Frederick Frederick Asbury Cullen Asbury Cullen

Community Activist and Community Activist and Pastor of Salem Church Pastor of Salem Church

Image from Salem M.E. Church Program, Image from Salem M.E. Church Program, 1868-1946 Countee Cullen Papers, 1868-1946 Countee Cullen Papers, Amistad Research Center at Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana ev. Frederick A. Cullen was a community and civil rights ev. Frederick A. Cullen was a community and civil rights activist who played an important role in New York’s Afri- activist who played an important role in New York’s Afri- Rcan American community during his 40-year pastorate at Sa- Rcan American community during his 40-year pastorate at Sa- lem Methodist Episcopal Church in Harlem. lem Methodist Episcopal Church in Harlem. Originally from Maryland and born of slave parents, Cullen Originally from Maryland and born of slave parents, Cullen graduated from Morgan College and was ordained in 1900. He graduated from Morgan College and was ordained in 1900. He served his first church in Maryland successfully in spite of ini- served his first church in Maryland successfully in spite of ini- tial opposition to his appointment. He relocated to New York tial opposition to his appointment. He relocated to New York in 1902 where he was assigned to St. Mark’s, a predominantly in 1902 where he was assigned to St. Mark’s, a predominantly black congregation in New York City. He soon began work at black congregation in New York City. He soon began work at their Harlem storefront mission, then called Salem Chapel. their Harlem storefront mission, then called Salem Chapel. Cullen was well known for his youth ministry work, his de- Cullen was well known for his youth ministry work, his de- votion to his community and parishioners, and his leadership votion to his community and parishioners, and his leadership qualities. His work with neighborhood children to encourage qualities. His work with neighborhood children to encourage their parents to attend church led to the success of Salem Mis- their parents to attend church led to the success of Salem Mis- sion, which became independent in 1908 and whose sion, which became independent in 1908 and whose (over) (over) (Frederick Asbury Cullen, cont.) (Frederick Asbury Cullen, cont.) membership numbered more than 4,000 at his retirement. membership numbered more than 4,000 at his retirement. He worked consistently for social justice, serving as president He worked consistently for social justice, serving as president of the Harlem branch of the NAACP. On a personal level, he of the Harlem branch of the NAACP. On a personal level, he encouraged many youth to enter the Christian ministry and to encouraged many youth to enter the Christian ministry and to pursue other careers. He and his wife Carolyn were the adoptive pursue other careers. He and his wife Carolyn were the adoptive parents of Harlem Renaissance poet Countee Cullen. parents of Harlem Renaissance poet Countee Cullen. For Discussion For Discussion

• Rev. Cullen focused on outreach to children to encourage • Rev. Cullen focused on outreach to children to encourage families to attend church. What might your chuch do to reach families to attend church. What might your chuch do to reach out in this way? For example, how might you design a Vaca- out in this way? For example, how might you design a Vaca- tion Bible School that would successfully invite families into tion Bible School that would successfully invite families into your church? your church?

• Rev. Cullen stayed at the same church for 40 years. What • Rev. Cullen stayed at the same church for 40 years. What are the pluses and minuses of such a long pastorate? What are the pluses and minuses of such a long pastorate? What are the positives and negatives of moving ministers to new are the positives and negatives of moving ministers to new churches every few years? churches every few years?

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