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Note: This 2018 Blog Entry Has Been Superceeded & Updated Via The Link Below

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SOUTHSIDE CONGREGATION INTRODUCES BLACK CHURCH CULTURAL CENTER OUTREACH

NOTE: THIS 2018 BLOG ENTRY HAS BEEN SUPERCEEDED AND UPDATED HERE: https://afroculturalcenter.wordpress.com/2020/12/08/about-us-part-2/

NOTE: THIS 2018 BLOG ENTRY HAS BEEN SUPERCEEDED AND UPDATED HERE: https://afroculturalcenter.wordpress.com/2020/12/08/about-us-part-2/

NOTE: THIS 2018 BLOG ENTRY HAS BEEN SUPERCEEDED AND UPDATED HERE: https://afroculturalcenter.wordpress.com/2020/12/08/about-us-part-2/

https://afroculturalcenter.wordpress.com/2020/12/08/about-us-part-2/

EDITOR

“Let envoys come out of Egypt; let Ethiopia hasten her gifts to God.” -Psalm 68:31

“And everyone has a goal to which (he/she) turns (themselves), so vie with one another in good works.  Wherever you are, Allah (God) will bring you all together.  Surely Allah (God) is Possessor of power over all things” -Al Quran, 002:148-Maulana Ali-

OUR PURPOSE

1. This blog/brochure seeks to serve as the voice of the AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER (AACC) of Partners of Reformation Church Chicago/ELCA (“Young Barack Obama’s community organizing sanctuary”).   It is launched to help define the identity, purpose, and direction of AACC as it emerges out from under the umbrella of the Pulpit Ministry (inclusive of its Partnering Reformation initiative) of our Black Lutheran historic house of worship’s Pastor, Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma).

OUR MODEL 

2. Our basic cultural center model is the African American Cultural Center/Us of Los Angeles, California, Seba (Moral Teacher) Dr. Maulana Karenga (Ethicist, Professor, & Chair of Africana Studies, CSULB), Executive Director; Creator of Kwanzaa and the Nguzo Saba; Author, Introduction to Black Studies, 4th Edition and Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis.

AACC’s LIFT EVERY VOICE PROGRAM 

3.  We are also inspired by and have joined the Washington, D.C., Smithsonian Institution’s new National Museum of African American History & Culture’s Lift Every Voice program from our very own AACC mission field here in Metro Chicago. Said program advances the celebration, from diverse locations nationally and globally, of the new National Museum’s inaugural year (Fall 2016 to the end of 2017).

WHY REFORMATION’S AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER  

4.  The above said, we advance AACC at Reformation because it is the historically correct institution-inside and outside our local congregation-to build, maintain and develop a local vanguard base-community for supporting, promoting, and  preserving African American Culture-of which our historic African American Lutheran house of worship is an integral part.

AN INVITATION TO MEMBERSHIP

5. In order to advance Reformation’s AACC cause, we are in the process of unfolding, via this brochure and at our current web-page, the following financial support structure itself self-organized around different levels of membership and related amounts as well as a supportive donations structure as follows:

I.  Membership levels:

A. Student   $20

B. Adult   $30

C. Family $72

D. Supporter   $100

E.  Sustainer   $300

G.  Patron   $500

H.  Benefactor   $1, 000

II. WE INVITE YOUR DONATIONS 

A. Annual

B. Semi-Annual

C. Occasional

D. Collections

F. Volunteers

III. OUR ANNUAL GROUP TOUR TO THE NEW SMITHSONIAN AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM (THE BLACKSONIAN)

A. We are also in the process of organizing, as an annual educational fundraiser, a group tour, from the Metro Chicago area, to the new National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) popularly known as “The BLACKSONIAN).

B. We view our annual BLACKSONIAN tour as a major resource mobilizer on behalf Reformation’s AACC.

IV. OUR CHICAGO AND THE RISE OF BARACK OBAMA QUARTERLY BUS TOUR

A. We will additionally organize, on a quarterly basis, our very own CHICAGO AND THE RISE OF BARACK OBAMA BUS TOUR. 

B. Said tour will feature a guided/refreshment stop at Reformation’s YOUNG OBAMA FELLOWSHIP HALL showcasing a talk on the Church’s historic 1985 role as the sanctuary for young Mr. Obama’s community organizing.   

