ThePriestSays: Jena Six and the New Superintendent
I attended as a clergymen to the installation of the my new religous superior, the District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Yolanda R. Villa at St. James UMC. She is the first black woman to serve in that role for the Heartland Central District (based in Independence MO).
In her sermon she made a BIG deal about the Jena 6. She quoted the Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson. She lead the congregation in shouting "Free Jena 6" a few times, each one louder. She said that the Co. Proscutor was a relic of the 1960s Jim Crowism. She said the district (HCD) could not stand by and let these young men lives be ruined by injustice and hate. She called the district to make personal sacrifice (money I think) for their cause.
She made a really big deal about the white teens only getting a slap on the wrist, a meaningless short suspension, and the Jena 6 facing orginially an attempted murder charge and the unfairness of the difference.
She basically called the community of Jena (the size of Fayette MO and 85% nonblack) as backward hicks that needs the Gospel of Justice preached to them from the rooftops, from the black churches' pulpits, from the roadside, and from the courthouse steps.
She made it clear that the fault lay in particular with the white Co. Procesuter that the Jena 6 were ever even charged, and the teens (not of color) got away with everything, she reminded us all that 2008 is an election year and we all as United Methodists must universally vote for real justice. She looked at Rev. Cleaver when she said that, he raised his blue program and said Amen!
While the huge combined African American Choir sang "The Prayer of Jesus in Song", she lead the assembly including Mr. Robert Schnase, Bishop of Missouri, and the St. James' Pastor in a prayer of gathered power for their deliverence. The choir, clergy, and the layity stood most with raised right hands toward Rev. Dr. Villa during the prayer and then exclaimed "Ahhhhhhhhhhmen!"
I must say I have never seen anything quite like it at Church. I was stunned. My mentor Rev. Wm. Bunge, a former superintendent of the same district, just stood there with his mouth open, just like a scene from the movies. Regardless of anything else she might do, I am sure that things are going to be different, and it is not going to be boring.
I have heard Rev. Villa before lecturing at St. Paul's Theology School about Black Women Liberation Theology. She was effective in getting the future feminist ministers excited about running the future of the UMC. She had a radical (I think) agenda for getting there. It looks like the Bishop gave her a big boost. She is slick, and she is good at making almost anything sound great. I wish I had her charisma. I find it strange that the more liberal the methodist theology is, the more members it loses. Why would anyone think that putting in a leader with extreme radical political, feminist, and theological must do agenda is going to fix the organizational disconnect with its own membership, or for that matter, the community to evangelize?
In her sermon she made a BIG deal about the Jena 6. She quoted the Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson. She lead the congregation in shouting "Free Jena 6" a few times, each one louder. She said that the Co. Proscutor was a relic of the 1960s Jim Crowism. She said the district (HCD) could not stand by and let these young men lives be ruined by injustice and hate. She called the district to make personal sacrifice (money I think) for their cause.
She made a really big deal about the white teens only getting a slap on the wrist, a meaningless short suspension, and the Jena 6 facing orginially an attempted murder charge and the unfairness of the difference.
She basically called the community of Jena (the size of Fayette MO and 85% nonblack) as backward hicks that needs the Gospel of Justice preached to them from the rooftops, from the black churches' pulpits, from the roadside, and from the courthouse steps.
She made it clear that the fault lay in particular with the white Co. Procesuter that the Jena 6 were ever even charged, and the teens (not of color) got away with everything, she reminded us all that 2008 is an election year and we all as United Methodists must universally vote for real justice. She looked at Rev. Cleaver when she said that, he raised his blue program and said Amen!
While the huge combined African American Choir sang "The Prayer of Jesus in Song", she lead the assembly including Mr. Robert Schnase, Bishop of Missouri, and the St. James' Pastor in a prayer of gathered power for their deliverence. The choir, clergy, and the layity stood most with raised right hands toward Rev. Dr. Villa during the prayer and then exclaimed "Ahhhhhhhhhhmen!"
I must say I have never seen anything quite like it at Church. I was stunned. My mentor Rev. Wm. Bunge, a former superintendent of the same district, just stood there with his mouth open, just like a scene from the movies. Regardless of anything else she might do, I am sure that things are going to be different, and it is not going to be boring.
I have heard Rev. Villa before lecturing at St. Paul's Theology School about Black Women Liberation Theology. She was effective in getting the future feminist ministers excited about running the future of the UMC. She had a radical (I think) agenda for getting there. It looks like the Bishop gave her a big boost. She is slick, and she is good at making almost anything sound great. I wish I had her charisma. I find it strange that the more liberal the methodist theology is, the more members it loses. Why would anyone think that putting in a leader with extreme radical political, feminist, and theological must do agenda is going to fix the organizational disconnect with its own membership, or for that matter, the community to evangelize?