Albion College student Jeremy Benton speaks to the community crowd gathered for "Methodism and Race II," an event co-sponsored by local churches and part of the College's Black History Month celebration.

Methodism and Race II
Community Gathers Again to Discuss Religion and Heritage
Posted February 16, 2005

Story and photos by Albion College Chaplain Dan McQuown

Members of Albion's Methodist communities came together on Sunday, February 13, at Lewis Chapel A.M.E., for the second year in a row to discuss race in the church. After a delicious soul food dinner, Bishop Jonathan Keaton of the Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church and Dr. Norman Osborne, a presiding elder in the Michigan Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, began the discussion with congregations of Albion's Lewis Chapel, A.M.E. and First United Methodist churches, as well students and staff from Albion College and other community members.

Stanley Sims, pastor of Albion's Lewis Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, greeted the participants.

Keaton declared that the “color line” in 21st-century society continues to be a predominant issue. While “Methodism embraces all races…struggles continue for black folk who left or stayed in United Methodism.” Keaton outlined the history of the Methodist church in America in dealing with slavery, segregation, and systemic racism.

Keaton lamented the “lost opportunity” of the Church's 2000 General Conference to recognize and apologize directly to those African-Americans who through history “chose to stay” within the United Methodist tradition, rather than join the A.M.E. or A.M.E. Zion churches. He ended with a lament and call to action: “Humankind knows so little of a God who loves the world – red, yellow, black, or white – and all others not in sight. So it is in the world. So it is in the church.”

Following Keaton, Osborne reflected on the common ground shared among the Methodist family: John and Charles Wesley. “It was John Wesley who reminded us that God does not respect the divisions we create as humans,” said Osborne.  He called the Wesleyan-Methodist tradition a “bold and courageous faith … a visionary faith that breaks down barriers and goes where no other church has gone.”

In the question and answer period, Albion first-year student Joel Pier-Fitzgerald asked “How can the church come to reconciliation on such a splitting issue as race?” Osborne emphasized that “there needs to be more areas where we [people of different races] interact.” Keaton challenged the audience that “we need more people willing to cross boundaries.” Further, he said there are "not enough people willing to do this, willing to die for this cause, willing to deny themselves and take up this cross."

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