OUR BASIC STRATEGY

6.  The overall strategy of Reformation’s AACC is creating new partners to garner new resources for supporting, promoting, and preserving Black American Culture-of which our historic Black Lutheran house of worship stands as an integral part.

SANKOFA REFORMATIONFEST 500 & OUR 130TH ANNIVERSARY

7.  Key to our basic strategy of making new resource friends and opening new resource doors, inside and outside the Lutheran world, is that of linking our historic house of worship’s anniversaries with Reformation 500 festivals.

A. Going forward, then, our perspective is establishing, strengthening, and expanding our very own SANKOFA REFORMATIONFEST 500 (Africana Book Fair & Sacred Jazz Festival). 

B. Our vision: Boldly Africanizing Reformation 500 festivals.   

REFORMATION’S AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER AS GIFT

8.  We would like our readers to consider Reformation’s AACC as a gift, from our faithful Far South Side Lutheran, albeit mustard seed, congregation-itself guided by the Holy Spirit-to serve African American life City-wide, regionally, nationally and internationally as well as a gift, via our service, to the African World Community, the International Ecumenical and Interfaith Movement, and the Metro Chicago, Mid-West, U.S. National, and global communities.

A CULTURAL CENTER GUIDED BY JOY

9. More, we conclude this introductory statement, then, on Reformation’s AACC with the following quote from Irosu Wori, Odu 78.1, taken from ODU IFA (Baskets of Ifa Wisdom): The Ethical Teachings, Translation and Commentary-A Kawaida Interpretation-by Dr. Maulana Karenga: 

“Let’s do things with joy.  Those that want to go, let them go.  Those that want to stay, let them stay.  Surely, humans have been chosen to bring good into the world.”

Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Pastor, Reformation Church Chicago/ELCA (“Young Barack Obama’s community organizing sanctuary”) and CONSERVATOR of Reformation’s historic house of worship and cultural properties.

CONTACT:

Reformation Lutheran Church Chicago/ELCA, 11310 S. Forest Avenue, Chicago IL 60628, 773-785-4570 or 773-996-1066.  Email: JKWASHINGTON@comcast.net

INVITATION TO SUNDAY WORSHIP

Please join us for Sunday Sacred Jazz worship,featuring A LOVE SUPREME, 12 NOON.

Addendum A:  For more in-depth information on Reformation’s historical and cultural legacy please go to https://partneringreformation.wordpress.com

Addendum B:  For more contextual information about the challenges we are facing vis-a-vis the Metro Chicago Synod Bishop’s Office & Mission Investment Fund/ELCA please go to https://ourappointedbread.wordpress.com

JW (KS)

 

 

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SOUTHSIDE CONGREGATION INTRODUCES BLACK CHURCH CULTURAL CENTER OUTREACH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1.”If Dr. Henry Louis Gates, elite African American Harvard academic, can rediscover the Black Church from above and outside, via partnering with PBS in producing the Black Church Documentary Series, so can we rediscover the Black Church from below and inside by building, maintaining and developing Black Metropolis Chicago’s BLACK CHURCH CULTURAL CENTER as (DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS: Reformation African American Lutheran Kusanyiko/Congregation Chicago)” -writes Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Pastor, Council President and Executive Director/Freelance Writer of the Southside Black Lutheran, congregational path fellowship and virtual voice: BLACK HISTORIC PLACE MATTERS here: A ROSELAND ROSE: Saving Young Barack Obama’s Historic Community Organizing Sanctuary here: https://partneringreformation.wordpress.com

Introducing… MOUNTAINTOP! (Reformation’s African American Lutheran Congregationalists’ Cultural Center Chicago)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELLEASE

-PROLOGUE-

“I just want to do God’s will. And he has allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. ..Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” -I’ve Been To The Mountaintop, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., April 3, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee

ANNOUNCENT

1.WHO? DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS (Reformation African American Lutheran Congregationalist Church Chicago).

