Twenty-five years ago if you were African American and interested in pastoral ministry in the PCA there were few opportunities outside of inner-city ministries or church planting. I am excited to report how much this has changed since 1993 when I was a seminary student.
As of now there are nine PCA churches either looking specifically for an African American pastor or who are open to the possibility. This is encouraging news as I watch the growth and openness to minority leadership in the PCA. African Americans are now not only church planting but serving as pastors, taking leading roles on denominational committees, and serving in denominational agencies.
- Michael Higgins is the dean of students at Covenant Theological Seminary as well as the pastor of South City Church in St Louis MO.
- Alex Shipman is the chairman of the MNA Board for The PCA Unity Fund, created to help minorities with the cost of seminary education. Alex is also the church planter and pastor of the Village Church in Huntsville AL.
- Irwyn Ince served as the chairman of the study committee on the role of women in the church. Irwyn was the pastor of City of Hope Church in Columbia MD, but was recently appointed the director of the Institute for Cross Cultural Mission (ICCM) at Grace DC. The ICCM is a new church-based research and training entity dedicated to equipping Christian leaders for crosscultural ministry.
- Barbara Jones serves as the Mobilization Specialist with Mission to the World (MTW), the global mission agency of the PCA. She is actively recruiting minorities and helping to stir interest in foreign missions through short-term missions trips.
- Russ Whitfield, the church planter and pastor of Grace DC Mosaic, has been named the Director of Cross-Cultural Advancement for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), the campus ministry of the PCA.
- Carl & Karen Ellis have been called to roles with Reformed Theological Seminary. Carl has been named Assistant to the Chancellor, Senior Fellow of the African American Leadership Initiative, and Provost's Professor of Theology and Culture. Karen has been named Cannada Fellow for World Christianity (A Cannada Fellow is a distinguished visiting scholar, honored for expertise in particular fields of study).
- Howard Brown is the church planter and pastor of Christ Central Church, a crosscultural church in Charlotte NC. Christ Central is the first African American led PCA church to plant a daughter church.
- Michelle Higgins is responsible for helping to turn the LDR (Leadership Development Resource) weekend into a growing significant annual event that helps minorities find their place in the PCA.
- Kevin Smith is the chairman of the study committee on racial reconciliation created at the 2016 General Assembly in response to an overture on race.
There are a number of others such as Lance Lewis, Kenny Foster, Oliver Trimiew Michael Campbell, and Thurman Williams who serve on PCA denominational committees such as RUF, MNA, CTS, and MTW.
There has been quite a bit of progress since 1993, but we have a long way to go. African Americans still represent only 1% of all PCA teaching elders. Among ministry leaders and ruling elders the percentages are even less. Our seminaries are not graduating men fast enough to meet the increasing demand for pastors. There is an increased demand for alternative theological training as well as funding for staff positions.
Please prayerfully consider a financial contribution through The PCA Unity Fund or to MNA African American Ministries.
I just called my first staff person to handle administrative operations for the Leadership Development Resource (LDR) weekend and the African American Presbyterian Fellowship (AAPF).
