On the second day of this year’s National Baptist Convention Joint Session, Rev. Gina M. Stewart, senior pastor of Christ Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis and the first woman to be invited to preach at NBC Joint Session, preached a sermon titled, “What Will You Do With Jesus of Nazareth.” In the sermon, Stewart discusses the story of the Roman governor Pilate and his decision to crucify Jesus due to his opposition to the government’s orders. The title of Stewart’s sermon emerges from Pilate’s question in Mark 15:12 (NIV).
Pilate’s inquiry regarding the fate of Jesus is a biblical representation of patriarchal necropolitics. The term “necro” comes from the Greek term “nekros,” meaning “death.” In his book, “Necropolitics,” the author Achille Mbembe characterizes the concept as “the capacity to define who matters and who does not, who is disposable and who is not.”
In other words, “patriarchal necropolitics” is when manipulative men who are desperate to obtain an oppressive system decide who counts and who does not, who is of use and who is not.
In her proclamation, Stewart discussed this type of political behavior, describing those who participate in the unjust event as “the theys.” They are those who “baptized bigotry and misogyny and sexism, and classism, and heterosexism, and violent abuse, and sexual harassment, and sexual abuse of women at the highest levels of leadership and the mistreatment of the marginalized.”
Stewart summons them to stop using their spirituality to cover their necropolitics. She states, “Stop using spirituality as a smokescreen. If you’re prejudiced, just say you’re prejudiced. If you’re a sexist, say you’re a sexist. If you’re a racist, just say you’re a racist. If you’re homophobic, say you’re homophobic. Stop using your spirituality as a smokescreen.”
Jerry Young, the president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Incorporated, was notably absent from the event at which Stewart delivered her sermon. Young has a history of demonstrating his patriarchal and sexist beliefs, banning women from preaching at his church’s pulpit and banning congregants who oppose his preference for exclusivity. A few of his colleagues were physically present but appeared distracted for the duration of the event. Specifically, many were using their mobile phones or conversing with their colleagues, deliberately diverting their attention from Stewart’s sermon.
In the digital sphere, primarily Facebook, Black Christians celebrated the transformative effect of Stewart’s sermon.
Rev. Danielle Brown, senior pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield, New Jersey, noted, “The Reverend Dr. Gina M. Stewart put the WHOLE church on her shoulders and carried us today. She deserves her flowers and every accolade for always pointing folks to Jesus. If you’ve experienced her ministry at least one time, you’re not surprised by what went down today in Memphis.”
Rev. Stacy Dandridge, pastor of Digital Ministry and Technology at Christ Missionary Baptist Church, stated, “The result of a surrendered life. Dr. Gina M. Stewart, we are better because of your yes!”
Yet, the dominant influence of the Pilates and Youngs of the world, both within and outside the ballroom, eventually led to the removal of Stewart’s sermon from the National Baptist Convention, USA’s Facebook account on Thursday, Jan. 25.
Removing Stewart’s sermon manifests the concept of necropolitics, whereby the power structures of the NBC dictated who was allowed to live socially and spiritually and who was not. The oppressor will always believe that the oppressed are oppressive. The decision taken by NBC, USA, is, in fact, reflective of the ideologies and actions of the dominant group within the convention. The implications of such decisions are far-reaching, and they include controlling access to conventions, churches and other positions, negating the voices of women in ministry, excluding the LGBTQIA+ community and marginalizing those who are already oppressed.
It is, therefore, imperative to consider the influence of power dynamics within such organizations and how they can impact the lives of individuals. Decisions made by those in power can have significant consequences for marginalized communities. Women will continue to be assaulted and unheard. Our LGBTQIA+ siblings will continue to be dehumanized or discarded in pulpits and pews. Differently-abled people will continue to be overlooked or invisible in sanctuaries that were allegedly created to accept and affirm how God beautifully crafted them. The influence of patriarchal necropolitics will continue to pollute our social and spiritual communities, leaving us to die.
As such, there is a need for more inclusive and equitable practices within these organizations to ensure that the voices of all individuals are heard and valued. Patriarchal necropolitics do exist in this convention and the church as a whole. Faith and spiritual leaders and communities must hold each other accountable to prohibit such harmful theological and sociopolitical ideologies from festering among our ranks.
The church lacks accountability and truthfulness for the injuries it causes individuals. From sexism to sexual violence, the church must acknowledge the reality its leaders and members have produced. Sending women in ministry invitations to be guest speakers or preachers does not exempt you from holding yourself and your colleagues accountable. The church should no longer wait over a century for a woman to be “the first” pastor to preach at your conventions, conferences and churches.
Be honest about your observations of self and community. Name and report the individuals (preachers, colleagues, members, partners, etc) who assault your siblings in the faith. Apologize to your siblings for the mistreatment you imposed upon them. In addition, reexamine your theologies and interpretations of the Bible.
Many claim to be a “Jesus follower,” yet their theologies and interpretations are filtered manifestations of the colonial enterprise — the white gaze.
Stewart’s sermon drew on biblical teachings to illustrate the concept of “shifting the power paradigm” and addressed relevant sociopolitical issues, such as discrimination, sexism, genderism, racism, and homophobia. Providing biblical context to argue her point, she interpreted what biblical scholar Obery Hendricks calls the “politics of Jesus.” Stewart states, “He won’t conform to their expectation and rejects oppressive structures.”
During her sermon’s closing, Stewart urged us to emulate Claudia’s spirit of justice, which opposed harmful theories and theologies imposed by society and institutions. Stewart referred to Claudia, who is Pilate’s wife in the Bible. Stewart informed the congregation that Claudia, like many women in scripture, is erased by the manifestation of patriarchal necropolitics. She then invited those present to repeat the refrain, “Lord, help me to be like Claudia!” Stewart urged the audience to speak truth to power even when difficult, unpopular or inconvenient. Her message was a call to action for every member of the NBC and the Christian community to stand up for justice and equality.
In these instances, we, the church, decide who matters and who does not. May we not accumulate any more social and spiritual deaths but live more abundantly. So, I encourage us all, as Stewart encouraged the faith community last Tuesday, to “be like Claudia.”
Obri Richardson is a minister, justice advocate, social and theological ethicist and writer.
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