Member Congregation Spotlight: Advocate United Church of Christ
Advocate United Church of Christ is our newest constituent member congregation at Community Renewal Society. Its pastor, Rev. Malcolm J. Griffith, is literally grace under fire. In October 2023, the 130-year-old Eastside edifice that was Advocate UCC’s home was deemed a total loss after an early morning blaze.
Only the cross that was set on top of the steeple survived. The fire chief salvaged it after the steeple’s collapse, cradled it, walked to the assembled friends, family, and members, and presented it to First Lady Michelle and Pastor Malcolm. First Lady Michelle had just pondered aloud, “I wonder if they can save the cross.” It was an emotional moment of hope and a reminder that this church had always been much more than its building. Advocate United Church of Christ has always served beyond its four walls. There, they were standing together outside underneath God’s sky as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, as they were both grieving what was lost and praising God for what they did not lose in the fire along with that cross—their purpose, ministry, and each other. That was 3 AM on Saturday. Advocate UCC held its 11 AM worship service virtually the next day without skipping a beat.
Today, Advocate UCC celebrates fifteen years of ministry as a church and with its self-funded shelter, Tabitha House. They have a new ministry partner and home on Chicago’s Southside. The Congregational Church of Park Manor UCC installed Rev. Griffith as its pastor on August 25, 2024. The two congregations worship together.
Pastor Malcolm graciously agreed to speak with Community Renewal while waiting to pick up his child from school.
Two-and-a-half minutes into our conversation, he has another call and politely asks if we could hold. He comes back and calmly shares, without a hint of upset, that “one of the sanctuary’s two furnaces has decided to stop working.“
He explains, “I’m grateful we had the other one [furnace] where it’s not too bitter cold. “But you know, it’s a little brisk until the Holy Spirit gets up in there! Then it warms up a little!” he says with a baritone chuckle.
A businessman and entrepreneur before his call to ministry, Rev. Malcolm Griffith is a man who knows how to pray, persist, preach, plan, and prepare for the eventual pivot. For Pastor Malcolm, the words of the poem “Don’t Quit,” a staple among Divine Nine sororities and fraternities, are true: “Life is queer with its twists and turns, as every one of us sometimes learns.” Pastor Malcolm and First Lady Michelle know life is full of surprises.
The two were partners in love, life, and ministry for 31 years before the most beautiful surprise of becoming first-time parents.
We settle in to discuss Advocate UCC’s recent membership with Community Renewal Society. Pastor Malcolm begins to explain why the church decided to become a member of CRS. While there wasn’t a specific social justice issue that prompted membership, “I will say that with everything that is going on a political scheme of things, we felt we wanted to be in action and do more. Sometimes, churches know something needs to be done, even if they don’t know what it is. Take DEI, for instance. One of the things that we realized at Advocate UCC is this does not just affect minorities and women; it also affects our nation’s veterans! So many things are happening and unfolding before our very eyes. We want to remain informed. We want to remain on board with the work and ministry and maybe help turn the tide.”
CRS’s mission aligns with our values. “We are a small congregation of about 100 members. This partnership provides us with what I’m going to call a toolbox, something that congregations can take away and implement right away. Be it a phone bank, an e-mail blast, or asking us to support a rally. I believe many congregations may not know where to start. They want to do something but don’t know where to start. An organization like Community Renewal Society that has been doing it for such a long time is a great resource and support—whether your congregation is an older one or a younger one, whether members can work during the day, only evenings, or on the weekends. It’s great to have something so we don’t have to re-create the wheel, and we’re already rolling with a spare tire! We just wanna get on board! Amen!”
CRS: Do you have any advice for other congregations considering CRS membership? “My advice is join. I am sure there is something that every congregation can benefit from. They may think they don’t have enough people, but there are tools to start small. There’s something that everybody can do. Many churches would like to see Gen-Zers in their 20’s more involved. CRS has knowledge, training, and best practices. Churches can receive training and learn by being in partnership together with CRS…so that we won’t just pass the baton to the younger generation, but they will come to church, sit at the table [where discussion and decisions take place] and actually help design the baton!”
Deacons Debbie, LaTonia, Vince and Rory prepare for worship at Advocate UCC in the church that burned down in 2023.
By Minister Marian McKinney
Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk Theologian in Residence
Advocate United Church of Christ
Sunday Worship 10:30am
Advocate United Church of Christ
@The Congregational Church of Park Manor
7000 S. King Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 437-4815
Monday through Saturday
7:00 am Online Bible Study
www.advocateucc.org
Monetary Donations: www.advocateucc.org
Donations of Clothing for Tabitha House Shelter
Email: Advocateucc@gmail.com