Churches Still Serving as Non-Violent Battlegrounds

In Dr. Haynes’ lecture today in class, he discussed the Memphis kneel-ins and how holy spaces were used as non-violent battle grounds.  While de-segregation was obviously the ultimate goal of the movement, the aim of the students involved in the kneel-ins was to create a spectacle that demonstrated a moral contradiction.  The contradiction lies in the fact that churches are supposed to offer sanctuary and support to whoever enters, but instead they were denying entry to black citizens.  The churches became a battleground during the height of the Civil Rights Movement and I find it interesting that Memphians are still using holy spaces as places of demonstration today.  I found this to be true in the interactions of the predominantly white church, the Love of Christ Church, and the predominantly black church, Journey Christian Church.

In 2010, an article was published about two different churches in Memphis. One consisted of a predominantly black congregation and the other was predominantly white.  The two congregations were coming together in all aspects of the performative nature of their religion in an effort to “eliminate racism.” The churches’ “congregations gather for everything from Sunday worship services to marriage enrichment retreats to Easter egg hunts for the kids.”  Pastor Dana Key of the Love of Christ Church stated that, “God put it in our hearts to bring racial conciliation to the city. This has been a divided city for many, many years.” Key’s statements align with what Ellen said today in class.  The Civil Rights Movement is often talked about as a “Won Movement,” but as we have been saying in class, it is not over and continues to be an ongoing struggle.  I think it is important to note that while the movement and struggle are not over specifically in holy spaces like churches, it is important to note that some congregations are still making conscientious efforts to bridge this racial divide.  Key also went on to say that that the congregations “are getting to know each other. There’s less suspicion, less fear when we realize how much we have in common.”

These churches’ acknowledgement of the racism that still exists in Memphis and their attempts to work on this issue demonstrate that some progress has been made in the movement.  Churches are still places of non-violent battlegrounds.  I think it’s important that these churches are leading by example.  While they do hope that “the harmony they are experiencing will resonate throughout Memphis,” they are focusing on their own personal issues first. After researching the current status of these churches, it appears they both still have a commitment to diversity but I was unable to find out if they still congregate together. While I think their efforts in 2012 are a step forward for the Civil Rights Movement that still exists in Memphis, I wonder what kind of effects they will have in the long run.  It appears that both churches’ congregations consist of younger generations so do you think that efforts made by the Love of Christ Church and Journey Christian Church were more easily made because of the age of the congregations? Could you see something like this happening with today’s congregation of Second Presbyterian Church?

http://www.wmctv.com/story/12237358/memphis-congregations-pray-together-in-hopes-of-improving-race-relations