If I Were A White Pastor

If I Were A White Pastor

Before you get all in your emotions about the title, please read the whole thing.

I happen to sit under White Pastors, I cringe at writing “white,” and “black” for that matter, but for context purposes, please bear with me. My Pastors, at times, from the pulpit has spoken to the social woes of racism, exclaiming the love of Jesus Christ and how that love should be practiced toward one another, and not to just those of your same hue. They are contemporary heralds and I am blessed to be under a leadership, among a people, a church that is diverse in its congregants and the culture is shaped and saturated with prayer, love, and compassion. As with any human connections, there is always room for relational growth.

There are videos that are making there way through social media of African American males suffering and dying by the hands of white men because of their hatred and disdain. A while back a white Pastor spoke in part to the suspicious nature of a another killing by a Dallas police officer. He implied that the biases between police and Blacks, especially Black males, has once again raised it’s ugly head.” And now, yet again we are faced with unfortunately an all to common situation, black male citizens dying at the hands of whites, mostly at the hands of police. In recent days charges of murder have been filed and terminations of employment.

George Mason, a white Pastor, said “The preferential treatment of the officer by the criminal justice system reminds us that justice in this city, in this country is still not color blind, whether you are white, or black, or brown, or BLUE.” Of course George Mason would be right in highlighting the injustices especially those involving the black community and the police.“

Pastor Mason, went on to say “I sat in a room with a dozen to 15 Dallas Pastors, including colleagues like Jeff Warren from Park City’s Baptist, Todd Wagner at Watermark, and black clergy, Bryan Carter at Concord Baptist, and T. D. Jakes of The Potter’s House, quiet a room.” They were there to talk with the district attorney Faith Johnson.

Pastor Mason noted after the DA left the room, things got honest. One Black Pastor said to him “White Churches have privatized the gospel, so much so that it keeps our congregations from understanding that the call for justice is not optional for Christians.” “And he wondered why we don’t speak out more?” Pastor Mason was challenged by the Black Pastors to speak publicly from his pulpit and in the streets “that white supremacy and racism is wrong and no more generalizations”.

According to Pastor Mason, a Black Pastor said “I know it will cost you something to do so.” Pastor Mason would go on to say to his congregation “But isn’t that what Jesus has called us to do, to take up our cross and follow Him, and psst, It’s not just preachers!” He went on to ask his congregation “What is God calling you to risk, of your own life, in your own relationships for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ? How will you deny yourself to take up that cross and follow him”

He said “we have to stop defending things that Jesus would condemn. And we have to start loving people like He did, it may cost us friends, it may even cost us our life. But after three days, give or take, there is always a rising.”

Here are some things I would do if I were a white Pastor:

- If I were a white Pastor, I can’t allow myself to fall under the control of “white guilt.” I can’t act based on that, if guilt is my motivating factor, then I have to rely on it every time to alert me to do something. But instead, my motivation should be Jesus Christ, He is the determining factor of why I should be compelled to love thereby producing an action. - If I were a white Pastor, I would pray and search the scriptures, relating to readings of racism, biases, and divisions. Understanding that this kind of behavior has been going on for ages. And then use those scriptures to preach and to teach others Jesus’ views on such. I must realize I can’t solve the racism problem, but I can be on God’s record of working to build loving cross-cultural relationships in His name. - If I were a white Pastor, I would search my own heart, and if there is a view that I have that suggest, because I am white, I am more important, I am superior, etc. If this is my creed, then I must repent. - If I were a white Pastor, I would call a meeting with my staff. Review our current statement of faith. I would open up the conversation to discuss racism. I would want to know the personal views of my staff and then work to resolve accordingly. I must go in understanding that there may be tension in the room. If there is a minority on my staff, I must not point them out, I don’t have to be “extra nice.” Let everyone know that each voice is important and we are all here to talk about this particular issue in our society. And ask the question, what can we do as a church to be better. If my minority staff member wants to voluntarily share a personal experience then ok, but I shouldn’t make him or her a poster child for the meeting. - If I were a white Pastor I would come out of the shadows, I must arise from my elaborate ministry, or thinking, go and make friends with Pastors of a different race, ask questions and learn from them. Perhaps plan to do something in the community showing solidarity, and not just for the news cameras or social media likes, or for political gains for myself or anyone running for office. - If I were a white Pastor, I shouldn’t be hasty in trying to diversify the church. I must first work to create a culture of acceptance, and depending on my location the church may never show a great amount of diversity. I have to be ok with that, because I feel this is the location where God has led us, but I can’t use this as an excuse to disassociate from the community as a whole. - If I were a white Pastor, I just have to understand the culture in which we live in. People tend to “flock” with their own kind. Black Pastors typically have predominantly black congregants, White Pastors tend to have predominantly white congregants, Asians Pastors typically have predominantly Asian congregants, etc. Again I shouldn’t feel guilty of what’s dominant, but I should take considerable thought, if this is the only dominance I serve and love.

I am sure I could go on, but I think you get the gist. This is enough to get the conversation started. This was not written to bash, or demean white Pastors. It was written to highlight the need for we who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, to take a look at ourselves. It’s hard to fix the darkness of the world, but within the body of Christ we must live with the love of Christ. And when I say “We” I mean all of us. I believe brothers and sisters, when we get this one right, the world wouldn’t know what hit em’! Jesus said “Men will know you are my disciples because of your love for one another.”

Someone reading this may ask, “What about the Black Pastor led churches, don’t they have a responsibility too? To you I say “Yes.” But for years they’ve felt their responsibility is to not just preach the gospel, but to preach and bring attention to social injustices, which is something a white pastor with a predominantly white congregation rarely has to address. I wonder, Are we closer to the day that black pastors will not have to stand up for social injustice or are we closer to the day when white pastors will?

In Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20 He said, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

If you are a white Pastor, and would to like to schedule a meeting, I would be happy to come and talk with you and your staff further, for more honest dialogue, and of course prayer. If your Pastor is white tag him or her in this post.

Much love, PERNELL,

E: pernell.hill@ymail.com