2. WHAT? Convening MOUNTAINTOP! (Reformation’s African American Lutheran Congregationalists’ Cultural Center Chicago).

3. WHEN? Effective immediatel.y

4. HOW? A) Virtually via Conference Call here: (727) 731-7760. B) By sub-convening BASE COMMUNITY (Protecting and Promoting African American Lutheran Congregationalist Culture). C. By programatically organizing on a regular basis events promoting African American congregationalist culture.

5. WHY? To congregationally uplift, inside and outside the ELCA, the distinctive role of the African people, politically, economically, and culturally, in both American life and thru-out the African World Community.

Respectfully submitted: Pastor Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS (Reformation African American Lutheran Missiology Kusanyiko/Congregation Chicago, plus: Congregation Council President and Executive Director of BLACK HISTORIC PLACE MATTERS here: https://partneringreformation.wordpress.com as well as Convener of DTFJ’S KEY-LINK RESOURCE MOBILIZATION MINISTERIUM i.e., FROM ABILITY TO NEED here: https://reformationchicagostory.wordpress.com

VIRTUAL WORSHIP WEEKLY here: https://liturgyisus.wordpress.com

Our SANKOFA PRIDE LITERARY FORUM (SANUM) here: https://sankofaforum.wordpress.com

Our Black Church Reports here: Our ELCA Black Lutheran Racial and Social Justice Initiative here: https://sevenharambee.wordpress.com

CONTACT: langston1212@gmail.com

Reformation’s Pastoral Care Memoir here: https://afrocentricitypulpitministry.wordpress.com/

DONATE: https://sankofalutheranchicago.com

About Us -Part 2- A Black Lutheran Congregationalist Initiative/ELCA-MCS-ADLA

DONATE: https://sankofalutheranchicago.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  1. In Part 2 we want to discuss “FUTURE CHURCH DESIGN AFFIRMED BY CHURCH COUNCIL” as reported in both the African Descent Ministries Desk E-Letter and via the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) Press Release. And we want to do so as it relates to our cause i.e., establishing, strengthening and expanding our very own ABCC (AFRICAN BY CHOICE CONGREGATIONALISTS (REFORMATION CHURCH CHICAGO’S AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER MINISTERIUM).
  2. ABCC unites with the basic contention of Kawaida philosophy, created, developed, expanded and continually advanced by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor/Chair of Africana Studies, CSULB and Executive Director of the African American Cultural Center/Us, Los Angeles, that historically there are four basic forms of Black Nationalism i.e., Religious, Political, Economic, and Cultural Nationalism. Kawaida philosophy’s distinction is that it combines at once the first three forms under the rubric of its unique African American Cultural Nationalism.
  3. ABCC, then, unites with Dr. Karenga wherein he defines Kawaida philosophy’s Cultural Nationalism as, to paaphrase, “An on-going synthesis of the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world.”
  4. More, Dr. Karenga sums-up Kawaida philosophy aptly as “A Communitarian African philosophy.” ABCC embraces this summation.
  5. About “Future Church Design Affirmed By Church Council” and Us (ABCC). As a part of the African Descent Ministries Cohort, of the Church-Wide Virtual Conference on Congregational Vitality, we had been previously fore-warned, via a cohort presentation of Rev. Lamont Wells, ADLA & Lutheran Campus Ministries, that both the public statement and initiative of the Denominational Council was coming.
  6. ABCC proposes to start discussing both the African Desk E-Letter announcement and the related Church-Wide Press Release, in this space, as the proverbial elephant in the African Descent Ministries Cohort’s virtual break-out room.
  7. TOP-DOWN & BOTTOM-UP? Although the terms seem self explanatory, the devil appears to be in the range of application details. Generally speaking “Each approach can be quite simple—the top-down approach goes from the general to the specific, and the bottom-up approach begins at the specific and moves to the general. These methods are possible approaches for a wide range of endeavors… -INVESTORPEDIA-
  8. Given the ELCA context, we believe it is fair to say that the “Affirmed” Church-Wide Council “Design” under discussion as well as the various Synodical leadership approaches, generally speaking, can be said to be top-down.
  9. Whereas ELCA congregational and/or local church, and/or parish leadership approaches can be said to be, generally speaking, bottom-up. The latter would be especially so of bottom-up leadership approaches to A) diversity, B) multiculturalism, and, last but not least, C) bottom-up grassroots ethnic studies initiatives of, by and for denominational inclusion.
  10. ABCC unites with Dr. Karenga’s “An (Kawaida) Ethics of Sharing .” Said ethics in broad strokes are A) Shared Status, B) Shared Knowledge, C) Shared Space, D) Shared Wealth, E) Shared Power, and F) Shared Interests.
  11. We conclude Part 2 with Dr. Karenga’s Kawiada philosophy definition of A) Shared Status resourced above and quoted in detail below.
  12. “Shared status is the fundamental principle of human and social relations and speaks to the mutual commitment of the dignity of the human person, not as an abstraction but as a person-in-community, a community which is fundamental to a person’s self-understanding and self-assertion in the world. It embraces the basic principle that each culture is a unique and equally valuable way of being human in the world. It requires equal status of each person and people as human beings and citizens, who are equal in dignity, rights, opportunity and respect in both principle and practice. As mutual respect and recognition it rejects all concepts and practices of superiority and inferiority of persons and peoples and upholds the principle of equal human and social worth for all.” Dr. Maulana Karenga, INTRODUCTION TO BLACK STUDIES, FOURTH EDITION, Sankore Press, Los Angeles, 2010.
Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Pastor, Council President, and Saving Black Historic Places Correspondent, Reformation Church Chicago (“Young Obama’s community organizing sanctuary”), Updated 12-9-20

