Should I worship in a Black church?

The opportunity will present itself in a few weeks. What should I expect? The pastor was a guest pastor in my church in June, so I can return the favor by attending her church.

You could probably expect to feel the same as a black person worshipping in a predominantly white church. If you take that as a positive experience that helps you grow as a christian I think you should go.

I think I remember reading somewhere (old thread?) about someone who had gone to a black, gospel church and proclaimed it one of the greatest things he/she had ever done.
I’ll try a search and see if I can find it (if it was a SDMB thread.)

I used to provide a sound system for a Bethel AME church in Tallahassee every Sunday, for the 8am service. After the first one, I told my boss he dint have to pay me for it; I was happy to volunteer my time. Those services were damn good. Some talented vocalists in the congregation, and for the most part everyone there was having a great time, even me. It was a very positive experience.

I’m an atheist, by the way.

Couldn’t find the one, if it existed at all, but I did find one on a black wedding.

Hell, I’m an athiest and I went to one. I was invited by my barber (which is also a black baber shop btw). I went because I wanted to see in person the quior “jazz it up” like I’ve seen so many time on tv and movies.

This particular service I went to even had a back yard B–B-Q afterwords (I forget what the occasion was) which mad it that much more fun.

Only if you’re cool with attending a Black Mass. :eek:

Seriously, why not? I’m always happy to see how different people worship God, they in their way and I in His. :smiley:

Even more seriously, go for it. The Church ain’t just “that bunch of people up the road who look, pray, and sing hymns the way I do”. It’ll be good for you and, in all probability, highly enjoyable.

Which denominations are they? My Anglican church is different from Baptist and Pentacostal churches. We don’t do gospels, they do.

All the churches I’ve been to have been red brick, so I really couldn’t say. :slight_smile:

It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

I’d go and look at it as an opportunity to experience the diversity Christians have developed.

In 1984 I was at a small town Lutheran church in Nebraska, to see a friend installed as it’s pastor. The bishop was there, having just returned from a two week church related trip to Africa. From his wife I heard the following. “Two weeks ago we were in Africa, and worshiped at a mission church that wasn’t more than a large hut. One week ago we were on our way home, in London, and attended St. Paul’s. This week we are in Nebraska. It really gives you an idea of how widespread, how diverse the Word of God has become, doesn’t it?”

Atheist here, but I go to church from time to time with friends/relatives when they invite me and I feel like it.

I generally find black churches much more entertaining. Most of the ones I’ve been to have been Baptist, with the standard very energetic preacher and congregation. And the singing was great. Everybody gets into it and has a blast.

However, the last time I went to a black church with a friend, it turned out to have a very anti-gay sermon that bothered me so much I walked out (my friend told me that he had no idea it was going to be like that). I later learned that black Christians tend to be much more socially conservative than white Christians, but you might not enjoy the experience if your politics are sufficiently different.

And… on rereading the thread, a UCC is likely to be quite socially liberal, so the above shouldn’t be a problem. Enjoy.

A friend of mine went to a black sevice and heard a saying that she loves and spreads whenever she can. I can remember it exactly but it went something like this:

If God wanted Adam to rule over Eve he would have made her from his heal, but he made her from his rib so they could stand side by side and live as one.

She absolutly loved the experience as a whole

Generally speaking, Black Churches are far more expressive and exhuberent than white churches. People may respond to the preacher in mid-sermon, etc. All of those wacky stereotypes you’ve seen in movies of people dancing in the aisles, etc. do have some grounding in fact. Of course, there is wide variation on both sides of the color bar, so YMMV.

If you’re like most white churchgoers, the biggest thing you may need to realize is that you ain’t getting out of there in no hour. Maybe not two.

If there’s a football game you want to watch, I’d look into TiVo.