psalm103:6-14
SecondSundayafterEpiphany
ParablesinMark Mark4:1-34 Psalm126
ThirdSundayafterEpiphany
Jairus’DaughterHealed Mark5:21-43 Psalm131
FourthSundayafterEpiphany
DeathofJohntheBaptist
Mark6:1-29 Psalm122
Transfiguration Transfiguration Mark8:27-9:8 Psalm27:1-4AshWednesday PassionPrediction Mark9-30-37 Psalm32:1-5FirstSundayinLent FirstLastandLastFirst Mark10:17-31 Psalm19:7-10SecondSundayinLent BartimaeusHealed Mark10:32-52 Psalm34:11-14ThirdSundayinLent Parableofthe
Tenants/TaxestoCaesar
Mark12:1-12/Mark12:13-17
Psalm86:8-13
FourthSundayinLent GreatCommandment Mark12:28-44 Psalm89:1-4FifthSundayinLent EndoftheAge Mark13:1-8,24-37 Psalm102:12-17 PalmSunday
TriumphalEntry/AnointingatBethany
Mark11:1-11/Mark14:3-9
Psalm118:25-29
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MaundyThursday Lord’sSupper,PrayerinGethsemane
Mark14:22-42 Psalm116:12-19
GoodFriday Crucifixion Mark15:-16-39 Psalm22:1-2,14-21HolySaturday Easter Resurrection Mark16:1-8 Psalm118:21-27SecondSundayofEaster YouShallBeMyWitnessAct1:1-14 Mark6:7-13ThirdSundayofEaster PeterHealsin
JerusalemActs3:1-10 Mark6:53-56
FourthSundayofEaster ChurchatThessalonica Acts17:1-9/1Thessalonians1:1-10
Mark3:9-11
FifthSundayofEaster ChurchatCorinth Acts18:1-4/1Corinthians1:10-18
Mark12:28-31
SixthSundayofEaster Faith,HopeandLove 1Corinthians13:1-13Mark12:28-31SeventhSundayofEaster
DeathSwallowedinLife1Corinthians15:1-26,51-57
Mark12:26-27a
Pentecost GiftsoftheSpirit Acts2:1-4/1Corinthians12:1-13
Mark1:4-8
NarrativeLectionaryYear3Luke(2020-2021)LiturgicalDay Theme PreachingText Accompanying
ReadingSeventeenthSundayafterPentecost
CreationandFall Genesis2:4b-7,15-17;3:1-8
Luke11:4
EighteenthSundayafterPentecost
God’sPromisetoAbraham
Genesis15:1-6 Luke3:8
NineteenthSundayafterPentecost
GodWorksThroughJoseph
Genesis37:3-8,17b-22,26-34;50:15-21
Luke6:35
TwentiethSundayafterPentecost
ThePromiseofPassover
Exodus12:1-13;13:1-8
Luke22:14-20
Twenty-FirstSundayafterPentecost
GoldenCalf Exodus32:1-14 Luke23:34
Twenty-SecondSundayafterPentecost
GodAnswersHannah 1Samuel1:9-11,19-20;2:1-10
Luke1:46-55
Twenty-ThirdSundayafterPentecost
God’sPromisetoDavid 2Samuel7:1-17 Luke1:30-33
Twenty-FourthSundayafterPentecost
God’sCarefortheWidow
1Kings17:1-16[17-24]
Luke4:24-26
TwentyFifthSundayafterPentecost
JonahandGod’sMercy Jonah1:1-17;3:1-10[4:1-11]
Luke18:13
TwentySixthSundayafterPentecost
GodCallsIsaiah Isaiah6:1-8 Luke5:8-10
ChristtheKingSunday GodPromisesaNewCovenant
Jeremiah36:1-8,21-23,27-28then31:31-34
Luke22:19-20
FirstSundayofAdvent Daniel’sHopeinGod Daniel6:6-27 Luke11:13
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SecondSundayofAdvent
Joel:God’sPromisedSpirit
Joel2:12-13,28-29 Luke11:13
ThirdSundayofAdvent SpiritoftheLordUponMe
Isaiah61:1-11 Luke4:16-21
FourthSundayofAdventJesus’BirthAnnouncement
Luke1:26-49 Psalm113or113:9
ChristmasEve BirthofJesus Luke2:1-14[15-20] Psalm96or96:3ChristmasDay ShepherdsVisit Luke2:8-20 Psalm123:1-2or
123:2FirstSundayofChristmas
SimeonandAnna Luke2:21-38 Psalm131or131:3
BaptismofOurLord Jesus’Baptism Luke3:1-22 Psalm51:6-17or51:13
SecondSundayafterEpiphany
SermonatNazareth Luke4:14-30 Psalm146or146:7b-8
ThirdSundayafterEpiphany
FishforPeople Luke5:1-11 Psalm90:14-17or90:17b
FourthSundayafterEpiphany
HealingontheSabbath Luke6:1-16 Psalm92or92:4
FifthSundayafterEpiphany
RaisingtheWidow’sSonLuke7;1-17 Psalm119:105-107or119:107
SixthSundayafterEpiphany
AreYoutheOne? Luke7:18-35 Psalm146:5-10
SeventhSundayafterEpiphany
ForgivenatJesus’Feet Luke7:36-50 Psalm130:3-6
Transfiguration Transfiguration Luke9:28-45 Psalm36:5-10or36:9
AshWednesday JesusTurnstoJerusalem
