Preaching Black Lives (Matter)

Gayle Fisher-Stewart

Description

A vital look at the role of preaching in the elimination of racism

An anthology that asks, “What does it mean to be church where Black lives matter?”

Prophetic imagination would have us see a future in which all Christians would be free of the soul-warping belief and practice of racism. This collection of reflections is an incisive look into that future today. It explains why preaching about race is important in the elimination of racism in the church and society, and how preaching has the ability to transform hearts. While programs, protests, conferences, and laws are all important and necessary, less frequently discussed is the role of the church, specifically the Anglican Church and Episcopal Church, in ending systems of injustice. The ability to preach from the pulpit is mandatory for every person, clergy or lay, regardless of race, who has the responsibility to spread the gospel.

For there’s a saying in the Black church, “If it isn’t preached from the pulpit, it isn’t important.”

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Preaching
• Christian Ministry
• Philosophie et théologie
• POC
• Race

Informations

• Publié par: Church Publishing Incorporated
• Date de parution: 17 juillet 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781640652576
• Langue: English

Extrait

Preaching Black Lives (Matter)
Preaching Black Lives (Matter)
EDITED BY GAYLE FISHER-STEWART
Copyright 2020 by Gayle Fisher-Stewart
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked The Message are taken from THE MESSAGE , copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NAB) are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Scripture quotations marked (ISV) are taken from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version . Copyright 1996-forever by The ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version , NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com . The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.
Church Publishing 19 East 34th Street New York, NY 10016 www.churchpublishing.org
Cover design by Paul Soupiset Typeset by Rose Design
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Fisher-Stewart, Gayle, editor.
Title: Preaching Black lives (matter) / edited by Gayle Fisher-Stewart.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020013561 (print) | LCCN 2020013562 (ebook) | ISBN 9781640652569 (paperback) | ISBN 9781640652576 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Preaching. | Racism--Religious aspects--Christianity--Sermons. | Race relations--Religious aspects--Christianity--Sermons. | Anglican Communion--Sermons. | Episcopal Church--Sermons.
Classification: LCC BV4235.S6 P74 2020 (print) | LCC BV4235.S6 (ebook) | DDC 241/.675--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020013561
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020013562
Contents
Beginning Words
Kwasi Thornell
Introduction to Preaching Black Lives (Matter)
Gayle Fisher-Stewart
PART I. Preaching Black Lives Matter
1. Introduction: Is There a Word from the Lord? Gayle Fisher-Stewart
2. Just a Few Thoughts (Questions, Really) on Race Paul Roberts Abernathy
3. Christmas: A Season of Peace? Nathan D. Baxter
4. Demons Tempie D. Beaman
5. Anniversary of the Arrival of the First Africans in British North America Walter Brownridge
6. Disturb Us, O Lord Marlene Eudora Forrest
7. Strategies of Resistance Wilda C. Gafney
8. Listening for Black Lives: A Sermon to Myself and My White Colleagues Peter Jarrett-Schell
9. The Pilgrimage Rebecca S. Myers
10. Which Is It? The Tower of Babel or the New Commandment? Kevin C. Pinckney
11. Samaritan Sunday Gene Robinson
12. What Does the Lord Require? Glenice Robinson-Como
13. The Wall of Whiteness Cara Rockhill
14. The Absent God Rob Stephens
R EFLECTION Q UESTIONS
PART II. Advocating for Black Lives
15. From the Trenches: Advocating for Black Lives (Matter) Gayle Fisher-Stewart
16. Activists and Churches Jennifer Amuzie
17. Our Duty to Preach #BlackLivesMatter Claudia Marion Allen
18. Why Are We So White? Being a Black Bishop in a Diocese That Wants to Dismantle Racism Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows
19. Real Presence and How it Makes Black Lives Matter (Black LGBTQ) Antonio J. Baxter
20. Leading as if Black Congregations Matter Mariann Edgar Budde
21. I m Searching Kevin Burdet
22. A Call for the Church to Embrace All, Unconditionally Nicole D.
23. Multicultural or Multiracial? Gayle Fisher-Stewart
24. Drinking the Kool-Aid Morgan G. Harding
25. From the Protest Line: Why Are You There? James C. Harrington
26. Following Jesus While Black Vincent Powell Harris
27. Preaching from the Margins F. Willis Johnson
28. Why Are You Throwing Yourself on This Fire? Mike Kinman
29. I Am a White Guy Steve Lawler
30. Church and Trauma Charles Michael Livingston Jr.
31. Between the Pews Monai Lowe
