The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1954-07-03
RACIAL LABELS ON CHURCHES

The C. M. E. Church previously known the col
pred Methodist Episcopal Church) has changed its name
to the Christian Methodist EpicOpa Church. This
church has been in existence for long period OF time
This church did something that will insure its growth
i'm the future 1t broke traditional emphasis and
stands as challenge to all other churches which will
carry racial label or any label that describes it be-
ing of particular background Such terms COlored,
Negro African give every cOnnOation OF segregated
church One cannot carry sign OF race or nationality
without narrowing it down primarily to racial church
Even If there is injection of nterraclal clause IN
the system of its government the name will draw pr
n1arily from that group
Signs are directions to certain peoples If church
means that it desires racial indignation under God then
it must take down the signs and be church for all ra
Ges heterogeneous relationship has always been heal
thy sociological factor and it should be no doubt or ne
stancy of being healthy theologicay China Japan
India and other oriental countries built solid wall
around their culture and for thousands OF years progress
was held up. Admiral Perry had to bomb his way into
Japan before she would have any cOngenial relationship
with other peoples of the world She later became the
most progression nation of the Orient and still is
The recent T. S. Supreme Court decision has en-
barrassed many Christian churches and they stand with
red faces ST. started the fight for ntegratOn in the
Christian church when he appealed to the church in Je
rusaem accept equal and ntegrated basis the gen.
tiles who becoming followers of Christ through the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit From the History of Jesus
Christ there a great biblical emphasis of Indignation
in the worship of God the story of the Wise Men and
Simeon, the dark man. who held Jesus Christ in his
arms and satisfied that he had the Christ be-
fore DEATH of John the Baptist who in announcing the
effects of Jesus coming said "AH flesh shall see the sal
walton of Cod The day of PentecOst the first revival
of the Christian church at Jerusalem wwhere 5000 de-
vOut from every nation present and each one
heard the message of Christ in his language and
saved in this fellowship The people were not separate
ed but had worship experience in integrated capa
city, People present at the beginning of the great expan
sion of the Christian church Parthans, Modes,
Eamtes, residents from MesOpotamia Judea, Cappado.
Cia Pontus Asia Phrygia, Pamphylia Egypt Lbya and
and Rome Cretan and Arabians These instances of In
tegration in the biblical well many others have
been sustained and elaborated by scholars in uni
verses and churches Sooner later the conscience OF
the world must yield to the impact of the true Christian
challenge
1t can be pretty well established that the Negro"
church will have to gradually build program with an
interracal appeal not the basis of one or two 1nl
tratiOns escape but the basis of definite and
constructive approach to its realization This is also
challenge to sO-called White churches
The first great step is to take down the label OF
racial In speaking of racial name the Central
Jurisdiction which segregated unit in the great Me-
thodis church of the United States will find it neces-
sary to eliminate this unit at their next general con-
ference or be marked church against the progressive
trend of our day. There not many churches with
racial label but where they exist it represents
backwOod march in day when the trend is to march
forward with ntegrated religion The youth and more
forward looking people will seek fellowship where the
historical biblical emphasis will be practlced The World
Council Of Churches esubstantates this posi-
ton. How well the churches of today will make effective
the true Christian challenge only the future will tell
Our Job is to start and take down racial signs
Contributed by Rev. Vernon E. Carter, Pastor First
Congregation Methodist Church of Boston, by request OF
The Guardian.