The Demand and the Supply of Increased Efficiency in the Negro Ministry: The American Negro Academy. Occasional Papers No. 13Moorland, Jesse Edward
Religion
The Demand and the Supply of Increased Efficiency in the Negro Ministry: The American Negro Academy. Occasional Papers No. 13
Moorland, Jesse Edward
African American clergy -- Education; Religious education
Again: Is it too much to urge those in charge of the training of our
ministers to consider seriously the compelling need of so recasting the
course of study that a higher grade of men shall be attracted to the
ministry and that a thorough, comprehensive, yet practical, training shall
be given which shall fit men to preach the Gospel of Christ with real
meaning to men in the twentieth century? We ought to stop putting the good
new wine in old skins. The hopeful sign is that there are picked men in
seminary faculties, in the pulpit, and among laymen all over the country
who are thinking about this most important question. May these thinkers
soon crystallize their thoughts in a forceful movement which shall ever
bless the people.
After many years of observation and of contact with almost every class of
men and some different races, I come to the conclusion that there is
nothing quite so interesting to the people as religion. People will go in
crowds to hear a man like Gypsy Smith talk to them about their every day
problems and will hear respectfully what Jesus Christ taught about these
problems and their relations one with the other. In no place in life does
a man of parts have so large opportunity to wield a helpful influence with
his fellowmen as in the ministry. When we can show the great army of
college men that they can be natural men, real men, with natural voice and
methods, in the ministry, when they can be made to understand that it is
the man under the garb and not the garb which designates the real minister
to men, and that they have a chance and a right to go everywhere, finding
out the conditions of society, touching it at its highest and at its
lowest level, and that they will be supported in their work, morally and
materially, there will be a larger supply than we have to-day, if not
sufficient to meet the demands of the times. I have not dealt in
statistics. This I leave for a future study. I have been as one crying in
the wilderness, sounding the alarm, calling attention to our most vital
need, to a problem which is worrying our best men. I plead with Christian
parents to lay their promising sons on the Master's altar, and to the
Church and college I cry awake! and behold ruin of home and country if you
fail to lead many of the ablest and best of those under you into the
Master's service.
Can we do better than carry away with us the words of the chief Shepherd
of the sheep, the Master and Teacher of men, when he said: "Pray ye,
therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into
His harvest."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account