Enlarge Rev. Clifford Jones of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church shares fellowship.

Posted: June 14th, 2011 Ken Garfield

Maybe this is the most powerful evidence that Charlotte is making racial progress: Two of the city’s best-known pastors – one black and one white – swapped pulpits this past weekend, and neither dwelled on race.

Instead, the Rev. Clifford Jones of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church preached at Forest Hill Church on hope – the black pastor of a 7,000-member African-American church promising his mostly white audience that Jesus “will wade in the deep water with you.”

In turn, the Rev. David Chadwick of Forest Hill preached at Friendship on forgiveness – the white pastor of a 4,500-member, largely white church imploring his brothers and sisters to turn loose of the bitterness that can poison our lives.

Drawing the sort of joyful laughter that turns strangers into friends, Chadwick burst into song (and a little disco dance) Sunday morning at Friendship to make his point. Invoking the lyrics of that 1970s pop classic, “I’m Just A Love Machine,” he declared to 1,300 at the 9:30 a.m. service: “God did not create us to hate. He created us to be love machines to the glory of the risen Christ.”

Jones and Chadwick are two of the more prominent pastors to participate in the Xchange Sermons program, open to any and all clergy ready to swap pulpits for one or more services.

The two have long been advocates for friendship across the great divide: Jones preached at Mecklenburg Ministries’ interfaith Thanksgiving service at Temple Beth El. Chadwick has swapped pulpits with the Rev. Claude Alexander Jr. of The Park Ministries. As Jones said after preaching to 700 at Forest Hill’s Saturday night service, it’s important for Christians to broaden their horizons, move out of their comfort zones, experience other faith traditions.

Regarding these two megachurches, there are differences beyond color. The nondenominational Forest Hill Church in south Charlotte meets in an auditorium-style worship center, and turned to a six-piece band Saturday night to get the congregation going with contemporary Christian music. Jones dressed informally.

Friendship in north Charlotte worships in a mammoth new sanctuary whose stained glass depicts some of history’s great black figures. An orchestra and choir led worshipers Sunday morning in familiar hymns. Chadwick wore a dark suit for his guest-preaching gig.

But such details faded in the power of the messages delivered, and in the confidence with which these two men stood before worshipers of another color.

Don’t hide in the crowd, Jones preached. Turn instead to the God who sacrificed his Son so that His followers might know eternal peace. God will not only wade in the deep water with you, Jones promised, but “with loving arms bring you out.”

Don’t let bitterness take root in your soul, Chadwick preached, reminding the congregation that God created us to be in community.

At the close of his sermon at Friendship, just as at the close of Jones’ sermons at Forest Hill, the pastor stood at the front of the church and accepted hugs and handshakes. In these two communities, no words were needed.

Ken Garfield, former religion editor of The Charlotte Observer, is director of communications at Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte. He writes often here about XChange Sermons. Reach him at (704) 295-4819 or ken@mpumc.org.

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