Kingdom Progress

Several years ago at Annual Conference all of the African-American ministers stood in the front of the Conference and by their word and presence proclaimed their inequality in our Conference. I was surprised and ashamed, believing that so much of the inequality of segregation was fading away as we got further and further from the 1960’s. I had memories from my childhood and the kind of separation that we all lived with here in the South. At the same time the memories of my black friends and persons I have known came back to assure me we were making progress.

To my great joy, last year I connected with Rev. Elzie Odom, the Pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church. As we talked about our historic churches, we decided to have a joint worship service the Sunday before Thanksgiving with both congregations sharing praise and thanksgiving. It was a glorious event! Not long after that Cochran Chapel invited St. Paul to share our campus during the renovation and remodel of their own campus facility.

As we shared a common fellowship meal the last Sunday of March, I overheard one of the men from St. Paul’s congregation speaking to one of the men from Cochran Chapel and saying, “You know, it was not too long ago this never could have happened.” It may not have been too long ago, but it is happening now on this corner of holy ground; and not just happening but flourishing.

The last Saturday of May, we again are going to share a common fellowship meal. But this time instead of just Cochran Chapel and St. Paul, we have invited Christ Foundry, an Hispanic congregation to join us. Three churches, three cultures, three different peoples…..but one common bond: all beloved sons and daughters of a loving God.

Maybe, perhaps just maybe, the Kingdom of God is coming among us afterall.