Luke9:51-62 Psalm5:7-8or15:1
FirstSundayinLent GoodSamaritan Luke9:51-62 Psalm5:7-8or5:8SecondSundayinLent LamentoverJerusalem Luke13:1-9,31-35 Psalm15or15:1ThirdSundayinLent LostSheep,Coin,Son Luke15:1-32 Psalm119:167-176
or119:176FourthSundayinLent RichManandLazarus Luke16:19-31 Psalm41:1-3or41:1FifthSundayinLent Zacchaeus Luke18:31-19:10 Psalm84:1-4,10-12
or84:10 PalmSunday
TriumphalEntry Luke19:29-44 Psalm118:19-23or118:20
MaundyThursday LastSupper Luke22:1-27 Psalm34:8-10or34:8
GoodFriday Crucifixion Luke23:32-47 Psalm31:5-13or31:5a
HolySaturday Easter Resurrection Luke23:32-47 Psalm31:5-13or
31:5aSecondSundayofEaster EmmausRoad Luke24:13-35 Psalm30or30:11ThirdSundayofEaster Stephen’sWitness Acts6:1-7:2a,44-60 Luke23:33-34a,46FourthSundayofEaster EthiopianEunuch
BaptizedActs8:26-39 Luke24:44-47
FifthSundayofEaster CouncilatJerusalem Acts15:1-18 Luke2:29-32
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SixthSundayofEaster LivingbyFaith Galatians1:13-17;2:11-21
Luke18:9-14
SeventhSundayofEaster
OneinChrist Galatians3:1-9,23-29Luke1:68-79
Pentecost Pentecost Acts2:1-4;Galatians4:1-7
Luke11:11-13
SeventeenthSundayafterPentecost
God’sLovePouredOut Romans5:1-11 Matthew11:28-30
EighteenthSundayafterPentecost
HopeasResurrection Romans6:1-14 Matthew6:24
NineteenthSundayafterPentecost
NothingCanSeparateUsActs2:1-4/Romans8-18-39
Matthew28:16-20
NarrativeLectionaryYear4John(2017-2018)LiturgicalDay Theme PreachingText Accompanying
ReadingFourteenthSundayafterPentecost
CreationbytheWord Genesis1:1-2:4a John1:1-5
FifteenthSundayafterPentecost
BindingofIsaac Genesis21:1-3;22:1-14
John1:29
SixteenthSundayafterPentecost
Jacob’sDream Genesis27:1-4,15-23;28:10-10
John1:50-51
SeventeenthSundayafterPentecost
God’sNameIsRevealed Exodus2:23-25;3:10-15;4:10-17
John8:58
EighteenthSundayafterPentecost
GodProvidesManna Exodus16:1-18 John6:51
NineteenthSundayafterPentecost
GodCallsSamuel 1Samuel3:1-21 John20:21-23
TwentiethSundayafterPentecost
GodCallsDavid 1Samuel16:1-13;Psalm51:10-14
John7:24
Twenty-FirstSundayafterPentecost
Solomon’sTemple 1Kings5:1-5;8:1-13 John2:19-21
Twenty-SecondSundayafterPentecost
GodSpeakstoElijah 1Kings19:1-18 John12:27-28
Twenty-ThirdSundayafterPentecost
Amos:JusticeRollsDown
Amos1:1-2;5:14-15,21-24
John7:37-38
Twenty-FourthSundayafterPentecost
Isaiah:AChildIsBorn Isaiah9:1-7 John8:12
ChristtheKingSunday Jeremiah’sLettertoExiles
Jeremiah29:1,4-14 John14:27
FirstSundayofAdvent Daniel:TheFieryFurnace
Daniel3:1,8-30 John18:36-37
SecondSundayofAdvent
Ezekiel:ValleyofDryBones
Ezekiel37:1-14 John11:25-26
ThirdSundayofAdvent WordAccomplishesGod’sPurpose
Isaiah55:1-11 John4:13-14
FourthSundayofAdventWordMadeFlesh John1:1-18 Psalm130:5-8
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ChristmasEve BirthofJesus Luke2:1-14[15-20] Psalm96:7-10ChristmasDay
Shepherds’VisitLuke2:8-20 Psalm123:1-2or
123:2FirstSundayofChristmas
AVoiceintheWilderness
John1:19-34 Psalm32:1-2
BaptismofOurLord JesusSaysComeandSeeJohn1:35-51 Psalm66:1-5SecondSundayafterEpiphany
WeddingatCana John2:1-11 Psalm104:14-16
ThirdSundayafterEpiphany
JesusCleansestheTemple
John2:13-25 Psalm127:1-2
FourthSundayafterEpiphany
Nicodemus John3:1-21 Psalm139:13-18
FifthSundayafterEpiphany
TheWomanattheWell John4:1-42 Psalm42:1-3
Transfiguration TheManBornBlind John9:1-41 Psalm27:1-4AshWednesday TheGoodShepherd John10:1-18 Psalm23FirstSundayinLent JesusRaisesLazarus John11:1-44 Psalm104:27-30SecondSundayinLent JesusWashesFeet John13:1-17 Psalm51:7-12ThirdSundayinLent Peter’sDenial John18:12-27 Psalm17:1-17FourthSundayinLent JesusandPilate John18:28-40 Psalm145:10-13FifthSundayinLent JesusCondemned John19:1-16a Psalm146PsalmSunday TheCrucifiedMessiah John19:16b-22 Psalm24MaundyThursday
