The Nineteenth Street Baptist Church has named the Rev. Darryl Roberts as its new pastor. He has vowed to continue the legacy of a 177-year-old District congregation that seeks to remain at the vanguard of social change and justice.

Roberts, 41, who is succeeding the Rev. Derrick Harkins at the church on 16th Street NW, was previously senior pastor for five years at Mount Welcome Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga. He also was an assistant pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, whose pulpit was once occupied by Martin Luther King Jr.

Roberts received his doctor of philosophy degree in ethics from Emory University. He also earned a juris doctor degree from Boston College Law School and a master of divinity degree from the University of Chicago.

Roberts was interviewed by former Washington Post religion writer Hamil R. Harris. The transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Harris: How do you build a strong congregation that is vibrant and attractive to young families while preserving the legacy of a proud historic congregation?

Roberts: We are blessed that, for over 177 years, the members of Nineteenth Street have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to exalt Jesus Christ through excellence in Christ-centered worship, spirit-filled witness, and good works. [Civil rights pioneer and Baptist pastor] Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker once said that no two elements are more important to the black worship experience than preaching and music. While preaching/teaching must be multigenerational, music must be sensitive to the musical tastes of the entire congregation.

We are also working to strengthen programs that teach people how to live their best Christian life: classes on marriage, being single, financial stewardship, health education and spiritual purpose. All of this would occur to help make every member of Nineteenth Street a stronger witness for Christ in the world.

Another critical element to success moving forward is our ability to build upon our strong foundation of ministries that share God’s love with others on the local, national and global levels.

Harris: Your résumé states that you have been an advocate of marriage equality. Do you plan to reach out to gay families or speak on the issue of marriage equality?

Roberts: I have worked all of my life to advocate for those who have been denied civil and human rights, including African Americans, women, gays, etc. I fundamentally believe that God affirms and loves all persons because all that God has made is good. None of us is to do or say anything that makes others feel unloved or less than as children of God. It is because of those fearless advocates of marriage equality that the law of the land supports the right to marry as same-sex couples as a fundamental right protected by both the due process clause and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. I fully support our congregation’s position not to perform same-sex marriages. However, we have been and will continue to be a church that welcomes all people, regardless of sexual orientation, to join and serve our church.

Harris: Where is the African American church today in terms of urban areas that continue to gentrify? Is it time to make a push to integrate and if not, why not?

Roberts: We have a multiethnic, multinational, multigenerational and economically diverse membership. I don’t think it is incumbent upon any church to change its identity just because the demographics of the immediate community change. However, the church must always be a place that seeks to respond to the needs of the community writ large in fulfillment of Acts 1:8, which is why we are looking for opportunities to serve the broader D.C. community and beyond. We welcome anyone, including members of the surrounding and broader community, to participate in the life of our church.

Harris: In years past, the Rev. Jerry Moore Jr. and Dr. Derrick Harkins invited Republicans and Democrats to this church. Will you invite President Trump?

Roberts: We are delighted to host the president of the United States, senators, congressional leaders as well as state and local politicians. We have been blessed to host President Barack Obama on several occasions, as well as President George H.W. Bush. We have also hosted members of the executive Cabinet, ambassadors and leaders of other countries. These visits were, in large part, due to our church’s distinguished history as D.C.’s oldest black Baptist church, as well as our legacy of prophetic pastoral leaders like Rev. Walter Brooks, Rev. Jerry Moore Jr., and Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins who understood the call to serve in this pulpit as a call to serve in public pulpits throughout this community, nation and world.

We have already begun the process of reaching out to the current administration.

Harris: One of the church’s greatest challenges is how to continue to be relevant and responsive to the needs of young people.

Roberts: To get young adults in the church we have learned that we must specifically appeal to them. We make clear through our worship, our ministries, our budget and our internal and external communication that we welcome young people. Youth are interested in age-specific responses to their needs. They are at a stage in life where they are addressing identity questions, employment issues, sex and sexuality, school, career planning and purpose. I work with our youth pastor, youth leadership team and lay leaders to design ministries and programs that meet their specific needs while supporting spiritual development of young people.

Although youth are drawn to certain worship styles — those that are lively and spirit-filled — they are even more concerned with being affirmed, ministered to and receiving opportunities to participate in ministries that allow them to feel useful.