Dawson deacon sees worshiping together as way to overcome racial barriers

Like many Alabama Baptist churches, Birmingham’s Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Homewood, has existed for more than 70 years with a predominantly white congregation and few black members. But in the past decade, the church worshipers, staff and officers have slowly become more integrated.
   
Every year, more blacks visit and join Dawson Memorial’s 7,000-member flock, and until recently, the Birmingham Baptist Association church employed a black staff member as minister of local missions. But the highlight in race relations at the church came three years ago when it appointed its first black deacon who in the last year of his three-year term was elected chairman of deacons.
   
Responding to God’s calling to step outside his comfort zone and move his family’s membership to a predominantly white church, Erskine Brantley, an account executive for 13 years in the broadcast industry, joined Dawson Memorial six years ago with his wife and two daughters.
   
“My family and I sensed a calling in our lives to get involved with a majority white church as a ministry of reconciliation to show that we are all one in Christ,” he said. “We sing from the same hymnals, read from the same Bible and serve the same God.”
   
According to Brantley, he and his family wanted to represent a positive black family through fellowshipping and growing in relationships with people of other races who might not have that opportunity otherwise.
   
“If the media is the only thing that you know of African-American families, then your perception is going to be that they all are criminals and bad,” said Brantley. “We just try to present ourselves as a Christian God-loving family.”
   
Immediately after joining Dawson Memorial, Brantley became involved in the church ministry by volunteering as a parking lot greeter and teaching Sunday School. A few years later, the church elected him to serve a three-year term as deacon. After his second year in office, the deacon board selected him as chairman of deacons for one year ending this past October.
   
According to Dawson Memorial pastor Gary Fenton, Brantley’s selection was a good experience for the entire church and the membership responded well to him in the position.
   
“We found that the key is when you work and serve together many of the (racial) barriers are diminished,” said Fenton. “I think that as we work together in the workplace and live in harmony with one another in communities, it is very natural for this to happen.”
   
Fenton says that racial tensions are removed as the Spirit of God works within us.
“It’s not something that is required, it just happens when people love the Lord and love each other and allow the time for it to happen.”
   
Although Brantley had 12 years prior experience as a deacon, he attributes the success of his tenure to God and the character of the church congregation.
   
He feels that a church will take on the personality of its pastor and that Dawson Memorial is an open, outreaching, God-loving church.
   
“I did not have one negative experience,” he said. “There might have been some stares and uncomfortable feelings, but they were relinquished over time.”
   
According to Brantley, his appointment has not only improved race relations inside the church, but it has affected the lives of others in the community.
   
“There is an awakening going all across the land,” he said. “I think we see some glimpses of it here in Birmingham. People are stepping out of their comfort zones and becoming one in Christ. It’s not a black church or white church, we are all one in Christ.”