Jesus’LastWordsJohn19:23-30 Psalm26:3
GoodFriday JesusthePassoverLambJohn19:31-42 Psalm31:9-18HolySaturday Easter Resurrection John20:1-18 Psalm118:21-29SecondSundayofEaster Thomas John20:19-31 Psalm145:13-21ThirdSundayofEaster Paul’sConversion Acts9:1-19 Matthew6:24FourthSundayofEaster PaulandSilas Acts16:16-34 Luke6:18-19,22-23FifthSundayofEaster Paul’sSermonatAthensActs17:16-31 John1:16-18SixthSundayofEaster Partnershipinthe
GospelPhilippians1:1-18a Luke9:46-28
SeventhSundayofEaster
TheChristHymn Philippians2:1-13 Luke6:43-45
Pentecost Pentecost:RejoiceintheLord
Acts2:1-21;Philippians4:4-7
John14:16-17
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APPENDIX2:TimelineofModernLectionaryDevelopment
1570
MissaleRomanum
December1963
SecondVaticanCouncil—ConstitutiononSacredLiturgyreplacedMissaleRomanumdeclaring“thetreasuresoftheBiblearetobeopenedupmorelavishly,sothatricherfaremaybeprovidedforthefaithfulatthetableofGod’sword.”
1967 JointLiturgicalGroupproducedatwo-yearlectionaryusedprimarilyinUK
1969
LectionaryfortheMass,RomanCatholicChurch
1981
Revisiontothe1963Lectionary“OrdoLectionumMissae”
1983
CCTdevelopedtheCommonLectionary
1990
JointLiturgicalGroupreviseditsworknamedit“JLG-2”turnedinto4-yearlectionaryusingtheOrdoLectionumMissaeandCommonLectionaryplusJohn
1992
RevisedCommonLectionarycompletedinAdventSeason
1994
“RevisingtheRevisedCommonLectionary”Four-YearLectionary/RCLrevisionDMINprojectatGTF
61
2007
UncommonLectionarycreatedbyThomasG.Bandytwoyearlectionary;Year1:SeekerCycle,andYear2:DiscipleCycle
AfricanAmericanLectionaryalectionaryresourceprojectfortheBlackChurch.TheprojectwasledbyBaptist/UCCclergywoman,theRev.Dr.MarthaSimmons.
2009
FourthYearProposalfocusedonOT,RobertThomasQuisenberryD.Min.Project
2010
TheNarrativeLectionaryisdeveloped
2010
TheOpen-SourceLectionary,EricLemonholm’sD.Min.Thesis
2012
YearD:AQuadrennialSupplementtotheRevisedCommonLectionary,byTimothyMatthewSlemmons
2013
BeyondtheLectionarybyDavidJ.Ackerman,similarproposalstoYearD
62
APPENDIX3:BriefSamplingofSermonResponseSurveysoftheBlackNarrativePulpitatChristianFellowshipCongregationalChurchfrom2016-2017Didthepreachingtodayexpandyourknowledgeofthebiblicalstory?YES NO
36answered“Yes” 9answered“No”
Wasthisyourfirsttimehearingthisweek’sNarrativeLectionaryScripturesinasermon?YES NO
34answered“Yes” 9answered“no”
WheredidfindyourselfaddressedbytheGospel/GoodNewsinthesermon?
· IfeltIwascalledtodomorefortheunderprivilegedandhomeless.ActuallymakingtimelikeI’veplannedtofeedthehomeless.
· Changeispossible,andeverydaybringsnewpossibilities.· Thebiblicalstorywasbasedonwhatisgoingonintheworldtoday.· Cleaningawayofmysins.Havearepentantheart.· Godlovesmeunconditionally.· Thegoodnewsformeisthatnomatterthedepthsofsinandwickedness,
Godisalwayswillingtomakeanewcovenant.Henevergivesuponus.· IwasaddressedasthewidowwhohadverylittletoeatbuttrustedGod
(throughElijah)toprovideforherneedsifshefaithfullyobeyed(evenifobeyingseemedimpossible).
· Baptismisagiftgiventoman.Onceinalifetime,itallowsyouenoughgraceuntillifeeternal.
· Godwantsmetoknowwholeness/shalom.Wheredidyoufindyourselffrustratedorconfusedinthesermon?
· Notfrustratedorconfused.· Iwasnotfrustrated,norconfusedinsermon.· Understandingtheconflictbetweenthegospelanddailyliving.· Referencetoslaveryoppressioninstereotypedterms—· Frustratedbyissuesnamedinthecommunity.·
Wheredidyoufindyourselfdelightedinthesermon?· Thesermonistiedinwithscripture
63
· Baptismisgoodbecauseitissomethingtobemadepublic.Sowecanrememberourbaptism.Baptismiscommunalevent.Baptismlastsforever.
