Rev. Gregory Manning of New Orleans’ Broadmoor Community Church, posted a clip in which he argued for affirmative action at seminarys. He says that ‘People of Color’ are too poor to pursue divinity degrees and that the ability to attend higher education is a privilege. Online reactions were largely negative and many commentators mocked the woke pastors talk.
“The way that our governance is set up, as Lutheran Church, we have not created a pathway to get people of color to the table,” he began. ” So this whole election process that we have is not set up that, that I would ever get the number of votes that I need to be raised up to that to be a president in the Lutheran church, just not set up that way.
“So what we need is to say, Okay, going back and looking at the fact of how we failed and how we’ve not created a pathway,” Manning argued. ” How do we become intentional about it in such a way that we say, you know, some may say it, you know what? They call it, affirmative action, or something like that. But if we say, we’re going to be very intentional that at this particular in this particular group on this board, we’re going to see one person of color on this particular board, we’re going to see two people of color, but it will always be mandated that this is how this works.”
“That’s the only way you’re going to get people at the table because our government model is not set up to get people there, and we’re unwilling, maybe at this point in time, at least, to make those sort of radical changes to our governing model to get people there.” He continued, ” we have to just remember that being able to leave your community, go to the seminary is a privilege that a lot of people of color just simply cannot afford To be able to do they can’t leave their families.
“They can’t leave their community. They don’t have the money to do that. And plus, it would hurt their families, you know, to not have that, that male leader there in their household and quite frankly, too, we’ve got to deal with the fact that a lot of our seminaries on not only we have to but, and I’ll speak from experience in Fort Wayne.” the pastor said referencing his time in seminary.
“I go back to what I said earlier, the atmosphere and the whole just attitude that I was faced with being one of maybe six African Americans on the campus of that time in 2000 when I graduated,” he confusingly said. ” before that, it wasn’t nice, welcoming spirit, and I don’t want black leaders to have to endure that. And I don’t think that it’s changed very much.”
“And so until we deal with that, how do we make the seminar campus, a place where people who don’t look like that, the most of the people there, a place where people are going to feel welcome? Then I don’t want to send people there to be for their core training. I’m just being honest now, and It’s tough. It’s Tough,” he eventually concluded.
Watch his Rant Here:
Online commenters were quick to pounce on the woke preacher. “Got the opposite impression at Concordia seminary- StL when I visited once. I think the LCMS pushes for diversity,” one user replied. “How about seeking to serve people, preach the word, comfort those in need instead trying to get a higher job? You know, be a pastor,” another user said.
Featured Image from Embedded Video