A pastor looks out at his congregation on a recent Sunday morning and asks if there are any newcomers to the church. Several rows back, a man stands up. He’s wearing a loose T-shirt, baggy pants and the look of someone who has been worn down by life and has struggled to distance himself from the missteps.
“I’d like to say something,” the man said, and the Rev. Emmanuel McCall Sr. at Friendship Baptist Church gave a nod. “Today’s my birthday and I was looking for somewhere to go. I live across the street. I’ve walked by this place before, but I never came in. I’ve had a lot of problems in my life, but I’m ready to make a change. I want to thank you for letting me be here.”
A church full of about 200 people welcomed him. Many around him stood to shake his hand. Then all sang happy birthday in unison. The man cried. “I’ve never felt so much love in my life,” he said. “Thank you.”
It was just another Sunday. Not an NFL Sunday, but a church Sunday. These little moments too often get lost in today’s society. Blame our priorities. A 151-year-old church, founded by former slaves in a discarded railroad boxcar, may soon get leveled so that the world can have another football stadium with martini bars and an owner can have a higher profit margin. Too many don’t seem to care.
The Falcons’ new stadium site hasn’t been finalized yet. The city — negotiating on the Falcons’ behalf, which keeps team executives at a nice clean distance — is still in negotiations with Friendship Baptist Church, which sits down the block from the Georgia Dome at the corner of Northside and Mitchell. Mt. Vernon Church, an adjacent property, remains in talks with the state.
History tells us both churches eventually will sell because powerful and wealthy NFL owners like Arthur Blank generally get their way. That’s how they got to be powerful and wealthy.
Few are speaking out. One who has, Juanita Jones Abernathy, a Friendship Baptist member and widow of the late civil-rights leader, Ralph David Abernathy, has been quoted in news stories, one that’s on Friendship Baptist’s own website: “I don’t think (money) should even enter our decision-making. It’s a landmark. It’s been there for generations, and it needs to be there for generations to come.”
Lloyd Hawk, a former investment banker and long-time Friendship Baptist member, is the point man in negotiations for the church. He believes most congregants are opened to the move if the circumstances are right, but acknowledged, “There are other members feel the same as Miss Abernathy does. I understand what her concerns are. The church is an historic institution, not just a building.”
Hawk has been consistent in the church’s position: They didn’t ask for this. They’re fine with where they are. Friendship Baptist already has undergone several million dollars in renovations and upgrades and completed a major fundraising campaign for other projects, including a community center across the street. The only thing that’s stopping them from putting a shovel in the ground: The Falcons want their property.
The mayor’s office claims the church was offered $15.5 million but is seeking $24.5 million. Whether that’s accurate, for all I care they can ask for $30 million. Remember, the Falcons came to them. Also, having covered several negotiations, I’ve learned that people often leak inflated numbers in hopes of swaying public option. Credit to both churches for not blinking.
The Falcons and city officials may believe the churches are being unreasonable. Hawk’s response: “It’s like it was a beautiful day, and we were sitting on our front porch sipping lemonade when a man walked up and asked if we wanted to sell our house. We weren’t even for sale. If we don’t come to any type of agreement, we’re in the same position that we were before this all started.”
Blank and city officials say a new stadium will spur redevelopment. That would be nice, but history doesn’t support that claim. Stand on Northside and look around the Georgia Dome. Look around Turner Field. Look in other cities. “Even with this $30 million from Invest Atlanta and the Blank Foundation, the impact will be questionable at best,” Hawk said. “I think we’ve all been around the block and know it’s not a guarantee.”
Friendship Baptist was established in 1862. It was another 58 years before seeds of the NFL grew (1920). It was another 104 years before the Falcons were born (1966).
The NFL believes it has a long and rich Sunday tradition. They’re rookies in the big picture.
Friendship Baptist has white walls, mosaic windows and old-time wood pews. There’s a classic old pipe organ (recently refurbished for $350,000; insured for $750,000), a full choir and copies of the Holy Bible and the African American Heritage Hymnal. A sign above the door reads, “Enter to worship, exit to serve.”
The church’s stability is illustrated by the fact it has had only six pastors in 151 years.
The Falcons have had 15 head coaches in 47 years.
It was the first African-American Baptist church in Atlanta, the first Atlanta home for Morehouse College, the birthplace of Spelman College (in the church basement).
The National Register of Historic Places lists Friendship Baptist. The government generally requires a structure to be at least 50 years old before considering listing it. So the Georgia Dome wouldn’t become eligible until 2042 (not that it will be in existence then).
To recap: A 151-year-old church is just fine. A 21-year-old stadium is considered obsolete.
William “Sonny” Walker, a another former civil-rights leader and the first African-American to hold a cabinet position in Arkansas, was honored by Friendship Baptist a few weeks ago with a Man of the Year Award. He believes most of the congregants aren’t opposed to the move as much as they are in the potential of incurring debt.
“It’s a very stable religious institution, and we want to have that preserved,” he said. “We have some members who have strong feelings about not wanting to move, but I don’t think that’s the prevailing opinion of our membership. We’re just hoping to get this resolved before it gets any nastier.”
There wouldn’t be a problem if they built the new stadium somewhere else.
