African-American Catholic Congregation

History

George Augustus Stallings Jr., then a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308030931/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,970083,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2008

He named it "Imani" for the Swahili word , meaning "faith." The Imani Temple African-American Catholic Congregation was founded as a result of the Black Catholic movement. At its founding, Stallings believed Roman Catholicism did not serve the Black and African American community nor recognized talent. He and the African-American Catholic Congregation argued "that the White church has stripped African Americans of their history, their heritage, and their self-esteem". Stallings and the African-American Catholic Congregation also proposed establishing a private school, the Imani Academy.

Not long after the foundation of the Imani Temple African-American Catholic Congregation, in 1990, one priest who established another congregation for the Independent Catholic denomination would leave and desire reconciliation with the Catholic Church; he would petition the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington for readmittance.

In May 1990, Stallings was consecrated as bishop for the African-American Catholic Congregation by Richard Michael Bridges—a bishop of the American Independent Orthodox Church. He was assisted by Emil Fairfield Rodriguez of the Mexican National Catholic Church and Donald Lawrence Jolly. By September 1991, Bridges's group conferred upon Stallings the title of archbishop. In 1991, Stallings also ordained the first female priest for the church.

In 1994, the Imani Temple in D.C. purchased the former Eastern Presbyterian Church, designed by noted Washington architect Appleton P. Clark Jr. and opened in 1893.

By 2000, the African-American Catholic Congregation grew and consisted of 7 Imani Temples located in the United States and Nigeria; most of its congregations were located along the U.S. East Coast.

In 2013, a female Baptist bishop in Detroit, Michigan (resigning from their Baptist congregation for their same-sex marriage to an emeritus bishop of the African-American Catholic Congregation) established an affirming church with their partner.

In 2014, the denomination decided to relocate to Prince George's County, Maryland, and sold the Imani Temple in Washington to property developers. It was renovated and adapted for sale as six luxury condominiums.

Doctrine

At its founding, Stallings considered abortion and contraception matters of individual conscience; rejected homosexual activity as a sin; and welcomed divorced or remarried Christians without an annulment. Additionally, AACC teaching—in contrast to Catholic teaching—allows women to be ordained. Unlike the Latin Catholic Church, it does not as a rule, require celibacy of its priests. In 1991, their first female priest was ordained. The denomination also subscribes to the Twelve Declarations of the African-American Catholic Congregation.

References

References

1. Harris, Hamil R.. (2023-05-19). "Q&A with Imani Temple founder George A. Stallings Jr.". The Washington Post.
2. Dedman, Bill. (May 1, 1990). "Stallings Builds A Black Church Far From Rome". The Washington Post.
3. (1990-02-02). "Stallings formalizes Break from Roman Catholic Church". The Washington Post.
4. Chandler, Russell. (1989-07-25). "Dilemma for Catholics : Breakaway Black Priest: New Schism?".
5. Sharps, Ronald L.. (1994). "Black Catholics in the United States: A Historical Chronology". U.S. Catholic Historian.
6. Tallman, William. (2022-04-09). "Air purification company lends a hand to Imani Temple".
7. DeBonis, Mike. (2021-12-01). "Imani Temple is leaving the District".
8. D'Apolito, Rosemary. (2000). "The Activist Role of the Black Church: A Theoretical Analysis and an Empirical Investigation of One Contemporary Activist Black Church". Journal of Black Studies.
9. Hyer, Marjorie. (July 10, 1989). "'Ain't no Stopping us Now,' Stallings Exults". The Washington Post.
10. McGann, Mary E.. (2001). "The Emergence of African American Catholic Worship". U.S. Catholic Historian.
11. Craughwell, Thomas J.. (2012-02-05). "History of African-American Catholics".
12. (1992). "Black Catholics". The Wilson Quarterly.
13. "Priest who backed Stallings leaves independent movement - UPI Archives".
14. Persson, Bertil. (1990). "Independent Bishops: An International Directory". Apogee Books.
15. Bekeh Ukelina Utietiang. "Issues in the History and Development of the African American Catholic Church: A Study of Archbishop George Augustus Stallings Jr.".
16. (1991-09-09). "Black Catholics In Splinter Sect Ordain Woman (Published 1991)". The New York Times.
17. (1991-09-23). "Black Catholic church welcomes female priest Woman makes history by saying mass.".
18. (2014-12-06). "Milton, Charnese A. "Plans to turn Imani Temple into residential units being considered"".
19. (28 May 2001). "A Member of The Wedding". Washington Post.
20. (2006-11-14). "Renegade Archbishop Rejects Excommunication".
21. "Vatican: Archbishop Milingo and four others excommunicated".
22. Warikoo, Niraj. "Lesbian Baptist bishop finds new start after resigning".
23. Blair, Leonardo. (2013-10-21). "Baptist Pastor Tells Church She's Married to Female Bishop and Resigns; Claims Scripture Supports Same-Sex Love".
24. Li, Kathryn Hopkins and Miao. (2016-04-05). "Developers Say 'Take Me to Church'".