· IwasdelightedwhenIunderstoodthegravityofthemiracle,makingameallastyears.MyGodiswonderful!
· Understandingthepurposeofbaptismandtherisksassociatedwithitinthepast.Thatbaptismisacommunityevent.
· Mypastdoesnotdictatemyfuture.WheredidyoufindyourselfaddressedbyGodinthesermon?
· Godwantsmetobefaithfulandunderstandhewillalwaysprovideformyneedsinhisowntime,notmine.
· Theneedforawordofaffirmation:ourbaptismisforourentirelife.· Whenthecommunitywasenjoyingtherevolution.· Remembertoreaffirmandrededicateself/Itendtoforgetthechoice
beingmadeandpubliclydemonstratedinbaptism.Howdidyoufindyourimaginationstirredinthesermon?
· Matterofdoingsimplethings.Lookingouttoseewhatisneeded.Youarebeloved.Rememberyourbaptismtoday.
· IimaginedbeingatacrossroadandmakingadecisiontotrustGodbecausethishashappenedmanytimesinmylife.
· Itbroughtbackmemoriesofmyfamilyandthelovetheyhadformeasachild.
· HowGodwillandcanchangethings.· Godcreatedsomuchbeautyintheworld.
Whatmightyouchangeinyourlifeasaresultofwhatyouheardinthesermon?
· Bemoregiving;wehavesomuch;needtogivemore.· IwanttogostraighttoGodeachtimewithoutdelays.· Thisstrengthensmyfeelingofloveformyfellowman.· Increasedfaiththatthingswillchange—thingsinAmerica.· Learning/StudytheBiblemore,readingtheBiblemoreoften.· OnceinawhilemeditateonwhenandhowandwhyIwasbaptizedand
howthosereasonschangeanddon't.Isthereanactionforjusticeorwitnessthatyoufeltcalledtodobythesermon?
· Recommitourselvesformorewitnessing.· Commitmenttowelcomeotherpeopletoourchurch.· Ifeelcompelledtotellmyfamilymembersgoingthroughtrialstohold
on;Godwillprovideforthem.· TocarryhomelessbagsinmycarforthoseIseeinthestreet.· Yes,justiceforthelessfortunate.
64
· Speaktomychildrenaboutbaptism. · Remindedthatrecyclinginmyhomeisanactofjustice.
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APPENDIX4:SampleofSermons
HBCUSUNDAY(PreachedinFebruaryofYear4)HebrewBibleReading:Psalm147:1-11NewTestamentReading:John7:37-52(omittedbytheNarrativeLectionary)SermonTitle:Thirsty-----------Pastor’sNoteinBulletinInthefallof2013therewasararegatheringofsixHBCUpresidentsattheUnitedChurchofChristheadquartersinCleveland,Ohio.Theretodeepenandexpandtherelationshipbetweentheschoolsanddenomination,GeoffreyBlack,ourgeneralministerandpresident,saidthepresenceoftheseHBCUs“aretangibleproofoftheUCC’scontinuingstruggleforequalityandeducationforallGod’speople,alegacythatdatesbacktotheCongregationalistsandabolitionistsoftheCivilWarera.”TheAmericanMissionaryAssociation,anearlyabolitionistorganization,establishedschoolsinthesouthtoeducatenewlyfreedslaves.ThisorganizationispartoftherichlegacyandhistoryoftheUnitedChurchofChrist.WalterKimbrough,presidentofDillardUniversitysaid,“ThehistoryoftheAmericanMissionaryAssociationisveryimportanttothenationandtheUCCshouldnotonlyownthishistorybutpromoteit…”TodayweheedPresidentKimbrough’sadvice,andcelebrateavisionaryministrythatwasdedicatedtoeducationandracialequality,foundingelevencollegesprimarilyinthesouth,sixofwhichcontinuetorelatetotheUnitedChurchofChrist:
• DillardUniversity,NewOrleans,LA;www.dillard.edu • FiskUniversity,Nashville,TN;www.fisk.edu • Huston-TillotsonUniversity,Austin,TX;www.htu.edu • LeMoyne-OwenCollege,Memphis,TN;www.loc.edu • TalladegaCollege,Talladega,AL;www.talladega.edu • TougalooCollege,Tougaloo,MS;www.tougaloo.edu
AndtworelatedHBCUSeminary/DivinitySchools
• HowardUniversitySchoolofDivinity,WashingtonDC • InterdenominationalTheologicalSeminary,AtlantaGA
MaywestandwithprideandcelebratetheUCCandourAfrican-Americanhistory!†rev
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Prayer:Lord,sendyourSpiritonthisyourpeople—andhidemebehindtheoldruggedcrosssothatthiswaitingcongregationseesnoneofmeandallthee.Weavemyhandthegospelplow,andtiemytongueinJesusname.Amen.Sermon:Thereisalineinmyfraternityhymnthatbeginswiththesewords,“…Collegedaysswiftlypass,andtherecollectionslowlyfadesaway.”Mycollegeyearsarecertainlynotthatfarremovedforme,butthememorieshavebeguntoslipandfadeovertheyears.Iimaginethatthesamemaybetrueforyouaswell—butthen,therearemomentswhenwepushpasttheblurringandfadingmemoriestoseeagainthebrillianceofcolorfromyearsgoneby,thebrillianceoflightfromthoseyearsofyouthfulliving.Momentsliketoday—
whenwegathertogiveGodthanksforthoseyearsofshamelessyoungadulthood.
