CEREMONIES IN BLACK MANHOOD
"Behold! The face of God!"
This mantra was repeatedly said to each man (or woman) who walked down the church aisle and viewed their own face in a mirror held up by votaries of the Temple of Faith.
This unusual exercise was carried out in an investiture, "Ceremonies in Black Manhood" on December 31, 1989, in Kansas City, Missouri.
"Temple of Faith" was a "church without walls" that was fabricated in our pre-professed Christian days by me, Larry Delano Coleman, and my friend, brother-beloved, Robert Easley , Sr., and several other men.
The idea behind this ceremony was to stir up more interest in the realm of spirituality in our area's black men, whose great lack thereof was perceived by us to be a burden in need of lifting, by self-examination and by self-exultation, if need be!
About fifty men turned out on New Year's Eve 1989 for this one-time-only undertaking by our short-lived Temple of Faith. But, interestingly, about ten women "crashed" the event that was advertised to be for "black men only." The sisters would not go away! So, we did let them in, being unable to keep them out ! We went ahead with the program, as if they were not there. They did not detract. I am not clear now why we excluded them? God made women too. In fact, in Genesis 1:27, "let us make man" the "us" term may be as much female as it is male, once biases or prejudices are discarded.
Anyway, our "Ceremonies in Black Manhood" event was held at one of the leading black churches in KC, Missouri, Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Wallace Hartsfield, Sr., pastor. Although I nor Robert belonged to his church, at that time, he loved us as men, benevolently and trusted us with use of his sanctuary. Since then, I have gone on to join the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri, under then-pastor, Rev. Alvin L. Smith, and to become a pastor in my own right. Robert joined Metropolitan later and is now preaching as well!
"Behold! The face of God", indeed!
Saturday, February 2, 2019
CEREMONIES IN BLACK MANHOOD
CEREMONIES IN BLACK MANHOOD
"Behold! The face of God!"
This mantra was repeatedly said to each man (or woman) who walked down the church aisle and viewed their own face in a mirror held up by votaries of the Temple of Faith.
This unusual exercise was carried out in an investiture, "Ceremonies in Black Manhood" on December 31, 1989, in Kansas City, Missouri.
"Temple of Faith" was a "church without walls" that was fabricated in our pre-professed Christian days by me, Larry Delano Coleman, and my friend, brother-beloved, Robert Easley , Sr., and several other men.
The idea behind this ceremony was to stir up more interest in the realm of spirituality in our area's black men, whose great lack thereof was perceived by us to be a burden in need of lifting, by self-examination and by self-exultation, if need be!
About fifty men turned out on New Year's Eve 1989 for this one-time-only undertaking by our short-lived Temple of Faith. But, interestingly, about ten women "crashed" the event that was advertised to be for "black men only." The sisters would not go away! So, we did let them in, being unable to keep them out ! We went ahead with the program, as if they were not there. They did not detract. I am not clear now why we excluded them? God made women too. In fact, in Genesis 1:27, "let us make man" the "us" term may be as much female as it is male, once biases or prejudices are discarded.
Anyway, our "Ceremonies in Black Manhood" event was held at one of the leading black churches in KC, Missouri, Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Wallace Hartsfield, Sr., pastor. Although I nor Robert belonged to his church, at that time, he loved us as men, benevolently and trusted us with use of his sanctuary. Since then, I have gone on to join the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri, under then-pastor, Rev. Alvin L. Smith, and to become a pastor in my own right. Robert joined Metropolitan later and is now preaching as well!
"Behold! The face of God", indeed!