White pastor welcomed into traditionally Black church
EL CENTRO — Johnson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, a predominantly African-American church on the east side here, welcomed its new pastor, Martin C. Porter, on Sunday.
Porter, who is white, previously served as a minister at Ward AME Church in Los Angeles after being hired at Johnson Chapel, 264 E. Hamilton Ave.
Prior to his first service Sunday, the Imperial
Valley Social Justice Committee held a welcoming ceremony on Aug. 28 for the pastor outside its office on Main Street.
At the start of the ceremony, Porter and his wife, Anita, were given Black Lives Matter T-shirts.
AME was the first Protestant Christian denomination founded by Black people. It was established in Philadelphia in 1816.
“It was unique in that it is the first major religious denomination in the Western World that had its origin over sociological and theological beliefs and differences,” the AME website reads.
“It rejected the negative theological interpretations which rendered persons of African descent second class citizens. Theirs was a theological declaration that God is God all the time and for everybody. The church was born in protest against slavery – against dehumanization of African people, brought to the American continent as labor.”
However, while AME was born out of racial oppression, the denomination is ultimately about faith, not race, and everyone is welcome. On Sunday, Johnson Chapel members and others extended that welcome to the Porters.
“Welcome to the Valley; I’m sure you’ll find it very cool here,” Imperial Irrigation District Division 4 Director Javier Gonzalez said, as he present the reverend an IID cap.
Mark Wheeler, interim dean of San Diego State University-Imperial Valley in Calexico, welcomed the Porters on behalf the university.
Hilton Smith, chief executive officer of Black Lives Matter Imperial Valley, gave a brief speech, during which he welcomed Porter and his wife “to our community … and to our struggle. When I found out that he (Porter) was an activist, I said, ‘Great, we got a lot of work to do in Imperial Valley — a lot of work.’ And, trust me, we’re going to put you to work.”
El Centro Police Department Chief Brian Johnson gave Porter an ECPD mug and pen.
“On behalf of the El Centro Police Department, welcome to El Centro,” Johnson told the pastor and his wife. “You’re going to love your new home.”
Calexico Police Department Chief Gonzalo Gerardo welcomed the Porters on behalf of the CPD and the Imperial County Chiefs’ and Sheriff ’s Association, which Gerardo chairs.
“You guys are going to love the food,” Gerardo told the couple. “Let’s show our community that we can work together. Imperial County does have its problems. If we come together, we can bridge the gap. We gotta learn to live with each other.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Porter revealed that the ceremony was a complete surprise to him. He said he was instructed simply to show up for a meeting.
“I didn’t expect this at all,” Porter said.
Afterward, Porter led his first Sunday service in El Centro. He delivered his sermon with a laptop in front of him so that persons at home could watch via Zoom.
“We’re one church; we’re one community,” he said. “Grab the brother’s and sister’s hand next to you.”