I’m taking a class with Dr. Ruth Duck for J-Term. For the next two weeks we are studying African American worship and will be involved in Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in the city. Quinn Chapel was the first African American church in Chicago and I can’t wait to finally get there on Sunday.
I just finished a class in United Methodist Worship with Dr. Ron Anderson and learned soooo much about United Methodist worship practices and now as we look into cultural practices in worship I am finding more questions than answers.
I suggest that everyone finds time to worship with churches of other traditions. I have usually taken confirmation students to AME (African Methodist Episcopal) churches when we are on mission because I especially enjoy AME worship, but this class has helped me to better understand why African American worship is so distinctive and is helping me to to better appreciate the journey of our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout diaspora, slavery and oppression.
Most importantly, it is not just worship practices which are different. With African roots and a history of slavery African Americans have had a community centered-ness that many Anglo-Americans can not begin to understand and the church has been at the center of that need for community. I hope that everyone reading this blog will join with me in experiencing the community of support and ministry of an African American congregation during the next month, if you do not already worship in one.