Momentsliketoday—whenwerememberthefoolishnessofouryouth,andlaugh—maybeevencry.
Momentsliketoday—whenwewearourschoolcolors,Greeklettersandcelebratethewitnessofourpeople“overawaythatwithtearshavebeenwatered.”
Momentliketoday—whenweconsiderthestruggleandfightthatourpeopleenduredjustsoourmindscouldbefree—andtheirthirstforeducation,equalityandjusticeinJesus’Name—quenchedwithlivingwater!
Therewaswithinthelivesofthenineteenthcenturyabolitionists,particularlythosewhometattheSecondConventiononBibleMissions,arealthirstforeducationandjusticeinJesus’Name.ManyofthemhadstoodindefenseoftheAmistadcaptivesin1839,andhadrealizedthatinseekingjusticeandstandingonthesideofwhatwasrightthat“streamsoflivingwater”wereabletoflowfromthelifeofthebeliever.Thesefolks,whoconstitutedtheAmericanMissionaryAssociation,whowentontofoundmorethanfivehundredschoolsforAfrican-Americaninthesouth,duringandaftertheCivilWar—theyknewwhatitmeanttobethirsty—andtohavetheirthirstsquenched—inChrist.WEBDuboiswritesthatthesefaith-filledthirstsforjusticewerea“giftofNewEnglandtothefreedNegro;notalms,butafriend;notcashbutcharacter…[he
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goesontosaythat]TheteachersintheseinstitutionscamenottokeeptheNegrosintheirplace,buttoraisethemoutoftheplacesofdefilementwhereslaveryhadwallowedthem.[andthat]Thecollegestheyfoundedweresocialsettlements;homeswherethebestofthesonsofthefreedmancameincloseandsympathetictouchwiththebest…Theylivedandatetogether,studiedandworked,hopedandhearkenedinthedawninglight.”81TheSoulsofBlackFolks,1903.TotellthestoryoftheAMAistellthestoryofliberalnineteenth-centurytheologywhichtouchedandimpactedthelivesofthosewhoworkedwiththeirhands,prayedwiththeirfeet,usedtheirmindsforthecauseoffreedomandjustice—andbelievedinthepowerofJesustogivelivingwatertoallwhothirst.
FortherighteousthirstsofTheodoreS.Wright,wegiveGodthanks!FortherighteousthirstsofSamuelRinggoldWard,wegiveGodthanks!FortherighteousthirstsofJamesPennington,wegiveGodthanks!FortherighteousthirstsofCharlesBennettRay,wegiveGodthanks! EarlyleadersoftheAMA…
Andforthecountlesseducatorswhosacrificed…. Thirstingforjustice,fightinginsultsandhatred.Thirstingforrighteousness,combatingdiseaseandterror.Thirstingforracialequality,enduringhardshipandpoverty.Thirstingforlife,livingaboveone-roomschools.Thirstingforsalvation,willinglysacrificingtheirownfreedomsforyouandme...TheseweremenandwomenlikeMaryKelseyPeakwho“erectedtoherselfamonumentmoreenduringthanbrassorgranite,byimpressingherownimageuponagroupofsusceptivepupils.”82
Animageofpromise,Andimageofgrace;Animageoflove,enduranceandhope—Animageofabetterlife,notforher,butforgenerationsshewould
neverknow...perhapseventheveryembodimentofyouandme.
81W.E.B.DuBois,TheSoulsofBlackFolk(NewYork,Dover,1994). 82“BlacksandtheAmericanMissionaryAssociation,”UnitedChurchofChrist,accessedMarch13,2017,http://www.ucc.org/about-us/hidden-histories/blacks-and-the-american.html
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Thesearethefaithful—thesaintsofthechurch—who:RealizedthattheirthirstscouldbequenchedinJesus.RealizedthattheirjustlongingscouldbesatisfiedinJesus.RealizedinaworldofsystematicoppressiontherealpossibilitiesofFreedom—TheAMAknewthateducationwasnotenough.ClaraDeBoerwritesthattheAMArealizedthat“aneducatedamoralpersonwasmoreofathreattosocietythananuneducatedone.”83SharingfaithinJesusChristwasasimportantaseducation—andsotheAMAwentontobuildchurchesallthroughthesouthasadjunctstotheirschool.ItislargelyknowninthesouththatifachurchisnamedFirstCongregationalandwasfoundedduringReconstruction—itismorethanlikelyBlackandfoundedbytheAmericanMissionaryAssociation.Whetherwewishtorealizeitornot,allofourliveshavebeentouchedandimpactedbytherighteousthirstsofChristianmenandwomenwhothoughtmoreofyourlife,thantheythoughtoftheirown.Andyetweliveinaworldtoday—wheretoooftenourthirstsarenotgroundedinliftinguppeople;orbringingothersintofreedom;orgrantingpeopleliberation;orsimplymakingsomebodyelse’sworldabetter—noourthirstsaretoooftenself-centeredthirsts. Whatmonumentscanwebuildtoourselves—forourselves? Whatlastingimpressioncanweleaveonothers—tomakeuslookbetter? Whatwillwegetoutofit?—
nothowwemightprofitasapeople;asacommunity;asthebodyofChrist.
