The black preacher is the cornerstone of society's reconstruction - a liberator and an advocate, said the Rev. Langston J. Boyd during his keynote speech at the 8th annual Governor's Black Advisory Council Scholarship and Awards Banquet held at the Red Lion Hotel Friday night.
The Rev. Boyd, pastor of the Shorter African Methodist Episcopal Church in Denver, paid tribute to Utah's African-American clergy. Quoting author Charles V. Hamilton, he described the black clergyman as one of the most praised and condemned people in American society, whose distinctions include every conceivable indictment as well as award.The Rev. Boyd said that the black preacher is pitted against an array of malevolent powers but with God-given confidence he is called to cope with the challenges and denounce the oppressors.
"The peculiar genius and secret preeminence of the black preacher is that he has never gone too far away from flock," said the Rev. Boyd, who feels that the preacher must stay close to the people and the church who trained him. The key, he said, is not only to preach well but to be a good preacher; a person that people can take pride in. "It's not just what you say but how you love," said the Rev. Boyd.
It is impossible to talk about the black preacher without talking about the black church, which brought its people through a torture chamber for two centuries, he said. "Black religion is a unique force in American life . . . The black church exclusively relates to oppressed humanity," the Rev. Boyd said, quoting author C. Eric Lincoln.
He called his listeners to action, and encouraged Utah's 26 black pastors to accept the challenge rather than the tribute they were honored with during the program. "We have got to get up and do something about our faith. We can no longer afford to be heros and do nothing about it."
Recognizing the many different branches of Christianity and their uniqueness, the Rev. Boyd finished his speech saying, "In our diversity, it is God's spirit that brings us together in unity. My father's house shall be a prayer for all nations."
The event was sponsored by the Governor's Black Advisory Council, whose nine members serve as the eyes and ears for the black community in Utah. The council identifies problems and concerns within the black community and then works directly with the governor to try to coordinate solutions with the appropriate state agencies.
Other dignitaries at the banquet included Salt Lake County Commissioner Tom Shimizu; Diane Wilkins, deputy chief of staff to Gov. Norm Bangerter; and Scott Parkinson, Ogden/Weber Area Chamber of Commerce.