Progressive National Baptist Convention

The congregations which make up the Progressive National Baptist Convention are not bound by denominational directives. Nevertheless, across the denomination there is a discernible trend toward inclusiveness in worship. Also integral to worship is a tradition of social witness, particularly in issues which affect the African American community.

The churches which make up the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., are involved in several ways in the effort to integrate the worship life of the congregation with the overall ministry thrust of the each local church. Inclusiveness in Worship The Progressive National Baptist Convention has no stated policy on women in the ordained ministry. Women pastors are active in the national, regional, state, and district associations in which Progressive Baptist churches convene. The fact that the local Baptist church is autonomous prevents the structures of the denomination from dictating the policy and practices of the local church, as is the case with churches governed by episcopal or synodical systems of church administration. Nevertheless, many local churches with a fundamentalist hermeneutical style argue that since the twelve apostles were males, it is heretical for churches to ordain women. Some churches will accept women ministers for staff positions other than senior pastor. However, the majority of churches whose pastors are college- and seminary-trained do not reject the ordination of women who are themselves theologically trained. It is also true that attitudes toward women are shaped by tradition and culture much more than by theological perspective. Women ministers are in need of basic support from the women in the membership of the local churches. Efforts are being made to raise consciousness in these areas. The church is also attempting to encourage people who sing, read Scripture, pray, and preach to use nonsexist language. The challenge to use inclusive language is an new frontier for Progressive National Baptists. Although theological schools are on the cutting edge of change on this issue, the diffusion of new ideas from trained clergy to laity is often painfully slow. The increase in the pace of transmission of these new concepts and of transformation of attitudes depends largely upon the proactive leadership of women who will tirelessly push for such change. For children, a special worship service takes place concurrently with the adult worship service time. The children's church uses the imagery of the children's world of reality. However, during the observances of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper and at special observances such as Christmas, Easter, Mothers' day, Fathers' day, and Children's day, the children and adults worship together as an inclusive community. Social Ministry in Worship The relation of social involvement and worship varies with the individual Progressive National Baptist congregation. An example of a church involved in social ministry is Allen Temple Baptist Church of Oakland, California. Here, the Hispanic community worships in a separate Spanish-language service. At least three times a year, the Hispanic and English-speaking members worship together, a highlight of joint celebration is the observance of Cinco de Mayo. At Allen Temple, a special service is held semi-monthly for senior adults in the housing projects sponsored by Progressive National Baptist churches. A minister is assigned to work with these adults. Although the seniors have their own choir, the church's children's choir and youth choir are invited guests, so as not to isolate senior adults from the larger church community. Progressive National Baptist churches are rich in liberation theology. Hence, the concerns of the social context of the church are an inescapable part of the worship experience. Voter registration, poverty, civil rights, apartheid, policy brutality, law enforcement, and public safety are some thematic emphases of worship gatherings in Progressive National Baptist churches. In his Lyman Beecher lectures later published as Social Crisis Preaching, Kelly Miller Smith spoke as a Progressive National Baptist pastor and as assistant dean and professor of Vanderbilt Divinity School, "?Black existence in America has been one of continuous social crisis. Virtually all of the preaching that blacks do is social crisis preaching, although some preaching is cleverly disguised?" ([Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press, 1984], 50). Such preaching interweaves the music and litany of worship with the sacred prophetic Scriptures and the life challenges of the community assembled for worship. L. T. Daye points out, "?There are many whose strength to overcome the struggles and hardships of the week is gained by the awareness that it is necessary to make it to the preaching event on Sunday morning?" (The Pastoral Crises [1989], 58). Worship as Celebration The emphasis of the order of worship is clearly expressed in the sermon content and in the music of the service. Nevertheless, members of the congregation are not spectators attending a performance by choirs, worship leaders, and the preacher. Worship in Progressive National Baptist churches has a free and expressive participatory style. There exists in these worship services a communal expression in which prayers, music, and preaching together produce a sacrifice of praise to the living God. As James L. Christensen has said, "?Worship is not the funeral of a dead God; rather it is celebrating the exciting, exhilarating, assurance of a living Lord who has vindicated love, righteousness, and hope?" (New Ways to Worship [1973], 15). Celebration, therefore, is the characteristic of worship in the Progressive National Baptist tradition. Worship in Progressive National Baptist churches in the future will continue to express celebration through changing forms. More and more churches are using contemporary music, orchestras, heavy percussion, liturgical dance, and even sermons adapted to the genre of secular rappers who now influence the youth and young adult population. Visual aids and sermons delivered with the assistance of actors who dramatize the preacher's words will become more common. In urban areas, street-corner worship services will increase.