I wish to thank my friends who responded to my first question. You really did help your brother out! Now, here is the follow-up to the previous question: From your perspective, please list 5 opportunities and 5 threats which affect the church. Let try to balance the negative with a positive. I look forward to all of your responses!

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2002

Answers

Sounds like you're conducting a SWOT analysis;-)

-- Anonymous, December 16, 2002

Parson Allen:

Well here goes...........

Opportunities - 1. Large population of Afro-Brazilians in Brazil 2. Large population of incarcerated black males 3. Large population of black college students at majority white schools 4. Attracting discouraged black women preachers from Baptist churces (nothing wrong with a little denominational poaching) 5. Creating AME private schools for K-6 grades.

Threats-

1. Neo-Pentecostal Movement (different & radical liturgy) 2. Youth Independence Movement (YPD at a crossroads) 3. Women Independence Movement (Demands for Substance not symbols) 4. Inter-racial Worship Movement (proliferation of Word Churches) 5. Theologically educated laity (hermeneutics is liberating) QED

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2002