History of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
Dr. E. C. Estell, Sr, the newly called pastor of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church Dallas in the year of 1936 was the founder and first President of the Interdenominational Ministers Alliance in Dallas. Dr. E. C. Estell, also guided its development “in several Texas cities to further black unity and support for the state wide Negro organizations.” President Estell worked to promote a peaceful civil rights movement and exerted a calming influence. The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Dallas or I.M.A. as it called was an organization that was comprise to promote unity among all ministerial denominations. Dr. Estell remained president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Dallas until his death in 1964.
Succeeded by the Dr. S.M. Wright, Sr., Pastor of the People Missionary Baptist Church was the second President. Under his tenure Dr. Wright guided the IMA to address social and political issues as well as urban race riots spread throughout America’s metropolitan centers in the mid-to-late 1960s, President Wright was committed to keeping Dallas from joining the list of cities to experience a full-scale civil disturbance. Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in April 1968, Wright and other IMA leaders hosted a special tribute service at the People’s Missionary Baptist Church. In addition to honoring the fallen civil rights leader, Wright and other speakers, such as Dr. C. A. W. Clark, reminded their audience repeatedly that Dr. King’s mantra was always one of non-violence and that destructive urban riots did not comport with his message of peace. President Wright remained steadfastly committed to tranquility within Dallas’s black community, as well as building consensus in an effort to bridge Dallas’s racial divide. Excerpt from The Dallas Morning News praised Wright and the Interdenominational Ministers’ Alliance, saying, “Mr. Wright and the other members of the IMA have once again demonstrated the high caliber of constructive leadership that has benefited the entire Dallas community.”
Under Dr. Wright’s Presidency the IMA continued to lead out in various areas becoming the voice of the black church. In 1995 following the death of President Wright, Dr. Stephen C. Nash, Sr., pastor of the Mt. Tabor Baptist Church was named as the new President of the IMA. Dr. Nash would go on to build on the foundation created by his two predecessors. Dr. Nash implemented the program called PAC-LOC (Pastor’s And Churches Leading Our Communities). It concentrates on political, economic, social and youth activities. In 2018, Dr. Nash retired and Dr. David E. Wilson, pastor of Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church, was elected as its fourth President. Dr. Wilson previously served for 20 years as Vice President under the leadership of President Nash. Dr. Wilson continues to lead the IMA in being a voice and active body in promoting the work of its founding fathers. During his first months of office, Dr. Wilson organized a statewide effort to get voters out in the 2019 Texas State Senate race which resulted in record voting numbers in the black community. The IMA hosts three major yearly events: Martin Luther King Observance Celebration, IMA Human Relations Banquet and Good Friday Service. Through banquet fundraising efforts, the IMA is able to sponsor scholarships for deserving young high school students each year.
The IMA is a major political influence in the Dallas Area. The 400 member organization continues to serve as the “Political Arm of the African American religious community in Dallas”. It continues to stand against injustice for the weaker being. In its eighty-four (84) year history it has continued to be a strong alliance that works with Pastors and Leaders throughout the Dallas Community and Vicinity.