[Stefan Durham]

I’m doing research right now on Sermon traditions (biblical storytelling traditions) for school, and I’ve become fascinated – and moved – by the sermons I’ve heard at what happen to be all black Pentecostal churches. The services are nothing like what I knew growing up an Episcopalian in West Texas – they are electric and compelling. In spite of my attraction to them, however, I find myself scared and pacing every Sunday morning as I get dressed to go, and I’ve begun to think that it’s maybe because I’m feeling a lot of tension with regard to my being the only white person in a very intimate and spiritual African-American institution. I would like to think that it shouldn’t bother anyone – that no-one should be excluded from a church on the basis of race, or any other similarly superficial reason. But I feel that, from the time I arrive to the time I exit the building, there are wary, and even hostile eyes on me. My question for all is this: is my uneasiness a red flag – should I listen to the voice that says ‘you’re not wanted here,’ or the voice that says ‘any person who is moved by this should be permitted to share in it?’ I would love to feel free to dance, sing, clap with everyone else, ’cause I itch to do those things from the first hymn, from the first drum lick onward. But maybe I’m not being fair to the rest of the congregation or myself by imposing on these church ‘families’ as an ‘other.’ ?

User Detail :  

Name : Stefan Durham, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 26, City : Portland, State : OR, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Author]

Posts