Archive
How to Give to the Poor Without Getting Ripped Off – Church Finance Series
This version of this post originally appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel. In bad economic times, churches are the targets of professional con artists committed to rip the church off. Some rip …
Pace News: Front Page Story on Faith Leaders Institute
Gloria Zuuerveen, editor-in-chief of Pace News, dedicated the entire front page to the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement’s Faith Leaders Institute. Here’s an excerpt from the piece: Rev. Mark Whitlock, executive …
Securing God’s Sanctuary – How to Protect Your Congregation from Attacks
A version of this article also ran in LA Sentinel. The vicious killing of nine people attending Bible Study at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC has created a national concern for …
CBS, NPR Affiliates Interview Rev. Mark Whitlock on Charleston Shooting
The shooting of nine at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina has affected the entire African Methodist Episcopal church. Here in Southern California, Rev. Mark Whitlock heard news of the shooting …
Shooting at Charleston AME Church Won’t Slow Civil Rights Church
In addition to serving as the Executive Director of the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, Rev. Mark Whitlock is pastor of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine, CA. Last night, …
Let the Church Say ‘Thank You!’ – Church Finance Series
This post originally appeared in The Los Angeles Sentinel. Every Sunday morning, the church offers prayer, scriptures, songs, a sermon and the almighty offering, but does the church say, “Thank you?” Giving …
Ask and It Shall Be Given! Church Finance Series
A version of this article appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel. Our church needed money to build a new sanctuary. We had raised some money, but it was not enough. Our small …
How To Create a Church Budget – Church Finance Series
A version of this article appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel. The church budgeting process can be difficult or delightful. Either way it’s necessary. As I wrote in part one, churches have …
L.A. Times, American Banker: Community Coalition Supports Bank Merger
The Rev. Mark Whitlock, executive director of the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, is bringing religion to the financial pages. Whitlock played an active role in the public hearings on the …
Show Members the Money! Church Finance Series
A version of this article appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel. Churches are required to be transparent and fiscally accountable and to work together to manage God’s money. But too many churches …
OC Register: Most Influential 2014: Rev. Mark Whitlock
Rev. Mark Whitlock, executive director of the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, was listed on The Orange County Register’s “Top 100 most influential of 2014” list. The story about Whitlock shared …
New CRCC Grants: A Testament to Success
The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture has received three major grants totaling more than $5 million — a testament to its sustained success.
New Oxygen reality show “Preachers of LA” sparks controversy
A new reality TV show featuring pastors “living the God life” in Los Angeles has sparked a wave of controversy. Will Oxygen’s “Preachers of LA,” encourage exhibitionism and open the church to …
Obamacare and the Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation
Our nation cannot fully celebrate the freeing of slaves 150 years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Black poverty, unemployment, poor health care, inadequate housing and a variety of social ills remain unaddressed. President …
Addressing Issues of Justice and Race after Trayvon Martin Case
Rev. Mark Whitlock, executive director of the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, published an op-ed in the Los Angeles Sentinel on the George Zimmerman trial verdict. “How do people living …
Religion and the Los Angeles Mayoral Race
CRCC Research Director Richard Flory and Reverend Mark Whitlock have appeared in a Neon Tommy article where they discuss the religious implications of the current Mayoral Race in Los Angeles. An excerpt …
Whitlock: Black History Month, Our Story
This post originally appeared in the Orange County Register. “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” —Marcus Garvey We all have …
Would Jesus Use a Handgun or an Assault Weapon?
A 43-year-old African American man—a member of my church—was shot in the back nine times and over 50 bullets riddled the yellow SUV in which he sat. At his funeral service, no …
Two pastors reach across the racial divide
Executive Director of the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement Rev. Mark Whitlock was featured in an OC Register article that discusses his efforts to decrease racial tensions between Latinos and …
Rev. Mark Whitlock talks to CNN about the the segregation of churches
CNN featured Rev. Mark Whitlock, director of community initiatives and senior pastor of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church, regarding the segregation of churches. “We’re fully integrated in the workplace, schools, public restaurants …