On July 31, 1966, the National Committee of Negro Churchmen issued a statement that attempted to reconcile the notion of black power with the mission of Christianity. Many Christians, including a significant portion of black Christians, linked the idea of black power with hate, violence, and separatism. The committee stated:

"We regard as sheer hypocrisy or as a blind and dangerous illusion the view that [love and power are opposites]. Love should be a controlling element in power, not power itself. So long as white churchmen continue to moralize and misinterpret Christian love, so long will justice continue to be subverted in this land."