The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

There is absolutely no excuse or reason for this. And I am very disappointed in Ulmer. There is a difference between “forgiveness” and “Promoting”. And yes R-Kelly was wrong, nasty and vile when he did those things, but we still have to forgive him. However, that does not mean that we should set him up as a role model.

How is Ulmer explaining this? What is his reasoning????

I wish that I could make it to the protest.

There come a point when we need to decide if our churches are going to be central focal points of our communities or just simple bible study groups! If as black folks we want our churches to be powerful forces for change in our communities we MUST take a boarder approach to our views of organized religion.

Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer is a realistic man in my opinion. He does know that LIKE IT OR NOT money is whats drives this world. both good and bad. To help his community he does know that it requires a great deal of money.

Other pastors love to talk the talk but are just plain impotent when it comes to actually producing something of beneifit to our community.

To provide education to his congregation requires money,

to pay teachers

to buy supplies

to buy equipment

to pay for rent and utilities

to advertise the services to the community

to improve the services.

Look the black folks in LA that want to go to an R Kelly concert WILL go to an R. Kelly concert no matter who makes all the money. I guess many of the self-righteous moralistic fools would rather see folks in other communities make this money and continue to imporve the lives of their children like they do ALL THE TIME. Remember R. Kelly (the criminal) is still going to get his, right!

Look at it another wa, paradoxically this is a form of repenting for him. Directly and indriectly he doing good here and his community will now beneifit from his actions.

Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer is a realistic man in my opinion. He does know that LIKE IT OR NOT money is whats drives this world. both good and bad. To help his community he does know that it requires a great deal of money.

The same logic can be applied to what Frank Lucas did for his community in the name of “benefiting the community”.

My point here is that there are plenty of ways the church can raise money for their many good social programs WITHOUT compromising the integrity of scripture. Using this same logic, what would then stop them from sponsoring the next Erotic convention that is normally held at Staples center? Plus, this leads to another point that I have talked about many times on this site. Like I mentioned, I have been to Ulmer’s church and both times I have been there, it is only half full at best. Why invest all of that money in a facility that is only going to need that type of capacity only Easter?

No doubt, the ministry is doing a whole lot. I just wonder if they could be more effective with a smaller building–saving thousands of dollars to be used in the expansion of other good works instead of relying on the likes of R-Kelly to bring in the sheaves.

I live in Chicago and maybe I missed it the trail but was R. Kelly found guilty??????

The reason for buying a place like the Forum is to generate cash flow. It is safe to assume that the church is charging a hefty fee and getting part of the proceeds from this event and others like it. The church as we knew it is long gone. In it’s place is big business. Get over it or change it!!!!!!! It always amazes me that outsiders have so much to say. What is the congregation saying about this issue? Clean up your own house before you attempt to go into someone else’s and stir up trouble.

I live in Chicago and maybe I missed it the trail but was R. Kelly found guilty??????

This is not based on if he was *found* guilty or innocent.

How often does your local mosque (if you actually belong to one) allow r&b entertainers of Kelly’s caliber to hold concerts in the same spot folks pray to the east?

The reason for buying a place like the Forum is to generate cash flow.

This was not the only reason. Ulmer also stated that the real reason they bought the property was to accommodate the size of the church because they outgrew their other locations and there were no other buildings in the area to accommodate their size needs. Apparently I must have come on the days were thousands of members suddenly decided not to show up (dang, and I thought my breath was okay).

The church as we knew it is long gone.

Don’t make such a sweeping comment based on your few expereinces.

Clean up your own house before you attempt to go into someone else’s and stir up trouble.

Is this how it operates in Islam? You just opened up a big door with that comment.

Saudia said:

“Get over it or change it!!!!!!! ”

It is exactly this kind of attitude that gets us nowhere, basically you are saying that if we see something that is wrong, unless we can make an immediate change, a person should keep their mouth shut and walk away. Wow! Awful glad a whole lot of people in our history didn’t do that!

Saudia said:

“It always amazes me that outsiders have so much to say. What is the congregation saying about this issue? Clean up your own house before you attempt to go into someone else’s and stir up trouble.”

Who are the outsiders? Are you saying that if you do not belong to a particular body of believers (church, synagogue, mosque, etc) that you should have no opinion or concern on how things are going on there? HMMMM, in other words as long as it’s not going on in YOUR mosque, it’s okay. WOW !

And who is stirring up trouble? The people that are showing concern and speaking out because a man that was involved in child pornography is being paraded as a role model? And yes the fact that he will be doing it in building where people come to fellowship together in the name of God is an issue.

Oh! and before you say it Saudia, I know that there are a LOT of folks up in the “church” and yes even the pulpit that have done and are still doing some bad stuff, but let’s save that for another time and stay on point.