Historians, theologians and academicians gather for the 12th program in The BLACK ISSUES FORUM series, "The Role of the Black Church." An in-depth discussion of the origin of the Black Church, its development in America, dominant agendas within the Black church and its future challenges is featured. The one-hour program aired on all 10 channels of North Carolina Public Television on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 8:00 pm. The program was taped before a live audience at Shaw University.

Addressing the origin of the Black church and the charge that it has been used as a tool of white America. Bishop John Hurst Adams states that " the assumption is that Christianity is fundamentally a European religion, which it is not. It had roots in a different part of the world and is as much African in its beginning as it is anything else."

Dr. C. Eric Lincoln cites the fact that "there was no effort to bring Blacks into the church(in America) until 1701." This was one hundred years after Blacks began arriving in America. According to Dr. Lincoln, "up until that time, Blacks had not only been denied education in the Christian faith, but they were also prohibited from practicing the religious beliefs brought over from Africa.

Discussing the differences between the Black and white churches- Rev. Albert McKnight, says, " the Black church is a different institution because it was modeled and fashioned by African culture." He adds that, " the Black church is the absolute womb of Black culture."

While debating the role other institutions play in the Black community, Rev. Dwight Jones says, there is no institution yet born that has the capability of addressing the issues that the Black church is addressing today."

Dr. Talbert O. Shaw, President of Shaw University, recognizes that the threat of other institutions taking power away from the church. He says, "..if other social institutions take predominance over the church, we lose the identity of the mission. "Rev. Jones adds that no other institution has as powerful a voice of authority than the church does in the Black community and that it is the church where issues of justice and humanitarian concerns are discussed and answers given.

Dr. David Forbes, Sr. believes that other institutions in the Black community have developed because of the influence of the Black church. While discussing how effectively the church has dealt with the problems and concerns of the Black community, Dr. Forbes says. 'the richness of the Black experience in this country is indebted to the marvelous and excellent way that the Black church has been functional in providing responses" to the issues facing Black American.

Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., reminds the audience that "if we talk about a Christian church, then we ought to pay some attention to Jesus. Jesus never separated the fire of the spirit from the focus on liberating agendas."

PANELISTS:

Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister of Riverside Church, New York City, NC.

Dr. David Forbes, Sr., Senior Minister, Christian Faith Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC.

Dr. Talbert O. Shaw, President of Shaw University, Raleigh, NC.

Rev. Dwight Jones, Board of Directors, National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., Richmond, Va.

Rev. Albert McKnight, Executive Director of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, Opelousas, LA, California.

Dr. C. Eric Lincoln, Professor of Religion and Culture, Department of Religion, Duke University, Durham, NC.

Bishop John Hurst Adams, Senior Bishop, 6th Episcopal District, Atlanta, GA.

The panel discussion was moderated by Valeria L. Lee, Chair of the North Carolina Center for Public Television and Program Development Officer for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The Executive Producer is Dr. Paul Vandergrift.