S.Md. Chorus Finds Gospel Harmony Through Diversity

To reflect changing times, a church turned to its music director to bring together singers of different races and religions.

Ayear or so ago, the pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park cornered his music director after a service with a question: How can we "bring in some diversity?" The neighborhood had changed, and the church needed to change, too.

The music director was often the only black at services. Maybe he had an idea.

No need for conversions, the pastor continued, just camaraderie among Christians.

Well then, music is the answer, said the music director, Robert Jefferson. More specifically, a community gospel choir, something outside the church's regular choir.

Although changing churches would be too drastic a step for most, Jefferson explained, gathering once a week to sing would be doable.

A community gospel choir could sing in any church in Southern Maryland -- black, white, Hispanic. Its sound would not be anything like the traditional Trinity Lutheran choir, nor would it mimic the famous gospel groups. This choir would have its own sound and style, a glorious harmony of diverse voices.

And Jefferson could possibly pull it off: He was an opera singer and a concert pianist, but grew up in a roof-raising black Baptist choir.

Jefferson put a notice in the church bulletin and told everyone he could.

On the night of the first rehearsal last summer, Jefferson strode into the choir room, then took a step back.

Only a dozen people had shown up. And they were all white women.

"Uh oh," he thought. This is going to take awhile.

By January, Jefferson still had all whites singing before him, but at least there were two men standing with the women and some Catholics with the Lutherans.