While many across America are hopeful that the Supreme Court will react on the side of the LGBTQ community regarding the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Proposition 8, there are some African-American leaders who do not foresee much change occurring within the black church in terms of gay acceptance.
The Supreme Court has been hearing testimony this week regarding the constitutionality of DOMA, the federal law that identifies marriage as between a man and a woman, and California’s Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in California. If the court decides in favor of gay marriage advocates, it is possible that equal access to marriage regardless of gender will become a law nationwide, impacting the administration of federally-controlled benefits.
Whatever the outcome, the rulings will not have an impact on the theological positions of black church leaders and clergy, many sources say.
The black church is not monolithic in its thinking
Yet, Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, senior pastor of the historic Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, NY, told theGrio that, because the black church is not monolithic, the response from clergy would be uneven.
“It is not a decision informed by the Supreme Court,” said Franklin, who is also chairman of the National Action Network. “There are certain people who, if the court comes in their favor, will celebrate. But those not influenced by the courts are not waiting around to see what the court will decide.”
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Earl C. Johnson, pastor of Martin Street Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC agrees. Not much will change among black clergy in his region, even if DOMA and Prop 8 are repealed. Same sex marriage is still unacceptable in many clergy corners and will continue to be for some time.
Talking to many clergy in North Carolina since the amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions passed there, Johnson came to this revelation: “There are some clergy out here, regardless of what anyone says, they have made up their mind. I don’t see that shifting. They will never marry anyone.”
Will the black church ever embrace gay marriage?
What will bring the shift in mindset? Johnson does not know. But he has some ideas.
One solution, he believes, is to get more of the leaders in black church pulpits trained in interpreting the Bible in a more modern fashion.
“We have so many in the pulpit with no theological training at all. They are preaching based off of an old mindset from thousand of years ago,” Johnson said. “We are living in a totally different time period today. You cannot govern in the same way as thousands of years ago.”
Other than that, Johnson said the real shift will have to come from the members. He suggests that church leaders in the closet be honest about their orientations with their flocks to start this shift.
“It is time for them – those on the deacon board, in the choir, and every where else – to start letting these pastors know,” Johnson said. The popularity of beloved church figures can fuel change as members seek protection for their respected leaders. “When the congregation starts changing and saying, ‘we want you to start speaking up for every individual who has been denied any kind of rights at all. We want you to start speaking out,’ then that puts the pressure on the pastors.”
Johnson does not think the Supreme Court will decide anyway. He predicts that they will throw the decision back to the lower courts to avoid the pressure, a notion supported by some of the justice’s comments.
Will marriage equality prevail?
Kelly Brown Douglas, professor of religion at Goucher College in Baltimore, MD is encouraged that marriage equality will prevail. She is hopeful that the courts will see marriage equality as a civil rights and civil liberties issue. But, she said one never knows with the Supreme Court.
Douglas equates this situation to that of Loving v. Virginia – a famous case in which the ban on interracial marriage was struck down. This, and the Prop 8 case, for example, are similarly civil rights cases to her.
“I do see this as a piece of the same history,” she told theGrio. “Not the same history in terms of race but in terms of civil rights issues.”
Yet, she does agree with Johnson and Franklin. Regardless of whether the Supreme Court votes to strike down DOMA and Prop 8, she does not believe black religious opponents of same-sex marriage will be moved. They will probably feel vindicated to further promote their beliefs.
Thus, “the rhetoric in pulpits on Sunday morning will be heightened either way,” Douglas said.
Black church at a crossroads
For Douglas, the black church is reneging on its mission. While she is not optimistic about the Supreme Court decision, she is also keeping the faith that the black church will someday soon see LGBTQ sexualities as being as valid as any other sexuality, and divine.
Johnson anticipates a more heated reaction — especially from the evangelical community. He sees many different denominations engaging in intense debate if in fact the Supreme Court takes gay marriage national.
“And there will certainly be a core group of African American pastors in the discussion,” Johnson said. “The debate and reaction will probably intensify.”
Follow Mashaun D Simon on Twitter at @memadosi, or follow his blog, http://theparkinglotblog.wordpress.com.