Many nationally/internationally known ministers are affiliated with Black Greek-letter organizations. Yet over the years, it's been said that being members of these "secret societies cause us to dilute our allegiance to God".

1) Since this is an open discussion to everyone, state your position and affiliation.

2) If a member of a historic Black Greek-letter organization, how do you exercise your ministerial gifts formally and informally within your particular organization?

Rev. Soror Joyce Irvin Harris
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Psi (City Chapter-Detroit), '77

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Ultimately, I think so. Some good can be done through them. But, it doesn’t offset their very worldly aspects. The same good can be done through none-Greek organizations.
Thank you, Sister Marie, for commenting. Would you further address what you see as "the very worldly aspects" of Greek-letter organizations?

Blessings!
Hello Minister Joyce:

Sure! I believe the “secret society” aspect of it is worldly. The rivalry (sometimes mean-spirited) with other Greeks is worldly. I don’t belong to a sorority, but I would think they pledge an oath or some level of allegiance to people in a group who don’t share your faith in Christ.

The pledging process itself can send a very counter-Christian message, in that you must do certain things (which may be futile) to be accepted by “the group.”

I don’t think people who belong to Greeks are bad, and I believe those who say they are Christians and accept Christ as Savior certainly are Christians. They’re wonderful people. But, you were asking about the nature of Greeks. I’m commenting only on that.

Thanks,
Marie
Sister Marie...

Thanks again for expanding on your position. You raise some common objections to membership in Greek-letter organizations. I look forward to seeing how others weigh in on this discussion.

Blessings,
Pastor Joyce
Thanks, Pastor Joyce.
Great topic my friend. I understand that the Bible makes no statment concerning being a part of secret societies (although it is mentioned in the Baptist Church Covenant). I pledged in college and also joined a Masonic Lodge and was active in both. There are plenty of unhloy things that take place in fraternities(such as making vows and oaths and the like), but the idea of fraternalism is not inconsistent with the first century church and their secret codes, meeting places and oaths against Rome and the Mosaic Law.

I personally don't emphasize the fact that I'm in such organizations since I'm no longer active in them. As the other post put it, good can be done by none-Greek organizations and should be done by the church.
Pastor Neal, thanks for the post! Now would you help a Sistah out...To the extent that you're comfortabel and without divulging fraternity business, would you elaborate on why you're inactive? One of the challenges of this kind of discussion is that those who are not affiliated are specific regarding their objections while those of us who've pledged are more guarded.
Obviously, I do not feel that the Black Greek-letter sororities and fraternities are contrary to the Word of God. However, I do feel that some of our rituals and practices need to be revisited so that there's no misunderstanding regarding the place of our allegiance to organization and our allegiance to the God of our understanding.

Toward that end, reining in pledge abuse has gone a long way to realign our walk with our talk about affirming personhood, dignity, and excellence.

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