Churches recently banded together as they dared to be different, by bringing predominantly White and predominantly Black congregations together under one roof to ask God to transform their fellowship and make them partners for justice.
Reverend Dr. Willie James Jennings, recipient of the 2015 Grawemeyer Award in Religion, joined the community of Pittsburgh, Jan. 31, to share and worship on the topic of “Tear Open the Heavens: Race, Violence, and Faith in Our Times,” as the keynote speaker.
Pentecostal Temple COGIC
As the country has been in the state of an outrage due to the grand jury’s recent decisions in Ferguson, Mo., and New York City; two small churches in Swissvale came together to plan an event.
“The community is so close, but yet so far away. It’s time we the people bridge the gap, and come together in fellowship,“ Bishop Loran E. Mann, of Pentecostal Temple COGIC said.
A day of fellowship was scheduled to bridge the gap of concerns that moves from ecclesial emphases, reflection and education around race; in hopes that the attendees would gain tools from fellowship that they would implement into their communities, and would make commitments to pursue transformative fellowship and action around race and racial justice. The eventful day was co-sponsored by Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, Union Baptist Church of Swissvale, Pentecostal Temple Church COGIC and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s Office of Continuing Education and Metro-Urban Institute.
The events were a lecture and Q&A, a snacks and informal conversation, small group workshops, dinner, and a worship and discussion session.
Sings “Awesome”
The transformative talk, fellowship, and worship was hosted by the Pentecostal Temple COGIC which is located in East Liberty and pastored by Bishop Mann. The worship service and discussion was sponsored by The Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, The Union Baptist Church of Swissvale and the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Reverend Jennings is currently an associate professor of Theology and Black Church Studies at Duke University Divinity School. He served many years as the academic dean of the Divinity School. Jennings received his bachelor’s degree in religion and theological studies in 1984, won the American Academy of Religion Award for best book in 2011, and was the recipient of the 2015 Grawemeyer Award in Religion for his groundbreaking work on race and Christianity.
Playing Instrument
“We need to become Christians who are learners, and not just Christians who are teachers. We can learn so much from one another, through experiences in fellowship such as this,“ Rev. Jennings said,
He traveled to Pittsburgh from Durham, N.C., to share in worship and discussion with the community. The church was filled with members of the community, and members of different congregations. People of different churches and color sat side-by-side to worship and engage in prayer.
“God wants to change the world by bringing people together, that would not normally be together or prefer to be together. We need to start loving our neighbors,“ Jennings said,as moved the crowd through his sermon, entitled “Redeeming Power.”
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