The RICHMOND FREE PRESS Feb. 14-16, 2002 published an article about Dr. Floyd A. Flake's message at Virginia Union University's 136th Founder's Day celebration. Dr. Flake urged the more than 500 people gathered in Coburn Hall to stop focusing on the past and look to the future. "Too many of us find ourselves locked in our past. Forget the former things... We have today and we must learn how to make the best of what God has given us."

Dr. Flake is the pastor of the 14,000 member Allen AME church in New York which has an annual budget of 29 million dollars. The 57 year old minister who once picked cotton and was also a U.S. Congressman urged people to open their eyes to the "new reality" in which black people are rising to positions of real leadership.

Dr. Flake also said this is the reason that the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are now being eclipsed. While both men preach victimhood as they vie to be the top spokesman for the black community, they have missed the point, he said. "It's not about who is going to be the new black leader, it's understanding that we've already got new leaders," said Dr. Flake.

Every day, the outspoken minister said, he sees young people who reject the idea of seeking opportunity and instead embrace despair and destructive lifestyles.

Wow! What a powerful message and what better audience to hear this message than an assembly of college students. The article also states that Dr. Flake was tapped for a post in the Bush cabinet but withdrew his name. I agree with the spirit of this message and I would like to hear your thoughts.

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2002

Answers

Jazzman:

Dr. Flake is one of the most influential clergymen in the US. His message of theological relevance and economic self-sufficiency is particualry appealing to "liberal" thinkers like myself. I think it is noteworthy that he was selected to address VA Union Univ.'s anniversary celebration. This college has been one of the leading academic instituions for nurturing black clergy, particularly Baptist. One of the most prolific clergy-scholars in the 20th century was a product of VA Union, the late Samuel Dewitt Proctor (fmr pastor of Abyssinnian Baptist Church of Harlem, NY). The fact that Flake is an AME minister exhorting black Baptists to change the paradigm speaks volumnes for both VA Union and Flake. Can you send me a copy of the Richmond FreePress newslink? QED

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2002