Pro-Black, Pro-Christ, Pro-Cross: African-Descended Evangelical Identity

Pro-Black, Pro-Christ, Pro-Cross defines. It advocates authentic definition for Blacks of an Evangelical persuasion-those who are intentional and labeled, or incipient and latent in the Black Church. It positively presents Black Evangelical faith by defining a pro-Black self-determination in Christ that is missional from African-America into the world. Scripture permeates this holistic conversation, as it wrestles with issues that are germane to American Blacks. It weaves the racial and cultural, the biblical and theological, and esteems Blackness-in color and physical characteristics; in culture and consciousness; in agenda and purpose, in love. It integrates historical Black racial-cultural constants, essential Black theological beliefs, and the cross of redemption in African-American experience. "Black Evangelical Identity," in paradigm-definition, is unique. This literary tool fashions a holistic model of an African-descended faith-community-distinctive in culture and core beliefs. The statement gives formation to being and becoming a people of God who are genuinely both "Black and Evangelical," both reconciled and diverse in the Church.