Coalitions of African American pastors play a crucial role in community support, growth, and advocacy. These groups unite pastors and clergy to address critical issues and empower their communities.
The African American Pastors Council (AAPC)
The African American Pastors Council (AAPC) stands as a coalition of African-American pastors and clergy. Representing approximately fifteen congregations, the AAPC serves Charlottesville and the surrounding five-county region in central Virginia. These counties include Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Nelson, and Louisa.
Mission and Formation
The mission of AAPC is to engage in community support and growth. Our coalition of pastors empower their church communities by unifying their joint efforts towards this mission. The AAPC began in 2007 as a support group for African-American pastors in central Virginia. It provided networking, encouragement, and a platform to address issues unique to African-American pastors.
Over the years, calls were made by our community for more pastoral engagement, visibility, and active participation to address growing social and legal inequities, education, violence, and the deterioration of the family.
Bishop Anthony Thompson: A Change Agent
Bishop Anthony Thompson is the Senior Pastor of the Tabernacle of Faith Ministries and is the founder of Kingdom ICDC (Kingdom Innovation Community Development Corp.), Coalition of African American Communities (COAAC), and NGL (New Generation Leaders) in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Read also: Mental health awareness: The CHADS Coalition's impact
In addition, he is also the founder of The Mighty Men of Valor Ministry, which encourages, guides and teach men to take their rightful place in their homes, the church, and the community while enhancing their Godly potential. He organized a Ministers’ Enrichment Class to train and equip ministers and Pastors for leadership.
His passion is to see the body of Christ receive all that the Father has prepared for them. He has the biblical mandate of Jeremiah 1:10 “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant”. Bishop Thompson trained as a Community Organizer for the Amos Network Gulf Coast Branch after Hurricane Katrina. Through the Amos Network, he was instrumental in policy changes with disaster insurance and helping churches receive grants for rebuilding efforts from World Vision.
Bishop Thompson has received the Harriett Tubman Community Service Award for the Southeast District from the Magnolia Bar Association 2012 and the Supporter of Education Award from the Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce 2014.
Bishop Thompson is a dedicated servant of the Kingdom of God.
The Role of Community and Faith-Based Organizations in Leading Change (Session 2)
The Coalition of African American Pastors (CAAP)
The Coalition of African American Pastors (CAAP), a national nonprofit group that advocates for faith-aligned public policy, announced today that it is changing its name. CAAP founder, Rev. Rev. Owens, a civil rights leader and influential minister with the Church of God in Christ, founded CAAP more than two decades ago. According to Rev. Over time, CAAP’s influence and base of support grew beyond its original target of African American pastors.
Read also: Experience Fad's Fine African Cuisine
By the late 1990s, senators, governors, congressmen, and policy think tanks were regularly turning to Rev. In recent years, Rev. Owens has been a frequent guest at the White House, advising both Presidents Bush and Trump. He is a sought-after guest on cable news outlets like CNN and Fox.
As the scope and influence of the organization has grown, its base of support diversified. In 2021, Rev. Owens stepped back from day-to-day operational leadership of CAAP, handing executive leadership to his wife, educator, and activist Dr. “We are full of optimism and excitement about the future of CAAP,” said Dr. Owens. Dr. Owens believes education-both public and private-is one of the most pressing issues policymakers must grapple with in coming years.
Community Partnerships and Initiatives
Several organizations and initiatives collaborate to support the mental health and well-being of communities of color:
- Adelante Mujeres: Helping Latina women find their voices and representation in their communities.
- Lines for Life Equity Team: Collaborating with Adelante Mujeres to address community environments for enhanced quality of life and health outcomes.
- Lines for Life: Supporting pastors struggling with mental health issues due to gun violence and other stressors in the Black community.
- Highland Christian Church: Partnering with Lines for Life’s Equity Team to host events within the Black community and de-stigmatize mental health.
- Leaders Become Legends: Mentoring young adults in underserved communities with mental health support from Lines for Life’s Equity Team.
- Multnomah County: Working with Lines for Life to improve access to behavioral healthcare in communities of color.
- NxNE: Partnering with Lines for Life’s Equity Team to host Barbershop Conversations in Portland’s Black and Brown communities.
- OHSU: Partnering with Lines for Life’s Equity Team to increase the reach of culturally responsive services to communities of color across Oregon.
- POIC: Developing culturally relevant mental and emotional health surveys for youth.
- Raices de Bienestar: Improving mental health and emotional wellbeing of the Spanish-speaking community through culturally grounded practices.
- REAP: Working with Lines for Life’s Equity Team to expand mental health services for youth of color in Oregon.
- SEI: Guiding underserved youth to achieve personal and academic success through support and opportunities.
- Urban League of Portland: Empowering Black communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington through culturally specific programs and services.
The Coalition of African and African American Pastors/Imams (CAAAP)
The Coalition of African and African American Pastors/Imams (CAAAP) exists to empower our community to achieve effective change.
Mission, Vision, and Values
- Mission: To improve the quality of life within our local community by establishing meaningful social, cultural, and economic paradigms of equitable participation.
- Vision: To reimagine and reengineer the future of our community.
- Values: Empowerment, Development, and Engagement.
- Motto: Building Capacity and Empowering Community.
CAAAP's Focus Areas
CAAAP recognizes its ultimate responsibility to provide for community development and empowerment. Our goal is to equip, develop, educate, and provide necessary resources to execute our mission and vision. We approach change strategically by seeking funding and support for our clearly defined goals. CAAAP welcomes pastors and community leaders who share our vision and are committed to partnering with us. Together, we can create a stronger and more empowered community.
Read also: The Story Behind Cachapas
CAAAP focuses on several key areas:
- Community Health: Addressing the health and self-care needs of the community and pastors, emphasizing mental and physical well-being.
- Community Engagement: Connecting the community to its fullest capacity, fostering unity and synergy among members and civic leaders.
- Leadership Development: Cultivating leaders to drive positive change within the community and culture.
- Financial and Fiscal Management Training: Equipping the community with financial literacy and fiduciary responsibilities for growth and stability.
- Faith Initiatives: Integrating faith-based approaches to community development and empowerment.
Change is needed in the African and African American communities, particularly in the areas of self-care of pastors/imams, healthcare, economic empowerment, asset acquisition, financial management training, property, and leadership development.
Addressing Cultural Tensions
The historic conflict between Black and White Americans is well known, but the tension between African Americans (born in the USA) and the African diaspora (Africans who have recently migrated to America) is less understood.
CAAAP formed during the pandemic to address this issue. One of the things that we found was that as Africans were coming to this country, they were told not to associate in fellowship with African Americans. This created an African diaspora that was fragmented. But we realized if we worked together, we would be stronger. And so we formed this coalition, to prevent silos and individual voices. We felt we would be stronger if we had one voice. And so we have accomplished some great things within our community through the coalition.