WhenIwasincollegewecalleditThirstyThursday—someofyouknowwhatI’mtalkingabout.Thursdaynights,especiallyforthosewhodidnothaveclassesonFridayoratleastonFridaymornings;wecouldgettheFridayNightpartystartedanentiredayearly—whywaittillFridaywhenyoucouldpartyonThursday?
ThirstyThursday—becameaself-servingactofindulgence; ThirstyThursday—becameaself-servingactofstupidity; ThirstyThursday—becameaself-servingactofexcess; ThirstyThursday—becameaself-servingactofimmoderation; ThirstyThursday—becameaself-servingactoffoolishness;
83ClaraMerrittDeBoer,"LewisTappan:AdvocateoftheWholeGospel,"AD.magazine,November1977.
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ThirstyThursday—becameaself-servingactofsenselessness;Andforsomeofus—wehaveturnedThirstyThursdayinto,ThirstySunday,ThirstyMonday,ThirstyTuesday,ThirstyWednesday,ThirstyFriday—andcertainlyThirstySaturday—
Thereisneverenoughshopping.Thereisneverenoughself-centeredtitillatingactivitiesinourlives.
AnditwasBillMoyers,progressivecommentatorandproudmemberoftheUnitedChurchofChrist,whosaid:Onceyoudecidetotitillateinsteadofilluminate...youcreateaclimateofexpectationthatrequiresahigherandhigherlevelofintensity."
SistersandBrothers,Wehavebecometoofocusedonwhatwe,individually,aregoingtogetoutofourlife’swork—Wehavebecometoofocusedonourselves.Andasaresultourcommunitiesarewastingaway.
Ourpeopleareperishing;men,women,girlsandboysAndourcollectivelivesaredeteriorating.FAST.
“TheultimatetestoftheAmericanconscience,”saidtheWisconsinSenator,GaylordNelson,isour“willingnesstosacrificesomethingtodayforfuturegenerationswhosewordsofthankswillnotbeheard.”Sacrifice.Sacrifice.Sacrifice.WecallourselvesChristian,butwedon’twanttolivetheChristianlife.Didyounotknowthatthislifecallsyoutosacrifice?TheApostlePaulsaysinthe15ChapterofCorinthians,“Idieeveryday,exclamationpoint” NotIdieeverydayperiod. NotIdieeverydaycomma. NotIdieeverydayhyphen. NotIdieeverydaysemicolon. NotIdieeverydayellipsis.Paulunderstoodthesacrificethatwasneeded.PaulunderstoodthesacrificethatJesusmade.PaulunderstoodthepowerofthelivingwaterthatJesusoffers.PaulunderstoodthepowerofthelivingwaterthatJesusgives….Facingtheunbelievingcrowd,Jesusofferswatertothosewhothirst.
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Facingthequestioningcrowd,Jesusofferswatertothosewhothirst.Standingbeforeapeoplewhodespisehim,Jesusofferswatertothosewhothirst.Standingbeforeofficialswhowanthimdead,Jesusofferswatertothosewhothirst.WithReligiousleadersfeelingthreatened,Jesusofferslivingwater.Withtemplepolicefeelingintimidated,Jesusofferslivingwater.BeforeconfusedNicodemus-likebelievers,Jesusofferslivingwater.Jesussays,“letanyonewhoisthirstycome…”Idon’tknowaboutyouthismorning,butI’mthirsty! I’mthirsty:Thirstytoseejusticeandliberationintheland. I’mthirsty:Thirstytoseetheschooltoprison-pipelinedestroyed. I’mthirsty:Thirstytoseehard-workingfamiliesearnaLivingWage. I’mthirsty:Thirstytoseethegapbetweentherichandpoorclosed. I’mthirsty:ThirstytoseearealpathwaytocitizenshipblazedinAmerica.Jesussays,“andlettheonewhobelievesinmedrink…andoutofthebelievers’heartshallflowriversoflivingwater.” LivingWater:QualityEducation! LivingWater:RealEquality—notthatArizonastuff! LivingWater:WorkersRights! LivingWater:EconomicEmpowerment! LivingWater:RacialJustice! LivingWater:RestorativeJustice!
LivingWater:SoulFreedom! Maywefindthestrength,asthedescendantsoftheAmericanMissionaryAssociation,tohaveourthirstquenchedinJesus—andfreelygivetoall: Black,WhiteandBrown Gayandstraight RepublicanandDemocrat Skilledandunskilled YoungandoldThelife-savingLivingWaterthatflowsfromtheheartofGod,andHerpeople.Amen.
