Who We Are

Dr. Tait

Meet Dr. Tait

The Reverend Dr. Lewis T. Tait, Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. to the late Bishop Lewis T. Tait, Sr., and Mrs. Ann Christine Tait. He attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas where he obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1982. In 1984 he was called into the gospel ministry while serving at Faith Bible Church, in Washington, D.C., under the leadership of Bishop Lewis T. Tait, Sr., Dr. Tait was ordained at Faith Bible Church in 1986. In 1986 he also received a certificate of International Ministries in the study of Muslim & Christian Relations from Mansfield College, Oxford University, in Oxford, England. Dr. Tait continued his education at the Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C., and earned the Master of Divinity degree in 1987. In 1994 he received the Doctorate of Ministry degree in Afro-centric Pastoring and Preaching from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

In 1993 Dr. Tait was called by Penn Central Conference of the United Church of Christ, the Harrisburg Association and the Board for Homeland Ministries to organize the first African American Church in the history of the Conference and Association. Dr. Tait organized the Harambee United Church of Christ on October 1, 1993 (first worship service) and grew the church to 500 in membership. Dr. Tait resigned as pastor Harambee in 1999 in order to become the Organizing Pastor of a New Church Start in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

The Church was named New Life United Church of Christ and its first service commenced in April 1999. In October 2004 New Life UCC became the Imani Christian Center, in 2006 the church was re-launched with a new vision for reaching the un-churched and became affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. The mantra was: “come as you are and leave transformed.” On July 24, 2010 Dr. Tait continued the legacy of his father, by returning to Washington, DC in order to reorganize Faith Bible Church (Remix) as its Senior Pastor/Teacher.

Dr. Tait has served as Guest Lecturer/Teacher for RECONCILES’ Peace Institute, the class topic was, “The Philosophy and Practice of Non-Violence”, Yei, Sudan, 2010. Dr. Tait currently serves on the Commission of Race & Ethnicity Board of Directors of the Reformed Church in America.

Dr. Tait was inducted into the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers in 2004. He is co-author with A. Christian van Gorder of Three Fifths Theology: Challenging Racism in American Christianity, published by African World Press in 2002. Dr. Tait is an adjunct professor at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) and Beulah Heights University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Tait is concerned about and committed to the posterity of the family. He is the proud parent of two children, Essence Ayana Tait and Lewis Thomas Asante Tait, III.

Vision

The Village envisions a world where all people are connected to God through Worship, Word and the Witness of Christ - Followers.

Mantra

Worship.Word. Witness.

I am because We are and We are because God is!

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Statement of Purpose

The Village is a church community that is focused on reconnecting people to God through Jesus. We are grounded in these two principles: 1) Imago Dei (made in God's image); 2) Ubuntu (I am because We are). We embody these principles by worshiping God, studying God's Word for spiritual growth and practical application to every aspect of life, and faithfully witnessing as Christ-Follwers through the way we live our lives, the way we love, the words we speak and the actions we take.

We are unashamedly Christ-focused and African rooted.

Black Value System

Dr. Tait was inspired by one his mentors in ministry, Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., pastor emeritus of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, who shared "The Black Value System", with him. It was written by the by the late Vallmer Jordan in 1981. The Village will aspire to adhere to "The Black Value System" by adopting it as a part of our value system.

These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They consist of the following concepts:

1. Commitment to God...More

1. Commitment to God.

"The God of our weary years" will give us the strength to give up prayerful passivism and become Black Christian Activists, soldiers for Black freedom and the dignity of all humankind. Matthew 22:37 - Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

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2. Commitment to the Black Communit...More

2. Commitment to the Black Community.

The highest level of achievement for any Black person must be a contribution of strength and continuity of the Black Community. I John 4:20 - If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother [or his sister], he is a liar; for he that love his brother or sister whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom Ire hath not seen?

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3. Commitment to the Black Family. ...More

3. Commitment to the Black Family.

The Black family circle must generate strength, stability and love, despite the uncertainty of externals, because these characteristics are required if the developing person is to withstand warping by our racist competitive society. Those Blacks who are blessed with membership in a strong family unit must reach out and expand that blessing to the less fortunate. Deuteronomy 6:6-8 - And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as .frontlets between thine eyes.

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4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Educatio...More

4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Education.

We must forswear anti-intellectualism. Continued survival demands that each Black person be developed to the utmost of his/her mental potential despite the inadequacies of the formal education process. "Real education" fosters understanding of ourselves as well as every aspect of our environment. Also, it develops within us the ability to fashion concepts and tools for better utilization of our resources, and more effective solutions to our problems. Since the majority of Blacks have been denied such learning, Black Education must include elements that produce high school graduates with marketable skills, a trade or qualifications for apprenticeships, or proper preparation for college. Basic education for all Blacks should include Mathematics, Science, Logic, General Semantics, Participative Politics, Economics and Finance, and the Care and Nurture of Black minds. Matthew 22:37-Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind

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5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Exc...More

5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence.

