Preaching Black Lives (Matter)

by Gayle Fisher-Stewart (Editor), Paul Roberts Abernathy (Contribution by), Claudia M. Allen (Contribution by), Jennifer Amuzie (Contribution by), Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows (Contribution by)

Overview

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.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640652569
Publisher:	Church Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	07/17/2020
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

GAYLE FISHER-STEWART, editor of Preaching Black Lives (Matter) serves currently as the interim rector at the historically Black, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC. Prior to becoming ordained, she served with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC, and later taught at the university level while consulting with local and federal government agencies. She lives in Maryland.

Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows is the first black woman to be elected a diocesan bishop in the Episcopal Church. She lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.

MARIANN EDGAR BUDDE is the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and serves as president of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation. Prior to this, she served as rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. She earned her masters in divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Virginia Theological Seminary. The author of Gathering the Fragments: Preaching as Spiritual Practice, her sermons have been published in books and journals.

Kelly Brown Douglas is an Episcopal priest and graduate (Master of Divinity degree, doctoral degree) of Union Theological Seminary in New York City where she is now inaugural Dean of Episcopal Divinity School at Union Seminary. She is the Canon Theologian at Washington National Cathedral. She lives in New York City.

WILDA C. GAFNEY (WIL) is a Hebrew biblical scholar and Episcopal priest, a former Army chaplain, and congregational pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. She is a graduate of Duke University(PhD) and Howard University(M Div). In addition to her biblical scholarship, she has written for Sojourners, Huffington Post, Feasting on the Word, and Working Preacher. She is also an editor and essayist and author of several other books and teaches at Brite Divinity School. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

SANDRA T. MONTES has a doctorate in education and has taught in public schools for more than twenty years. Involved in multicultural or multilingual churches since childhood, she knows that congregations or groups who utilize REAL relationships will be successful and grow. She lives in Sugar Land, Texas.

Gene Robinson was the ninth bishop (2003-2013) of the Diocese of New Hampshire in The Episcopal Church. A graduate of the University of the South, Sewanee, he served as parish priest, retreat center director, and Canon to the Ordinary before his election to the episcopate. Since his retirement, he has continued an active speaking and writing schedule and serves as Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC.

Table of Contents

Beginning Words Kwasi Thornell ix

Introduction to Preaching Black Lives (Matter) Gayle Fisher-Stewart xi

Part I Preaching Black Lives Matter 1

1 Introduction: Is There a Word from the Lord? Gayle Fisher-Stewart 3

2 Just a Few Thoughts (Questions, Really) on Race Paul Roberts Abernathy 18

3 Christmas: A Season of Peace? Nathan D. Baxter 20

4 Demons Tempie D. Beaman 23

5 Anniversary of the Arrival of the First Africans in British North America Walter Brownridge 26

6 Disturb Us, O Lord Marlene Eudora Forrest 31

7 Strategies of Resistance Wilda C. Gafney 36

8 Listening for Black Lives: A Sermon to Myself and My White Colleagues Peter Jarrett-Schell 40

9 The Pilgrimage Rebecca S. Myers 50

10 Which Is It? The Tower of Babel or the New Commandment? Kevin C. Pinckney 54

11 Samaritan Sunday Gene Robinson 59

12 What Does the Lord Require? Glenice Robinson-Como 63

13 The Wall of Whiteness Cora Rockhill 66

14 The Absent God Rob Stephens 69

Reflection Questions 74

Part II Advocating for Black Lives 75

15 From the Trenches: Advocating for Black Lives (Matter) Gayle Fisher-Stewart 77

16 Activists and Churches Jennifer Amuzie 88

17 Our Duty to Preach #BlackLivesMatter Claudia Marion Allen 90

18 Why Are We So White? Being a Black Bishop in a Diocese That Wants to Dismantle Racism Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows 103

19 Real Presence and How it Makes Black Lives Matter (Black LGBTQ) Antonio J. Baxter 107

20 Leading as if Black Congregations Matter Mariann Edgar Budde 115

21 I'm Searching Kevin Burdet 119

22 A Call for the Church to Embrace All, Unconditionally Nicole D 123

23 Multicultural or Multiracial? Cayle Fisher-Stewart 127

24 Drinking the Kool-Aid Morgan G. Harding 130

25 From the Protest Line: Why Are You There? James C. Harrington 133

26 Following Jesus While Black Vincent Powell Harris 142

27 Preaching from the Margins F. Willis Johnson 150

28 Why Are You Throwing Yourself on This Fire? Mike Kinman 153

29 I Am a White Guy Steve Lawler 164

30 Church and Trauma Charles Michael Livingston Jr. 167

31 Between the Pews Monai Lowe 169

32 Welcoming or What? Sandra T. Montes 172

33 Acknowledging White Privilege Deniray Mueller 176

34 Books and Their Covers Jamie Samillo 180

35 From Blackface to Black Panther: The Impact of Pop Culture in the Black Lives Matter Movement Shayna J. Watson 188

36 Adventism and White Supremacy Alissa Williams 191

Reflection Questions 194

Part III Teaching for Black Lives 195

37 Can I Be Black and Episcopalian? Gayle Fisher-Stewart 197

38 Transformative Theological Education When Race Matters: The Work Our Soul Must Do Kelly Brown Douglas 233

38 Travel for Black Lives Gayle Fisher-Stewart 240

Four Days in Alabama Staci L. Burkey 240

A Reflection Laura Evans 244

Reflections on Our Pilgrimage to Alabama Ginny Klein 245

Reflecting MaryBeth Ingram 245

Alabama Judith Rhedin 247

Pilgrimage Ruth McMeekin Skjerseth 248

A Journey Carolyne Starek 249

40 The Pain of Racism Charles D. Fowler III 256

41 Black History Rebecca Steele 275

42 The Browning of Theological Education Frank A. Thomas 278

Reflection Questions 280

Contributors 281