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FirstSundayinAdvent(Year2)HebrewBibleReading:2Kings22:1-10;14-20,23:1-3NewTestamentReading:Luke24:30-32SermonTitle:SurprisedbyScripture-----------WhatshallwemakeofthisparticularstorythisSundaymorning,thisfirstSundayinAdvent?ASundayinwhichwearelaunchedintoaanotherholidayseason—atimeofrememberingandrecalling,atimeofreflectionandrenewal,atimeofhope-filledexpectationofwhatGodwilldothroughJesusChristinthecomingfuture?OurpassageofScripturethismorningisaratheroddstory.Itisastorythat,forthemajorityofusthismorning,isterriblyunfamiliar—notbecausewefailtobegoodstudentsoftheHebrewBibleandknowourOldTestamentScripturewell,butbecause,well,itisstorythatpassesussoquicklyinthetextthatwerarelypauselongenoughtoreflectuponit,togainagreatersenseofitsmeaning,itsmysteryanditsmajesty.Josiahisintroducedtousthismorningasanidealrulerandking.OnewhowalkswithGodandtrustsintheLord.OfJosiahtheScripturessaythattherewillneverbeanother.ThetexttellusthatJosiahissaidtohavedonerightintheverysightoftheLord,tohavewalkeduprightinALLofthewaysoftheLord—havingnotturnedtotheleftnortoright.InreadingandrememberingthetextweareremindedofotherfaithfulrulerswithinthebiblicalcanonwhoalsohavewalkedbeforetheLordaright:Hezekiah,David,JoshuaandMoses.AstheTemple—thedwellingplaceofGod—wasbeingrepairedandrefurbished,asurprisingdiscoveryismade.HilkiahthehighpriestinformsKingJosiah’ssecretaryShaphanthathefoundanolddustybookthatwasfoundabandonedontheshelf.Itappearedtobeabookthatcontainedlaws,instructionandteaching.Thesecretaryreadthebookcompletely.HethenwenttoKingJosiahandtoldhimaboutalltheworkthathadbeendone,alloftheworkthatwascurrentlybeingdone,andalloftheworkthatneededtobedoneinordertoimproveuponthephysicalstructureofthebuilding.AnditwasjustashewasabouttoleavethepresenceoftheKingthatherememberedsomethingthattheyoungpriesthadsaid—herememberedtheolddustybookthatwasabandonedontheshelfthatcontained…andhereaditswordstoKingJosiah.HaveyoueverbeensurprisedbyScripture?Haveyoueverhadamomentwhen,afterhavingencounteredtheWordofGod,thatyouwerealarmed?Ormaybeitwasn’tanalarmorasurprise—butitwasamomentwhenyourlifewasinterrupted.Perhapsitwasaplaceorapointinyourjourneywhenyourealizedthatsomethingneededtochange.HaveyoueverbeensurprisedbyScripture?Orhaveyou
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happeneduponatimeinyourlifewhenGodspokepowerfullyinyourlifeandyousaidtoyourself:IfIdonotmakeamoverightnow,Iwillbestuckhereforever.Or,ifIdonotstopdoingwhatIamdoingrightnow,itwillcontinueforyearstocome.Or,ifIdonotturnmylifearoundrightheretoday;ifIdonotmakeacommitmentinthisspacerightnow;ifIchoosenottohonorGod...;ifIchoosenottohonormyself…;ifIchoosenottomoveintoapositivedirection…Iwillbedamnedfromhereonout?Haveyoueverfoundyourselfinthisplace?Haveyoueverfoundyourselfneedingtomakeachange,notbecauseyouknowitwastherightthingtodo,norbecausesomeoneelsehastoldyouitwastherightthingtodo.Haveyoueverfoundyourselfneedingtomakeachangeinyourlife,becauseScripture84demandedthatyoumakesomelastingchangeinyourlife?ThisistheplacewherewefindKingJosiahthisfirstSundayofAdvent.TheSundayonourlectionarycalendarwhenwearecalledtoconsiderthelife-alteringrolethathopeistoplayinourlivesaspeopleoffaith.KingJosiah,uponhearingthewordsthatwerediscoveredinatemplethatwasundergoingrepairsandrenovationsrealizesthewordsthatHeishearingarenotonlyinstruction,lawandteachingfromGOD—butthattheyarewordsnotonlyaboutthepast,butatthesametimetheyarepropheticwordsforthepresentandfuture.HerecognizedthepowerofGod,inanold,dustybook—whichhadbeenabandonedinTempleoftheLord.Inthewordsthatwerespokentohimhewascalledbackward,presentandforwardallatthesame—andheknew,intheprecisemomentofhearingtheWordofGodproclaimedthatsomethinginhislifeneededtochange;heknewthatsomethingincommunityneededtochange;heknewthatsomethinginhisleadershipneededtochange;heknewthatsomethinginhisspirituallifeneededtochange;heknewthatsomethinginhisworshiplifeneededtochange;heknewthatsomethinginhisworldneededtochange,andthatchangewasneededrightaway.KingJosiahwassurprisedbyScripture!FortoolongscholarshavedebatedthecontentoftheScripturethatcalledJosiahtogreaterlevelsofaccountability.SomescholarshaveconcludedthatwhatwasreadwasDeuteronomy12:26-28;alistofcursesandblessingsthathadbeenabandonedontheshelfbecauseofallofthereasonsthatWE,eventoday,choosetoabandonandleaveSCRIPTURESonashelfinsteadofactivelyengagingthem.Othershavesaid,“No,itwasnotalistofblessingsandcursesbutitwasDeuteronomy31”;thetextwhereMosespreparedtheBookoftheLawgivesinstructionandtellsthe84Myuseoftheword“Scripture”ispurposeful,becauseasthesermoncomestoitscloseIwanttoemphasizethatScriptureoffersatheologicalperspectivewhichassertsthatScriptureismorethanthebiblicaltextsthathavebeenhandeddowntousintheBible,butScriptureisalsothelivedanddiscernedexperienceofGodintheworld.IntheUnitedChurchofChristthistheologyisgroundedintheideathatthat“GodIsStillSpeaking”andourtheologyshouldnotbelimitedsolelytopastexperiencesGodhashadwithhumanity.
