St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-11-11
Most White Preachers
Would Not Sofisfy
NEGRO Church Needs
by Dr. w. II. Jernigan

breaches on Sunday: his sermoni
shout include problems In every
day living and he should be avail
able for counseling at all times.
There Is difference in the
preaching OF Negro and white
ministers. taking into considera-
ton. OF course, their preparation.
Because OF the emotional and
spiritual development of the aver
age Negro congregation. the ma
jority OF white preachers would
not satisfy the needs OF most OF
the Negro churches.
However, believe that minis
ters OF all races should emphasize
Christ in the lives of their mem
bers.
The average Negro church does
not become involved in the type Of
argument prevailing over the doc
trine OF DR.. Norman Vincent
Peale and his critics. My opinion
Is that the high critics have mis-
construed DR.. Peaie's meanings.
I am taking side with DIR. Peale
for when 1t comes to doing the
greatest good to the greatest
number, he Is doing more to help
the people In bringing peace to
individuals and families than those
who ara opposing him.
The Negro preacher has res
possibility to speak out against
drinking and gambling and loose
morals or sin In any form. even at
a time when those interests are In
creasingly powerful and infiltrat-
ing into so many phases OF Negro
life. Good morals In the basis OF
the Christian religion.
The majority of Negro minis
tiers are failing in their leadership
OF the masses OF migrants pouring
into our great cities. They fail to
provide practical guidance, such
as discussion OF frugality and
thrift.
In most communities. the moral
tone is advancing. and the Negro
preacher must take the lead In
bringing about better morals In
his community.
The crimes which are commit
ed in our community are by peo-
Pile who do not attend church reg
ularly In order that they may hear
the gospel.
Az 10 tho growth Of storc.front
churches and cults, the larger
churches In our cities are not or
ganixed to reach all OF the people
who come into their communities
Because OF their crowded con-
ditions. these people go unnoticed,
Existing organizations are not
sufficient to give them work or
leadership. Many people come
from communities with certain
mode OF worship they do not find
In our cities except In store-front
rhttrchea md r,ilfA
There are so many ministers OF
the gospel In various denomina-
tons without work or churches
that II is easy for them To assem-
BILE groups OF people and influence
them to organize new churches
where many can be elected Off
GERS.
While II is true that many of
the cult churches do not use the
money poured into them for the
benefit and education OF the PEG.
pie and are therefore detrimental,
we must recognize tho fact that
some of the churches once called
store front" have now become
some OF the leading churches.
Another failing OF our churches
Is that many of them do not have
programs which attract our young
people, However, I do not believe
that the majority of churches are
losing their hold on young people
because they have many OF them
in their memberships
Many young college men and
women fail TO participate in
church activities because the
leadership or program does not
appeal 10 them. or because the
church has not been emphasized in
The development OF their cduca.
lion,
Many OF the pulpits of our coun-
try are failing TO supply Informal
lion and inspiration 10 the intelli.
gent section OF our congregations,
but this Is not true OF the major
ty
Out OF my experience OF 6S
years OF pastoring, | would sug,
Sest that more OF our Negro de-
and churches give
more attention 10 the potential
candidates for the ministry who
are not able TO attend institutions
10 prepare themselves
| would further suggest that
Negro pastors, as group, give
more attention 10 the whole man
IN his economic social and civic
ievelopment.
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