collectively, churches here exist in most respects for self-perpetuation.. preservation of social status quo.. many may operate food programs and the like.. but many congregants operates on the premise that their pastor must be given a certain opulence in lifestyle because of their position.. alternately, to keep pace with whites who go by the same practices.. a certain 'rigid separateness' between minister & members is maintained oftentimes in black church culture and often doesn't exist in certain mainline protestant white church groupings.. the custom of adults referring to the pastor/bishop exclusively as "pastor/bishop" instead of their real name, even in private and/or informal gatherings is one example..