tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837901219583668417.post103587969996664144..comments2023-11-03T10:17:23.247-05:00Comments on Rhetoric Race and Religion: Me, Myself and Eyes That Watch God: Who I am Becoming and Why I Chose to Pursue a PhD in Communications and Not TheologyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837901219583668417.post-11842487120749577822015-01-27T13:49:45.341-06:002015-01-27T13:49:45.341-06:00It is a tragedy. The black church for so long has ...It is a tragedy. The black church for so long has been a bridge to so many aspects in our social life. During the civil rights movement the black churches connected church goers to social activism. Before it has been a pathway to education. Recently the black church has been caught up with the need for pulpit entertainment (as Jessie Jennings mentioned in the earlier comment). The problem with this. People come to black churches for a show, not the spiritual nurturing that the church was founded on. Not discounting praise and worship, because in fact that is my favorite part. But churches need to refocus their attention on the basic. <br />Early churches were centered around teaching the bible so that individuals could walk out of church with a living application; they did not focus their energy on an entertaining show. Let's get back to the basics and uncover that bridge so that church can serve its intended meaning. Jessica Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443418421626104621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837901219583668417.post-36165169555946273352014-03-06T07:23:57.626-06:002014-03-06T07:23:57.626-06:00Pastor Fisher,
As a first year PhD student in the...Pastor Fisher, <br />As a first year PhD student in the Department of Communication at the U of M, I welcome you to the program! -Andre Favors, M.S.Andre Favorshttp://www.memphis.edu/communication/currentgrads.php#andrenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837901219583668417.post-1706484608068421122014-03-05T09:54:19.900-06:002014-03-05T09:54:19.900-06:00Amen and Thanks Pastor Fisher. I’m also considerin...Amen and Thanks Pastor Fisher. I’m also considering extending my educational journey to include Communications. As a “wounded healer,”the decision to complete an MDiv, w/ an emphasis on Pastoral Counseling & Preaching and a Graduate Certificate in Addiction Counseling, was to lay a foundation for strategies that would reveal as well as start the healing process for leaders in the Black Church. In addition, being certified as a Life Coach Practitioner and Trainer, was an attempt to offer a less intrusive, peer-oriented approach to do the same.<br />Now, over eight years later and 1 year from completion of a Dmin, the decision to be equipped for the “work” of the ministry as a Holy-Ghost filled, Black woman, has become a blessing and a curse. The "blessing" of empowerment that accompanies education is over-shadowed by the "curse" of that same empowerment, as my gender makes it difficult to penetrate the stigma that accompanies being educated,Black, and a woman. Oh, did I forget to add, “Holy Ghost filled?”<br />@JJ I agree, how do “we address the fact that many within the black church spurn the educated approach to ministry?” <br />@ RE I agree that teaching is the key but how do we teach those in our communities that continue to operate with one leg in Modernity and the other in Postmodernity?”<br />Still, thoughts like those shared in this blog along with your comments, somehow continue to stir the embers of a passionate fire to be an integral part of the encouragement, empowerment, and education of our African American brothers and sisters in Christ , who for various although valid reasons, cannot pursue a formal education.IYB@SBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17751096221183485536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837901219583668417.post-75611354159315126632014-03-03T15:49:29.417-06:002014-03-03T15:49:29.417-06:00"I am eternally indebted and bonded to the bl..."I am eternally indebted and bonded to the black church. And what the black church is tragically lacking are theologically and academically trained, nurtured and empowered ministerial leaders..."<br /><br />This was a powerful and perceptive statement. As we lovingly look at the black church we must acknowledge this as truth but how can we address the fact that many within the black church spurn the educated approach to ministry? We tend to do this both overtly and covertly with our insatiable thirst for entertainment in the pulpit as well as with a belief that if one has the blessing of God on their ministry they won't need to make such great sacrifices to read outside texts (extra Biblical material written by scholars and theologians through the years) because they have the blessing and their Bible. <br /><br />How can we push back against this as the next generation of preachers?JessieJennings.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03012155403737631090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6837901219583668417.post-25079200969198254082014-03-03T10:05:38.769-06:002014-03-03T10:05:38.769-06:00I can relate and agree with Fisher. I started my s...I can relate and agree with Fisher. I started my seminary journey about 7 years ago in 2007 with the intent to just graduate and pastor a church. In the process of taking classes and trying to apply new insights to ministry I've discovered the desire to teach as well. I must admit that my scholarship is not where it needs to be, but I am intentionally taking classes like Rhethoric and Religion to help broaden my ministry scope and better prepare me to be the public theologian I so readily desire to be.Reginald Eddinsnoreply@blogger.com