Archive
Why the Black Church Should Support Asian Lives Matter
The below post was originally published by The Christian Recorder and The LA Sentinel. The Rev. Mark Whitlock wrote it with Hyepin Im, CEO of FACE and an alum of the USC …
National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) Religious Literacy Primer 2019
The USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement created this religious literacy primer for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), in an effort to help members of the organization engage …
When a Pastor Shows Up at a Black Lives Matter Protest
I posted a question on Facebook at the beginning of 2018: “What ever happened to Black Lives Matter?” The question wasn’t prompted by animosity, despite the disagreements between clergy and BLM. To …
83.9 KPCC: Mark Whitlock on LA’s Korean Christian Community Seeking Social Impact
Korean Americans make up a large portion of Los Angeles’ population, and many of them identify as Christian. However, Korean churches do not have the same reputation for impacting the community in …
L.A. Times: Rev. Whitlock on Changing Laws about Endorsements
The Republican tax plan could lead to changes to the Johnson Amendment, which restricts faith organizations from making political endorsements. It’s a move that Rev. Mark Whitlock, executive director of the USC …
OC Register: Mark Whitlock on Church Security
Following the mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on November 5, Rev. Mark Whitlock spoke with the Orange County Register about the need to balance security and hospitality …
Faith Community Responds to Racism and Violence in Charlottesville
After white supremacists’ protests in Charlottesville left one dead, many injured and the country grappling with its still prevalent racism, faith leaders have been working to respond with words and action. Rev. Mark …
A New Pitch for God’s Resources – Church Finance Series
This post originally appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel. Church Stewardship is raising, expending, and managing God’s funds and property. This is the fundamental principle of biblical stewardship. Too many church leaders …
Online Giving Works – Church Finance Series
This post originally appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel. Online giving is one of the fastest-growing methods of giving to churches. Online giving is a way of donating money via the internet …
How to Handle Church Rip-Off Artists – Church Finance Series
This article originally appeared in The Christian Recorder. In bad economic times, churches are the target of professional con artists committed to ripping the church off. Some rip off artists hit 50 …
Words of the Week – Empowering Poor People
The post originally appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel. The church has a dark hidden secret. It has been a secret for decades. The secret is churches have a number of the …
L.A. Sentinel: Faith Leaders Urge Thankfulness
The Los Angeles Sentinel asked Southern California faith leaders to share what they’re thankful for during a year that has been particularly hard on communities of color. The article quoted both the …
The Orange County Register: Irvine pastor Rev. Mark Whitlock exhorts church to ‘set a moral tone’ during Trump Presidency
In response to the surprising Trump victory of this year’s Presidential election, the Rev. Mark Whitlock is encouraging for faith organizations to be prominent moral voices against any future policies that could …
OC Register & Jewish Journal: Voices for Peace After Shootings
With tensions high after police shootings and the shootings of officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, the leaders of the the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement continue to be voices of …
NPR Next Generation: In South L.A., Black Churches Serve as Financial Institutions
Some churches in South L.A. don’t just ask people to donate a 10 percent tithe to the church, they also help congregants manage the other 90 percent of their money, USC Annenberg …
OC Register, NBC: Interfaith Service Highlights Safety Concerns
Rev. Mark Whitlock, executive director of the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, hosted an interfaith prayer service for the victims of the Easter terrorist attack in Pakistan at his church in …
L.A. Daily News: How Rodney King Beating Spurred Faith-based Activism
On the 25th anniversary of the Rodney King beating, Los Angeles Daily News told Rev. Mark Whitlock’s story of how the event affected his personal life, the church and the broader community …
OC Register: Bridging the Racial Divide on Sunday Morning
The Orange County Register covered the story of a mostly white Evangelical and mostly Black church coming together following last year’s racially motivated shooting at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in …
Bank Data on Diversity Can Help Close Racial Wealth Gap
Rev. Mark Whitlock, Executive Director of the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, wrote this Op-Ed for American Banker with Aubry Stone, president and CEO of the California Black Chamber of Commerce …
Talk Back Live: Murray and Whitlock on Racial Justice and the Black Church
Rev. Cecil Murray and Rev. Mark Whitlock were interviewed by Antoine Hawkins on his radio show, Talk Back Live. Click here to listen to the interview Here are some highlights: Asked about …