B|E Note #AfterThought: The Role of the Black Church During Coronavirus
a conversation with Rev. William H. Lamar IV on what Black churches can and should be doing during crisis
a B|E Note AfterThought
B|E Note Publisher Charles Ellison talks with Rev. William H. Lamar IV, Senior Pastor of Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in Washington, D.C. This is a conversation on how the Black church adapts to a pandemic, as well as the role it must play for communities during a major existential crisis.
The church began as an open air movement of people moving from place to place, following a teacher. And it became house churches,” said Lamar. “So before we ever built cathedrals and and buildings, people worshiped at home. So the way that I have talked about this is, this is a return to how the church gathered originally at home, around tables in fellowship and meals together. And so it is clear according to Scripture and history, that that is how the church gathered. Now for those who insist on coming inside of spaces that we have designated as church buildings, which we have designated as churches, I think that not only is it ahistorical, but it is misanthropic, it is people-hating. It is literally causing the destruction of people. What the experts have told us is that we risk the health of others and our own health, when we insist upon gathering, and I feel like it is irresponsible. It is selfish. And you know, I might go so far as to say that it is evil.”