Methodist denominations are uniting to address problems facing
African-American males during a summit called the Great Gathering, which began
Monday and runs through Wednesday.
With a combined membership of 5 million people, the African
Methodist Episcopal (AME), African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) and
Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) denominations are meeting at the Carolina
Coliseum in Columbia, S.C., to map out strategies to help improve the lives of
black men, their families and communities.
George W. C. Walker Sr., senior bishop of the AME Zion
Church, said African-American men are “noticeably absent” in church and the
home. “If we can find answers to what is happening with the black male in this
country, these solutions will have a positive impact on black family life in
this nation,” he said.
The group also points to statistics reporting that only 41 percent
of African-American males graduate from high school and nearly 60 percent of
young offenders serving time in adult state prisons are black, though
African-Americans comprise only 15 percent of the youth population. According to the
Centers for Disease Control, homicide is the leading cause of death among
African American males between 15 and 34 years old.
Civic leaders, politicians, educators and others will speak
during the gathering, focusing particularly on issues confronting black males
between the ages of 12 and 25.
“We have the collective resources within our own
denominations to address the problems in our communities,” Bishop William H.
Graves of the CME Church said.
He said African-American churches should not to look to the
government or other agencies to “do this for us.” “We can do it ourselves,”
Graves said.
President Barack Obama and Congressman James Clyburn (D-SC)
have been invited to speak at the summit, but confirmed speakers include Children’s
Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman; Jawanza Kunjufu, author of Reducing
the Male Drop Out Rate; and Teresa L. Fry, director of Black Church Studies
at Emory University.
More than 6,000 people are expected to attend the summit,
which includes worship services, seminars, panel discussions and music by
gospel artist Hezekiah Walker.
While much of the attention will focus on addressing the
plight of black men in America, leaders say that having three major Methodist
denominations come together is an accomplishment in itself.
“Together, all
our denominations represent a people and a community with many ills and
problems,”
said the Rev. John R. Bryant, senior bishop of the AME Church.
“We feel strongly that we can overcome all that might
separate our churches so we can all focus collectively on what we can do to
make things better for our people,” he added.
