I did not grow up Presbyterian, and I can’t identify as a ‘cradle’ or ‘prenatal’ Presbyterian, or any of the ways that
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On November 20, 2019, the Presbytery of Hudson River formally transferred the title of the former Stony Point Presbyterian church and associated property to the Sweetwater Cultural Center, a newly formed organization dedicated “to promote the education, health and welfare
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At the end of 2015, with South Africa’s summer and “festive season” in full swing, a real estate agent from Durban took to social media to complain about the crowded and unkempt state of a local beach. The commentator, a middle-aged white woman, expressed her dismay using highly insulting racist
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Racism, Belhar, and the Church in South Africa South Africa is a deeply wounded society. More than 340 years of racist colonial and apartheid rule impacted the black majority very negatively. During this period, people of colour were not allowed to live where they wanted. The white minority owned more
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Called to Ministry on the Upper Sioux Reservation Video used with permission from the Presbyterian Historical Society, part of the Living History film project. Fern Cloud shares her perspectives as a Native American Presbyterian Edited Transcript: My name is Fern Cloud. I was born in the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota reservation in
MoreI did not grow up Presbyterian, and I can’t identify as a ‘cradle’ or ‘prenatal’ Presbyterian, or any of the ways that I have heard born-and-bred Presbyterians describe themselves in order to firmly establish their Presbyterian street cred. No, as my longtime Presbyterian pastor once told my Committee on the Preparation
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“Color Me Part of the Human Family” Video used with permission from the Presbyterian Historical Society, part of the Living History film project. Bettie J. Durrah, church elder, shares her experiences as a leader of Presbyterian and women’s groups, including her work as a choreopoem author. Edited Transcript: I’m Bettie J.
MoreTaking a Stand for Racial Justice in the South Video used with permission from the Presbyterian Historical Society, part of the Living History film project. Vernon Broyles wrestled with leadership choices in a congregation fractured over racial tension in the mid-20th century. Edited Transcript: My name is Vernon S. Broyles, III.
MoreMusic, Black Presbyterians, and Civil Rights Video used with permission from the Presbyterian Historical Society, part of the Living History film project. Melva Costen, wife of former general assembly moderator James Costen, is a retired professor of music and worship. Here she discusses her family’s involvement in the Civil Rights movement,
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Dismantling White Privilege in Institutions of Theological Education I have grown weary of liberal racism. I have grown especially weary of Christian liberal racism. White supremacy is insidious. It enables, sheds tears, and delays to deny. This sin is so exhausting. Much time is wasted explaining, returning to the scene
MoreRacism kills. It dehumanizes us all, telling some of us we are less than human and rendering others of us incapable of having a decent conversation about it. It takes our best intentions and misshapes them beyond recognition; no matter what we do or what we mean to do, we
MoreA Theological Reflection Why can’t white folks in general – and white Christians in particular – be rid of the problems of white privilege and racism? Why can’t a board, a vestry, a session, or pastors and Christian Educators simply do the things necessary to solve the problem of ‘race
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