CONTACT: langston1212@gmail.com

DONATE: https://sankofalutheranchicago.com

Part 1 of 2 Above here:
https://afroculturalcenter.wordpress.com/2020/12/07/about-african-by-choice-congregationalists-abcc-reformation-church-chicagos-african-american-cultural-center-ministerium-a-black-theology-lutheran-congregational-initiative-elca-mcs-adla/

About Us -A Black Theology Lutheran Congregationalist Initiative/ELCA-MCS-ADLA -Part 1

DONATE: https://sankofalutheranchicago.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  1. It is a key formulation by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor/Chair of Africana Studies, CSULB and Executive Director of the African American Cultural Center/Us, Los Angeles, to paraphrase, that “We (African Americans) are American by habit and African by choice. But we must choose to be African.”
  2. Dr. Karenga goes on to teach that in the nation within a nation that is the African American people we have both, to paraphrase, “historical origin (Africa/African) and social location (USA).”
  3. More, Dr. Karenga adds that although African American is our historic social location as identity, “Black is our historic struggle name.” Thus we have the Black Power Movement phase of the Post World War II Black Freedom Movement (1965-1975), Black Studies, Black Theology, Black Independent Schools, Black Student Unions, Black United Fronts, Black Caucuses, and Black Cultural Centers to name just these few emerging out of the Black Freedom Movement.
  4. ABCC steps into the gap where, now more than ever, we need an African American cultural center serving inside and outside of the three expressions of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) i.e., Church-Wide (denominational) Synodical, and congregational.
  5. ABCC uses the following definition in its understanding of a Black Lutheran congregationalist-based African American Cultural Center Ministerium.
  6. “CONGREGATIONALISTS. Those Protestants who believe that the local church (congregation) is to be independent and autonomous. They profess to represent the principle of democracy in church government, a policy they hold, claiming that Christ alone is the head of the church He founded.
  7. “…No one, therefore, may claim to have priestly powers that others do not profess, the right to teach or rule in Christ’s name, except in so far as he or she is delegated by the congregation.
  8. “Where two or three are gathered together in His name, He is in their midst, and the local church comes into existence as an expression and representation of the Church Universal.
  9. “Congregationalists say that this system of church structure is the most primitive (ancient) in Christianity and all other forms are later human additions and changes.
  10. “Although the congregationalist began with Luther (1483-1546), it was not put into consistent practice until the English Reformation. With the rise of Anglicanism various separatists (dissenters, independents, free church leaders) broke with the parent English Church to form what eventually became the Congregational Churches of Anglo-Saxon Protestantism.
  11. “In the United States, most local Protestant groups of churches follow the Congregational pattern, even when they have other denominational names.” Modern Catholic Dictionary, Abridged Edition, John A. Hardon, S.J. -Doubleday, N>Y 1985
  12. To paraphrase Minister Malcolm X’s (Al Hajj Malik Shabazz) “Message to the Grassroots,” with regard to ABCC’s historic Black Freedom Church tradition, “We did not come over on the Mayflower but via the Holocaust of enslaved African Ships (Dr. Karenga) via the so-called Middle Passage . We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock. It landed on us i.e., our enslaved African religious, spiritual, ethical, and transcendent traditions.”
  13. Some ABCC models are: A) Psalm 68:31 (“Let envoys come out of Egypt; let Ethiopia hasten her gifts to God.”) that Bengt Sundklar calls the mythical constitution of the historic Black Church Ethiopianist Movement, B) New York City’s Abyssinian Baptist Church as origins & via the Bonhoeffer in Harlem years, C) The African American Cultural Center/Us, Los Angeles, D) Kwanzaa, the African American/Pan-African Cultural Holiday, and E) the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, the latter three created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, to name just these.
  14. Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Pastor, Council President, and Saving Black Historic Places Correspondent, Reformation Church Chicago (“Young Obama’s community organizing sanctuary”) and for ABCC, 12-8-20

