“Tickling the Ivory Tower:  A Call to Great Works”

Alice F. Powers News Article
Subject:  “Tickling the Ivory Tower:  A Call to Great Works”
File:   K.T. Whalum, Jr. Community Forums 2003

On Thursday, March 6, 2003, the participants of the Eighth Annual African American Pastors’ Consortium Conference came to hear discourse on the plight of AIDS in the African American Community but were served a hearty helping of ‘Humble Pie’ by Pastor Kenneth T. Whalum, Jr. of The New Olivet Baptist Church.  Like a skillful swordsman, he quickly ‘cut to the chase’ with:  “Why can’t we deal with real issues in the Church?”  The question had no takers and like all skillful artist, he deftly moved to draw ‘first blood’ with his statement:  “Pastors are scared!”  Boldly standing on the truth of Mark 7:6-13, he insisted that Pastors have moral authority to ‘lead and feed’ their congregations.  Christianity, according to Pastor Whalum, can’t be lived based on an individual’s own standards.  In order to be good leaders, African American Pastors must create lives that mirror the scriptures for ‘right and holy’ living.  “We can’t live any kind of way and lead our people.  The lives of our flocks will not improve unless we take a stand to do the right thing.”

 The theme of this year’s conference was “Acting in Shame and Denial:  Spiritual Aids”.  Pastor Whalum compared the decline of the African American community to the destruction that the Aids Virus has had on the human body.  In both instances, the ‘Body of Christ’ and the human body have no power thus rendering them useless to their own future.  “Where is the power?” he asked.  “The Bible says that we are required to do greater works than Christ on God’s behalf!”  In short, this is a direct order from God that must be fulfilled by all, especially the Pastor.  African American Pastors must provide leadership that gives hope, purpose and a future.  A man’s vanity and selfish traditional values have no place in building God’s Kingdom.  Gone are the days when a Pastor’s indiscretions are swept under the rug or spoken in hushed conversations during Sunday Service and weekly Bible Study.  According to Pastor Whalum, the ‘Shepard’ is to be a visual example of how God requires us to live.  Scanning the crowd after his soul searching statement, I waited for the normal reaction of shock and disbelief.  I am always amazed at the purity of truth as it pierces the air of the unenlightened.  Without waiting for the usual call and response, he moved ahead with conviction to offer preventive measures for the days ahead.  He sited the books of Hosea, Mark and Romans to prove that God’s Word does not lie.  With sweeping authority, he challenged all Pastors present to remove all sins that hinder their walk with God.  “Denial is our lifestyle.  God is calling us to task!” he said.  He also warned the Pastors that they can not be effective leaders without the presence of the Holy Spirit.  It is the source of God’s life force within us.  It convicts us to make right choices that can ‘reverse the curse’ on our lives.  It takes courage to stand boldly for God.  He gives us each a portion to do our appointed task, to leave our mark on the world.  For those in attendance at this year’s event, such candor will definitely have every one hitting the replay button of this speech for weeks to come.

In our lifetime, many of us want to be remembered for what we think we’ve created but great works come from the heart and are inspired by God’s purpose.  That purpose is predestined and set in place for its proper unveiling.  Great works bless many and humble the few who are used by God for a special message.  I don’t know how many messages are left in Kenneth T. Whalum, Jr. but I do know they are meant to bless and leave HIS signature mark for change.