Archive
African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church
POPULATION An estimated 1.4 million members globally, with 3,200 congregations and roughly 3,700 pastors GOVERNANCE Like the AME Church, the AMEZ Church is hierarchical, with each district presided over by a bishop, …
African Methodism
Three of the largest denominations within African Methodism are the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church. While their histories …
Relationship-Building: Community, Not Clientele
As NAREB explores creating networks within faith communities to further its 2Mn5 program to increase homeownership in the African-American community, it should orient itself toward a relationship-building mode. Realtists should not approach …
Overview of Religious Competency
Religious competence, not unlike cultural competence, is the level of knowledge-based skills of individuals or organizations required to provide effective engagement to individuals of a particular religious group. Religious competence is not …
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 …
September 1, 2002: “It Ain’t About You, Brother or Sister” — Rev. Cecil Murray
“Put God first, put your neighbor second and yourself third,” Rev. Cecil Murray says in this sermon about resisting the natural temptation to always put yourself first. Self-surrender leads to self-discovery. Self-surrender …
October 31, 2004: “God Shows Up, God Shows Out” — Rev. Cecil Murray
“When you are outside of you comfort zone, God sees you. God not only sees you outside the comfort zone, God saves you,” Rev. Murray tells his congregation. When nothing is working …
October 29, 2000: “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray preaches on learning how to cultivate “the inner eye.” The inner eye allows you to see past surface judgements and see people for who they really are …
October 24, 2004: “When This Tent is Taken Down” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray reminds us that God will always be here for us, even when we lose what we have. He says the difference between a house and a home …
October 22, 2000: “He Knows How Much We Can Bear” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray addresses hard times when it can seem like God is very distant. Rev. Murray encourages his congregation to continue to trust in God while rediscovering the older, …
October 17, 2004: “Paying for Your Show” – Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray talks about paying dues in life. He tells his congregation that it is healthy to be mad about things that have gone wrong, but not to lose …
October 14, 1998: “Hating Me Until You Need Me” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray talks about anger as a natural product of struggle and human relationships. He reminds his congregation that even when you are broken or empty, God is always …
October 8, 1995: “Know When You’re Well Off” – Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Cecil Murray reminds his congregation that everybody has troubles and nobody is alone in their worries, especially if you have God. He urges his congregation to recognize what they …
October 1, 1995: “Healing First, Hugging Second” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, delivered as the OJ Simpson murder trial was ending, Cecil Murray preaches on inequality, and how blame is placed on communities of color for the consequences of crimes committed …
October 1, 1995: “Fighting Without and Fears Within” – Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray addresses many issues in society surrounding racial inequality. “Until there is justice for everybody,” he says, “there is justice for nobody.” He encourages his congregation to stand …
November 15, 1998: “Confusion or Delusion” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray addresses the need for humility and the temptations of showing off. “Everybody has something, and your something is no better than the other person’s something!” He says …
November 11, 1995: “Free at Last!” – Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Cecil Murray talks about “professional sufferers” — people who complain all the time and who are dying to prove they are suffering more than others. He encourages people to …
KCRW: Flory on the Popularity of Hillsong and Celebrity Christianity
Hillsong Church and other popular evangelical churches are attracting celebrities and large number of young Christians, but their stances on social issues are more conservative than many attendees may realize. KCRW’s Press …
May 31, 1992: “Sent for You Yesterday, Here You Come Today” — Rev. Cecil Murray
Pastor Murray talks about the negative effects of waiting: waiting on people, waiting on justice for Rodney King or waiting for the full acceptance of Black civil rights. He argues that for …