Turner Chapel pastor draws parallels in faith and journalism

PALMETTO -- First came the journalism, then came the call to the ministry.

The Rev. Kenneth F. Irby, 49, knew early on that he wanted a career in journalism.

He majored in journalism at Boston University. Eventually, his career brought him to the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, where he founded the photojournalism program in 1995.

Irby now serves as senior faculty member for visual journalism and diversity programs at Poynter, recognized as an industry leader in teaching journalists how to achieve excellence in their professions.

While working in his chosen field, Irby began to hear the call to the ministry.

It was a calling that his wife, Karen, strongly supported, although she once asked him, “Why is God always talking to you and he hasn’t told me?”

The decision to go into the ministry wasn’t Irby’s choosing, he says.

“It was a calling that I accepted,” he said. “It’s been a totally spiritual pilgrimage.”

Seven years ago, Irby completed preparations for ordination and entered the clergy, serving two years as pastor at Mount Olive A.M.E. Church in Rubonia, followed by three years at St. James A.M.E. Church in Clearwater.

For the past two years, Irby has served as pastor at Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church, 317 11th St. W., Palmetto. He is also director of Men’s Ministry for the 11th Episcopal District, covering the state of Florida and the Bahamas.

He is a busy man. The Irbys are also parents of four daughters.

Irby sees no conflict between his faith and his secular job.

“It is advantageous to both sides of my life. Being a pastor has enriched my journalism because it allows a range of connections that are phenomenal,” he said.

As a pastor, he is able to take everyday experiences and use them in his ministry.

“The liability is the time. Managing time is an ongoing challenge. Sleep is over-rated,” he said.

He draws on an analogy with photography, where light and dark come together to produce an image. Preachers also talk about forces of light and dark, good and evil.

There is a biblical basis for giving voice to the weak, while holding the powerful accountable, a concept also at the foundation of journalism.

“I find tremendous similarities in the gospel of Jesus,” Irby said. “We should strive for fairness and objectivity and disclose what our life experiences are. When the audience has that context, they are more accepting.”

Mildred Hall, 69, a long-time church member and leader at Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church, says Irby is a “go-getter” who has brought change to her church, now preparing to celebrate its 92nd anniversary.

“We have accomplished quite a bit with the things he has brought to the church,” Hall said.

While the church is changing, some things remain the same.

“I grew up here and it’s just like a family. We just love each other,” Hall said.

Judy Brown, a 20-year member of Turner Chapel, calls it a “generational, family-oriented church.”

Among Irby’s goals at Turner Chapel is to make it a “life-saving station,” and to play a role as a social club in the community.

The church youth program enjoys strong support from the congregation.

Robert Powell, a state probation officer and life-long member of the church, works with church youth and teaches Sunday school at Turner Chapel.

“The church provides positive activities to keep youth focused and on the right track,” Powell said.

Irby makes it a point to listen to the concerns of young people, and give them a voice by making sure they are represented on the program team, steward board and the trustee board.

The church is having a back-to-school event Aug. 3-6 on a vacant lot owned by the church across the street from Turner Chapel.

There will be a revival, and school supplies -- crayons, backpacks and more -- will be given to students. The event is open to the public.

“Charity starts at home but it spreads abroad,” Irby said.

Coming from the world of mass communications, it may not be surprising that Irby is looking to network with other ministers and community leaders.

On a recent Wednesday night, Irby, youth director Marian Kinsey, several other adults and about 20 Turner Chapel youth drove to neighboring St. Johns First Baptist Church to participate in a revival.

Irby joined several other pastors on the dais, while the Turner Chapel youth served as the invited choir.

Irby sees “tremendous hope” in working with other pastors and the wider community, not only to meet spiritual needs, but to help overcome hunger, poverty and work toward better education.

He wants the community to know that Turner Chapel is an inclusive church, that it wants to be connected, to spread the gospel and to work to solve shared problems.

Irby declines to take credit for all the good things happening at Turner Chapel.

“It has a momentum and dynamic that I inherited,” he said.

James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee editor, can be contacted at (941) 745-7021.

IF YOU GO

What: Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church

Where: 317 11th St. W., Palmetto

Pastor: The Rev. Kenneth F. Irby

Services: 8 a.m. Sunday

Information: (941) 722-9531

This story was originally published July 16, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Turner Chapel pastor draws parallels in faith and journalism."