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Decisions are going to have to be made to change things and we want the Black church to be game changers .”
The New Albany church faced cruel racism from the very beginning , with an arsonist catching fire to the building in the 1840s and a shooter injuring members of the congregation in the 1850s .
RATHER THAN SHRINK IN FEAR , THE CHURCH WAS A CONSISTENT ADVOCATE FOR EQUALITY . IN THE 1970S , REV . HARRY PIERSON SPEARHEADED EFFORTS TO GET RACIAL EQUALITY IN HIRING AT SCHOOLS , FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND FACTORIES IN THE AREA .
Now , Rev . Stacy DeBose works to ensure her church is a place to belong .
DeBose and her husband , Dwight Dyson , came up in the community . Dyson grew up with family attending Bethel AME in Jeffersonville with family attending the New Albany church he now calls home with his wife . He recalls running up and down the stairs at the Fifth Street building as a boy .
Prior to returning to Southern Indiana , DeBose was the pastor at Bethel AME in Franklin , Indiana , and still holds a position in Corydon .
Despite the church ’ s past in fighting racism , older members of the church had become complacent in recent years , they said . But the 2015 killing of nine Black churchgoers by a white supremacist in South Carolina was a jarring event that reminded the community how prevalent racism is .
“ I mean , it hurt me to my soul because it was like , ‘ That could have been us ,’” DeBose said .
DeBose wasn ’ t at Bethel A . M . E . in New Albany yet , but she said the tragedy caused her to always ensure doors are locked and she is notified when someone is visiting the church outside of service times .
When racial justice issues arise , DeBose said the expectation that the church will take action is a double-edged sword ; while it gives the church a strong voice , it also opens the floor for critics to say they aren ’ t doing enough .
To combat complacency , DeBose said people need to be more like Rev . Louis Coleman , who passed away in 2008 . Because of how often he was arrested , he had a special cell at the police department , she said .
“ Rev . Coleman was always out there protesting , even if it was by himself ,” DeBose said .
The national conversation around race has become more frequent , but DeBose said these hardships aren ’ t really discussed at her church . Instead , there is an unspoken understanding .
DeBose also wants people to know that while the majority of her congregation is Black , it isn ’ t just a Black church .
“ We are a multicultural church . We ' ve always been ,” DeBose said . “ We welcome everyone , even some churches that did not welcome us . That ' s how the AME church got started .”
Both churches have seen a decline in attendance since the pandemic began , but expanded access for members to attend through video conferences or by phone . While these help those unable to attend in-person , they don ’ t compare to the power of being surrounded by others worshiping in the pews .
DeBose and Marshall both encouraged those who might have become comfortable missing church or attending virtually to come back as long as they are healthy .
“ You know , you may be sick or tired , and you come into church , and by the time you leave church , you should feel a whole lot better ,” DeBose said . “ You come to church for fellowship and to rest your soul , rest your body . Just to be in the house of the Lord is a different feeling .”
2022 Diversity Magazine 23