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prieststoplacethescrollnearthearcofthecovenant.Wecoulddebatewhattheolddustybooksaidforthenext100years—andgobackandforthonwhatmighthavebeenthere.YetwhatseemsmoreimportanttomeislessaboutthecontentofthebookandmoreaboutwhatthereadingofthebookevokedinthelifeofKingJosiah.ScripturemadeJosiahdosomething.ScripturemadeJosiahfeelsomething.ScripturemadeJosiahgetmoreconnectedwithGod.ScripturemadeJosiahgetmoreintouchwithwhatGodwasdoing.Scripturedidnotrestidlyinhisbody.Scripturedidnotsitstagnantinhisspirit.Scripturedidnotremainidlyonhismind.Scriptureenvelopedeveryparthisprivileged,kinglylife.JosiahwassurprisedbyScripture—asitcalledhimtoaccountforhissins,misstepsandthefailuresofthecommunityinthesightofGod.Josiahistheboldanddaringembodimentofhopeinthefaceofdestruction.Heholdsouthope,throughhisowndivinereckoningwithGodandhisbeingsurprisedbyScripture,thatapeoplewhohadturnedawayfromtheteachingandinstructionoftheLordcouldbesaved.Heheldontohope,againstthepropheticwordofthefemaleprophetHuldah.Heheldontohope,againsttheslowresponseofthepeople.Heheldontohope,againstthelazinessinworshipofthepeople.Heheldontohope,againstthesluggishstudyofthepeople.Heheldouthopetothepeoplewholookedtohimforleadership.…YetintheenddisastercametoJudahandJerusalem.AndyetweknowthatashootwillcomeupfromthestumpofJesse,fromhisrootsaBranchwillbearfruit.“OutofthestumpofDavid’sfamilywillgrowashoot—yes,anewBranchbearingfruitfromtheoldroot.AndtheSpiritoftheLORDwillrestonhim—theSpiritofwisdomandunderstanding,theSpiritofcounselandmight,theSpiritofknowledgeandthefearoftheLORD.HewilldelightinobeyingtheLORD.Hewillnotjudgebyappearancenormakeadecisionbasedonhearsay.Hewillgivejusticetothepoorandmakefairdecisionsfortheexploited.Theearthwillshakeattheforceofhisword,andonebreathfromhismouthwilldestroythewicked.Hewillwearrighteousnesslikeabeltandtruthlikeanundergarment.”KingJosiahisthatstump…Jesusisthatnewbranch.TheProphetessHuldah’swordsringtrue—evenonthisFirstSundayofAdvent—wecannotworkourwayintosalvation.Wecannotguaranteesalvationthroughhumanactsofrighteousness.WecannotearnourwayintothegraceofGod.WecannotworkourwayintothegraceofGod.WecannotpayourwayintothegraceofGod.WecannotprivilegeourwayintothegraceofGod.WecannotpositionourwayintothegraceofGod…butGod’sgracecomesthroughfaith.GracecomestousaswearesurprisedbyScripture;asweallowourlivestobecomesaturatedwithScripture;asweallowoursoulstobedrenchedintheSpirit;aswe
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openthewayforGodtospeaktousthroughdustyoldbooks,throughprophetsandteachers,throughpreachersandprotestors,throughcashiersandbaristas,onFacebook,TwitterandmaybeevenSnapchat.WillyouallowyourselftobesurprisedbyScripture?InunexpectedplaceswillyouallowyourselftobesurprisedbyScripture?InunexpectedmomentswillyouallowyourselftobesurprisedbyScripture?InunexpectedtimeswillyouallowyourselftobesurprisedbyScripture?AndsometimestheverysurpriseofScriptureisthatGod’sspeaksnotonlybywayofScripturetuckedawayinolddustybooks,abandonedinchurchconstructionsites—butalsothroughgentlebreezesandsuddenjolts,throughgriefandsorrow,throughrestandrenewal.ItismyprofoundHOPEthisweekthatyoufindyourselfSurprisedbyScripture—boththatwhichiswrittenandthatwhichislived.Amen.