The African American pastor does not live and serve in a vacuum but in a world of despair and hope, neglect and love, questions and faith, government and education, healthcare and finance, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Upon examination of the listed ways in which the African American pastor constructs communities of influence-civil rights activities, ministerial alliances, operation of child care centers, surrogate father in households headed by single mothers, and family arbitrators, just to name a few-one will find that the role of the African American pastor of today is a continuation of the historic role assigned to them by the church and the community. Du Bois spoke of the African American clergy in his treatise, The Souls of Black Folk, when he wrote: “The preacher is the most unique personality developed by the Negro on American soil.” 1 Particularly, the African American pastor has functioned as one of the utmost figures in the lived experiences of the African American community, with many parishioners contending that more esteemed than physicians, teachers, and all other professions is the role of the African American pastor. The role of the African American church has been and continues to be multifaceted, including serving cultural, political, social, and economic functions in the individual lives of its parishioners.
The African American church is one of the most influential institutions in the African American community. Harvey is the Director of Student Life of The Fay School in Southborough, MA and a 2012 MTS graduate of Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, MA.
Harvey, Guest Cultural Resource Commentator
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