To the extent that we individually reach for, even strain for excellence, we increase, geometrically, the value and resourcefulness of the Black Community. We must recognize the relativity of one's best; this year's best can be bettered next year. Such is the language of growth and development. We must seek to excel in every endeavor. Ecclesiastes 9: 10-Whatsoever thy handfindeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for {there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

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6. Adherence to the Black Work Ethi...More

6. Adherence to the Black Work Ethic.

"It is becoming harder to find qualified people to work in. Chicago." Whether this is true or not, it represents one of the many reasons given by businesses and industries for deserting the Chicago area. We must realize that a location with good facilities, adequate transportation and a reputation for producing skilled workers will attract industry. We are in competition with other cities, states and nations for jobs. High productivity must be a goal of the Black workforce. JI Thessalonians 3:7-12-For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us:for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread

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7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Sel...More

7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect.

To accomplish anything worthwhile requires self-discipline. We must be a community of self-disciplined persons if we are to actualize and utilize our own human resources, instead of perpetually submitting to exploitation by others. Self-discipline, coupled with a respect for self, will enable each of us to be an instrument of Black Progress and a model for Black Youth. I Peter 1:4-7-To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fade th not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with.fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

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8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of "Middleclassne...More

8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of "Middleclassness"

" Classic methodology on control of captives teaches that captors must be able to identify the "talented tenth" of those subjugated, especially those who show promise of providing the kind of leadership that might threaten the captor's control. Proverbs 3: 13-14 -Happy are those who find wisdom and those who gain understanding, for her income is better than silver and her revenue better than gold. Those so identified are separated from the rest of the people by: o Killing them off directly, and/or fostering a social system that encourages them to kill off one another. o Placing them in concentration camps, and/or structuring an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons. o Seducing them into a socioeconomic class system which, while training them to earn more dollars, hypnotizes them into believing they are better than others and teaches them to think in terms of "we" and ''they" instead of "us." o So, while it is permissible to chase "middleclassness" with all our might, we must avoid the third separation method - the psychological entrapment of Black "middleclassness." If we avoid this snare, we will also diminish our "voluntary" contributions to methods A and B. And more importantly, Black people no longer will be deprived of their birthright: the leadership, resourcefulness and example of their own talented persons.

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9. Pledge to Make the Fru...More

9. Pledge to Make the Fruits

of All Developing and Acquired Skills Available to the Black Community.

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10. Pledge to Alloca...More

10. Pledge to Allocate

Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions.

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11. Pledge Allegianc...More

11. Pledge Allegiance

to All Black Leadership Who Espouse and Embrace the Black Value System.

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12. Personal Commitment to Embracement of the Black Value System....More

12. Personal Commitment to Embracement of the Black Value System.

To measure the worth and validity of all activity in terms of positive contributions to the general welfare of the Black Communjty and the Advancement of Black People towards freedom.

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What We Believe

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bible
The Bible

The Bible We believe the Bible is inspired by God and is the authority on which we base our faith, conduct and doctrine.

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The Trinity

The Trinity We believe in one God, the Creator, Jesus the Christ resurrected, the Head of the church, and the Holy Spirit, who guides and empowers, in order for the redemptive work of God to be done in the world.

salvation
Salvation

Salvation We believe that there has never been a time that God has not known us, but because of sin there was a disconnection between humans and God. Here are some of the terms used for salvation; bor...More

Salvation We believe that there has never been a time that God has not known us, but because of sin there was a disconnection between humans and God. Here are some of the terms used for salvation; born again, believer, saved. We use the term being reconnected to God. One has to make a conscious decision based on faith to be reconnected to God through Jesus, who died on the cross, and shed His blood for our sins. We believe that our re-connection to God is grounded in what Jesus did for us on the cross, his resurrection from the dead and his promise to return.

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Water Baptism

Water Baptism Baptism is a sacrament of the church. We believe water baptism is a symbol of the outward expression or testimony of the old person dying and the new person rising, because of the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus the Christ.

communion
Communion

Communion Communion is a sacrament of the church. Jesus taught us that we should do it as often as we can as an act of remembering what he did for us on the cross and as a time of re-commitment to our Christian faith.

discipleship
Discipleship

Discipleship We believe every person who has reconnected to God through Jesus should (1) be in a growing relationship with God by practicing God's Word; (2) be following the teachings of Jesus; (3) be guided by the Holy Spirit; and be transformed by the renewing of their mind.