32. Welcoming or What? Sandra T. Montes
33. Acknowledging White Privilege Deniray Mueller
34. Books and Their Covers Jamie Samilio
35. From Blackface to Black Panther: The Impact of Pop Culture in the Black Lives Matter Movement Shayna J. Watson
36. Adventism and White Supremacy Alisa Williams
R EFLECTION Q UESTIONS
PART III. Teaching for Black Lives
37. Can I Be Black and Episcopalian? Gayle Fisher-Stewart
38. Transformative Theological Education When Race Matters: The Work Our Soul Must Do Kelly Brown Douglas
39. Travel for Black Lives Gayle Fisher-Stewart
Four Days in Alabama / Staci L. Burkey
A Reflection / Laura Evans
Reflections on Our Pilgrimage to Alabama / Ginny Klein
Reflecting / MaryBeth Ingram
Alabama / Judith Rhedin
Pilgrimage / Ruth McMeekin Skjerseth
A Journey / Carolyne Starek
40. The Pain of Racism Charles D. Fowler III
41. Black History Rebecca Steele
42. The Browning of Theological Education Frank A. Thomas
R EFLECTION Q UESTIONS
Contributors
Beginning Words
Kwasi Thornell
The Rev. Dr. Kwasi Thornell was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1972. He has always pushed the envelope of what it is to be Black and Episcopalian. We are called to remember our roots, remember our heritage, who God has created us to be, and bring all of that to the Episcopal Church. In his own words . . .
It was a beautiful day on that Saturday morning in Chicago in 1989. People had come from all over the country to St. James Episcopal Cathedral to celebrate the homegoing service for our sister Mattie Hopkins. The Rev. Ed Rodman would say that Mattie Hopkins was the Mother of the Union. She was there from the beginning of the Union of Black Episcopalians with her quiet and insightful leadership skills. As a member of Trinity Church, she was active in her church, the diocese, and on the national church level, always moving the church to be what it should be and a forceful advocate for the Episcopal members of a darker hue. She often could be seen sporting African clothing and wore a short Afro hairstyle before many of our sisters were ready to make this statement of beauty.
The funeral service was grand in its Episcopal liturgical style. In the procession were several bishops as well as many clergy and lay leaders from the progressive side of the church. The addition of hymns from Lift Every Voice and Sing , the Episcopal African American hymnal, gave the service that Black church feel that Mattie would have appreciated. The casket sat on a platform that was covered with a beautiful piece of Kente cloth: bright reds, yellows, and oranges that stood in stark contrast to the traditional heavy pall of gold and white brocade that covered the casket. A statement was being made, one way or another; we just were not sure what it was.
The preacher said all the right things about the witness of Mattie to church and society. A few amens could be heard bouncing around the stone columns of the cathedral. The service moved forward in perfect order and, as it was coming to a close, we joined in singing Lift Every Voice and Sing. During the singing of what many call the Black national anthem, I realized what was wrong with the symbolism of the casket sitting on the Kente cloth. Something had to be done. Richard Tolliver, Ed Rodman, Earl Neal, and Jesse Anderson Jr., all priests, were seated with me to the left of the altar. I said to them, Follow me, and, to my surprise, they all did. As we approached the casket, I said, Lift it up, and they did. I pulled the Kente cloth out from under the casket and, in an act that would make traditional altar guild members faint, we covered the Episcopal white and gold brocade pall with the royal African cloth that a queen of Africa deserved. It truly was an act of the Holy Spirit.
What does it mean to be Black in the Episcopal Church?
Introduction
Gayle Fisher-Stewart
We re still segregated in so many ways. . . . Every Sunday, I look out and, with one or two exceptions, I see all white faces. I bet most of the people in my church don t have any black friends. They know people who are of color, but because they don t associate with them, stereotypes and tensions can flourish.
-The Rev. Ray Howell 1
What is it to be Black and Christian; to be Black and Episcopalian; to be Black and a member of a White denomination? To be unapologetically Black and unashamedly Christian; those words greet you on the website of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois. Trinity is a Black church in a White denomination. It is a church that is proud of its roots in the Black religious experience. It is a church that claims its African heritage. It is a church that has clung to the values of the original Black churches in this country: a proud people, steeped in their belief in a Jesus who looks like them and knows their suffering; congregations involved in educating and uplifting their people. 2
To be unapologetically Black and unashamedly Christian, that is also the