They marched down the center aisle of the hallowed halls of the magnificent Concord Baptist Church of God and Christ in Brooklyn , New York . Hundreds of people arrived with solemn faces for the occasion , led by Dr . Gary V . Simpson , Senior Pastor , and the esteemed Vernon Jordan . These were the toilers in the vineyard , leaders of an interfaith array of congregations from across the United States : civil rights icons , activists and advocates , spiritual leaders , businesspeople . They represented hope for Black communities . From near and far , they had come on this day in April 2015 to celebrate the homegoing of one of their own , the most eloquent of thought leaders and a man as close to God as one can get — the Rev . Dr . Gardner Calvin Taylor .

Five years later , in 2020 , Partners for Sacred Places gathered some of these same men and women again to discuss trends and needs for Black sacred spaces . This gathering was an

The Rev . Dr . Heber Brown during a tour of Browntown Farms . Photo courtesy of The Black Church Food Security Network

Members of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in Baltimore , Maryland , visit Browntown Farms in Warfield , Virginia . Photo courtesy of The Black Church Food Security Network

opportunity to talk about life , leadership , and the best paths forward for congregations serving people of color . With much of the country in crisis due to social and racial upheaval , the likes of which had not been experienced since the 1960s , the time for honest dialogue , new partnerships , and rapid change were long overdue . And this convening was just the right place and time for such a meaningful conversation .

The Rt . Rev . Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows , Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis , and The Rev . Mark Tyler , Pastor of Mother Bethel A . M . E . Church in Philadelphia , served as hosts for both convenings , and brought wisdom and gravitas to the conversations . As the convenings unfolded , several themes surfaced of note . Like their ancestors , many leaders of Black houses of worship are what some might call “ miracle workers ” who think creatively and stretch limited resources to meet as many of the community ’ s needs as possible . They are master fundraisers and polished presenters , demonstrating that they can be amazing stewards of funds . And much like the story of fish and loaves , where a few bits of bread and fish multiplied to feed the people , the modern-day story of fish and loaves remains evident in these congregations who serve some of the most underrepresented and under-supported among us . More than ever , Black faith leaders must lean on the legacies and learnings of their ancestors to support and sustain the people they serve .

As the rich dialogue continued , the conversation shifted quickly to the ongoing need for new incomegenerating techniques . As faith leaders serving some of the most vulnerable communities in the country , new and innovative ideas emerged to generate additional revenue . From food farming to food distribution , these congregations think outside the box ,

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Sacred Places Summer 2021 | Page 5

Blessed Are Those Who Lead by Roz McPherson