Archive
The Black Church and Black Lives Matter – Faith Leaders Institute
Roslyn Satchel is an AME minister and part of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles. She spoke at the Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement’s 2018 Faith Leaders Institute retreat about why she …
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 …
As King Encouraged, America Must Face Her Flaws
This post originally appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel. In Dr. Martin Luther King’s posthumously published essay, “A Testament of Hope,” he wrote, “It is forcing America to face all its interrelated …
The Memo Book Signing with John Hope Bryant
John Hope Bryant, founder of Operation HOPE, visited the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement for a book discussion and signing about his new book, The Memo: Five Rules for Your …
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 …
Photo Slideshow: Rev. Cecil Murray’s 88th Birthday
Rev. Cecil Murray turned 88 years young this year, and the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture celebrated his lifetime of faith and service with some of his family, friends and …
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 …
Make 4th of July into a Day of Interdependence
On this Day of Independence, we must note that our independence—from tyranny and oppression—always comes at a price. Freedom is not cheap! But this does not mean that we must spend more …
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 …
Media Coverage of L.A. Civil Unrest Anniversary
Having grown out of the 1992 Los Angeles civil Unrest, the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture and Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement commemorated the 25th anniversary with multiple opportunities …
A Declaration of Interdependence
A nation of nations, our actions in these troubled times must be guided by a notion of notions—let us call it “A Declaration of Interdependence.” We were founded to be a beacon …
Cecil Murray Center launches new Financial Fitness Workshops with CIT/OneWest Bank
The USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement announced the creation of a new initiative to bring Financial Fitness Workshops to churches throughout Los Angeles with the support of CIT/OneWest Bank. CIT Bank and …
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 …
Religion Dispatches: “Integrated into a Burning House?”: A Pre-Inauguration Conversation with Rev. Cecil Murray
In response to America’s changing social and political climate, Religion Dispatches interviewed Rev. Cecil Murray to discuss how the Black Church’s past can influence its future role under a Trump Presidency. Rev. Murray …
Wealth Building Workshop Resources
The USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement is hosting Wealth Building Workshops at churches throughout the Los Angeles area, in partnership with CIT/OneWest Bank. The following resources are discussed in the …
OC Register: Rev. Mark Whitlock on Most Influential List
The Orange County Register named the Rev. Mark Whitlock as one of their 2016 game changers. He was chosen for spearheading the Orange County Solidarity March with community members and law enforcement, …
KPCC Take Two: Najuma Smith-Pollard on Atonement
A StoryCorps confession from an 94-year-old white man about steeling $2 from his African American maid has led to a wider conversation about race, guilt, forgiveness and atonement. KPCC’s Take Two asked …
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 …