| Bishop's CornerThe
Unfinished Story
By Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker
 Within the larger story of the
history of American Methodism there is another story that is not known
by many United Methodists. This is the story of the relationship between
African-American Methodists and white Methodists.
The story has a promising early beginning.
African-Americans were attracted to the Methodist movement in colonial
America and to The Methodist Episcopal Church established in 1784. The
evangelical worship of the Methodists appealed to the
African-Americans. Moreover, the leaders of the movement, such
as Bishop Francis Asbury and Bishop Thomas Cole, were outspoken
opponents of slavery. In the beginning, African-Americans were given
responsibilities to lead class meetings and to preach the gospel of
Christ.
Despite this early beginning of inclusion of
African-Americans in the Methodist movement, limitations began to be
placed upon their participation. They were forced to move to the
balconies of chapels in order to segregate them from white
worshippers. Many Southern Methodists persuaded the Church to soften
its stand against abolition. As a result, many African-American
Methodists withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church and formed
their own communions, The African Methodist Episcopal Church, Zion and
the Colored (later Christian) Methodist Church.
Even though many African-American Methodists
withdrew from The Methodist Episcopal Church, some remained in the
mother church. Over the years they have been faithful Christians and
loyal members, despite a long struggle with segregation and racism.
The official structures of segregation have been abolished, but racism
still remains a sin in the life of the Church. There are congregations
that still try to resist the appointment of African-American pastors,
and there are congregations that still do not actively seek members
who are African-Americans. Not only are these conditions anachronistic
in a culturally diverse society, they are also an affront to the
Lordship of Jesus Christ over his Church.
During the 2002 Florida Annual Conference we
shall have an opportunity to begin a new chapter in this long,
unfinished story. During a special service May 29 at 7:30 p.m. we
shall pray to the triune God for grace to begin to repent of our
racism and to experience reconciliation that will lead to a unity in
The United Methodist Church that would witness to the power of divine
love.
I know that a public service of worship cannot
change our hearts and our lives. I know that the living God who came
in Jesus Christ and who is present in the Holy Spirit can change us.
This service of worship is a means of grace for the Florida Annual
Conference. I pray that we shall use it to receive the superabundance
of God’s grace that can enable us to become the Church God call us
to be.
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