Dr. Carl Ellis Seminar, Part 1 (Life Mission Recap)

Dr. Carl Ellis Seminar, Part 1

Life Mission Recap

By Annya M. Lott

Dr. Carl Ellis defines theology by what we do and not just what we study. Theology is the application of God’s words in a person’s life. Admittingly, even though Ellis was anti-missional at one point, he expressed how God changed his perspective serving nationally and internationally, “God changed my heart. It’s not ‘either or’ but ‘and’,” declared Ellis. This revelation of inclusion helped to define and shape Ellis’ approach to theology and mission. 

Ellis, a selected delegate for the 2010 Lausanne World Congress on Missions and Evangelization, explained there are two ingredients to theological development: life situation and biblical truth. When these two ingredients interact with each other they produce praxis, an application or custom that puts biblical truth into a reality according to our life theme. An example of praxis is the theology of suffering developed by slaves. Ellis says that this antebellum southern paradigm was extracted from the Book of Exodus. Similar to the Israelites, the core concern for slaves was survival, refuge, and resistance to opposition thus producing such a theology. Another praxis Ellis shared was the theology of empowerment. This northern paradigm focused on human dignity and African identity. Romans 12:2 reads “Don’t be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. “If you let other people label you that will define you,” said Ellis.

During the presentation, Ellis also taught the attendees extensive facts about the history of the African-American church and mission. For example, the first American missionary to serve abroad was named George Liele. Yet, many Christians have ever heard of him. An emancipated slave and founder of the First African Baptist Church, Liele left American shores in 1782 for Jamaica. This unknown hero shared the Gospel with thousands and influenced others to become missionaries.

Other influential African-Americans to know include:

• Henry H. Garnet (1815-1882) was born a slave in Maryland but his family escaped from opposition and settled in New York. He was a prominent member of the abolition movement, urging slaves to strike the first blow and claim their own destinies. He was the first African-American to deliver a speech to the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served as U.S. Minister to Liberia in 1881.  
• Rev. Nathaniel Paul, pastor of the First African Baptist Society, hails the final abolition of slavery in New York State. His opening remarks for the occasion read:

It is certain, because that God who has made of one blood all nations of men, and who is said to be no respecter of persons, has so decreed; I therefore have no hesitation in declaring this sacred place, that not only throughout the United States of America, but throughout every part of the habitable world where slavery exists, it will be abolished.

• Rev. James W.C. Pennington (1809-1870) was an African-American minister, teacher and abolitionist. Born a slave in Maryland, he eventually escaped to Pennsylvania and then in 1828 moved to New York where he worked as a blacksmith. In 1841, Pennington published The Origin and History of the Coloured People and later published his autobiography called The Fugitive Blacksmith. He was also influential in the Amistad case, calling on African-Americans to organize support for African missions. As president of the Union Missionary Society, Pennington raised funds to pay for the Africans’ return home and recruited African-American missionaries to accompany them.   

For more historical facts and insights, pick up a copy of Dr. Ellis’ presentation (Part 1 & 2) in the church bookstore.