CONTACT: langston1212@gmail.com

DONATE: https://sankofalutheranchicago.com

RESOURCE Part 2 here: https://afroculturalcenter.wordpress.com/2020/12/08/about-us-part-2/

An African American Cultural Center 2018 invitation

NOTE: THIS 2018 BLOG ENTRY HAS BEEN SUPERCEEDED AND UPDATED HERE: https://afroculturalcenter.wordpress.com/2020/12/08/about-us-part-2/ 

EDITOR

1.  Join Reformation Black Lutheran Mission Church Chicago’s AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER this Black History Month 2018.

2.  To invest in your very own self-education or treat a loved one to an ADULT MEMBERSHIP, blog us @ https://sankofalutheranchicago.com

3.  Your 2018 ADULT MEMBERSHIP with us supports the best within your own work. 

Thanks,

Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Pastor of Reformation African American Lutheran Church Chicago (“Young Barack Obama’s community organizing sanctuary”)

An AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER INVITATION

NOTE: THIS 2018 BLOG ENTRY HAS BEEN SUPERCEEDED AND UPDATED HERE: https://afroculturalcenter.wordpress.com/2020/12/08/about-us-part-2/ 

EDITOR

1. Join Reformation Black Lutheran Mission Church Chicago’s AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER this Black History Month 2018.

2.  To invest in very own self-education or treat a loved one to our ADULT MEMBERSHIP, blog us @ https://sankofalutheranchicago.com

3. Your 2018 ADULT MEMBERSHIP with us supports the best within your own work.

Thanks, 

Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), (“Young Barack Obama’s community organizing sanctuary”) 

BLUES FOR MR. CHARLIE DRAFT FLYER CONTENT

 

BISHOP BENGT SUNDKLER/ETHIOPIA UNBOUND MISSIOLOGY INSTITUTE of the African American Cultural Center at Reformation African American Lutheran Mission Church Chicago/ELCA (“Young Barack Obama’s community organizing sanctuary”)

In Celebration of 2018 Black History Month-I (General Focus)

Presents

A Dramatic Reading, with Music, of James Baldwin’s

“Blues for Mr. Charlie”

Featuring BLACK OLIVE COMMUNITY THEATER, Ms. Oroki Rice, Founder & Artistic Director

& Reformation’s A LOVE SUPREME LITURGICAL JAZZ MINISTRY

Saturday, February 17, 2018, 6 PM

Lutheran School of Theology Library Auditrium, 55th & University, Hyde Park, Chicago IL (Greenwood Avenue Entrance)

Admission: $25

General Admission & Vendor Contacts: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma) JKWASHINGTON@comcast.net; Text: 773-499-3323); Deaconess Marsha Washington, 773-996-1066; Ms. Oroki Rice, 312-569-0613