Note: many of the articles linked to this article contain profanity, slurs, and triggers. In 1915, my grandfather was driven from his homeland and sentenced to die at the age of six. His crime was being born an Armenian in Turkey. American Ambassador Henry Morganthau, Sr. asked Talaat Pasha, lead architect of the Armenian Genocide,… Read More
Friday Prayer: Lamenting and Confessing
This week I was fortunate to be present for the A.C.T. Now! Anti-Racism Rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC. This prayer was born from my experience. When we do not see in one another the Imago Dei, we “other” them. May all who are Called be change agents for reconciliation and peace. Oh… Read More
The Pastoral Is Political: White Folk, Are We Brave Enough?
White Folk, Are We Brave Enough?* Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12: 25, NRSV) Jesus is a strong (and long) talker in John’s gospel. John takes this saying that is found in similar forms across all four… Read More
Wednesday Prayer: For the state of our dis-union
Loving God, For the state of our dis-union in this nation caused by white supremacy, patriarchy, racism, and homophobia – forgive us and move us towards healing. For the state of our dis-union in this world caused by greed, hubris, xenophobia, and anthropocentrism – forgive us and move us towards healing. For the state of… Read More
RevGalBookPals: Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race
A U.S.- based organization with a substantial worldwide audience cannot only focus on the issues of the United States. In truth, we might be well-served by looking toward more than one book reviewer, so as to broaden the base of what gets recommended beyond the publishing areas of the U.S. The gift of electronic publishing… Read More
RevGalBookPals: The Hate U Give
This is the book: The Hate U Give. The picture is linked. You can buy the book today. You can be finished with it by Saturday. At the latest. And when you’re finished, you will have read a powerful first-person fictional narrative about a 16-year-old named Starr who is in the car when a police officer… Read More
RevGals Anti-Racism Project: Waking Up White, Week 8
“Do I remain a bystander and stay silent? Or do I become an ally and ask the hard questions about how this might affect the range of people in our community or organization? Do I dare ask explicitly if it will further advantage white people while simultaneously disadvantaging people of color? Do I dare suggest that… Read More
RevGals Anti-Racism Project: Waking Up White, Week 5
Where were all the black moms and children? Three blocks from my house sat Rindge Towers, three enormous subsidized apartment buildings full of families of color. Why weren’t we going to the same playground? Were they, like the First Night boy, uncomfortable around crowds of white people? Were my friends off-putting to them? Was I?… Read More
RevGals Anti-Racism Project: Waking Up White, week 4
“People were good. My family was good. I was good, right?” Here we have the crux of the problem that white people have with racism. We have been taught that racism is bad…but we are not bad people, and the people we know are not bad people, so therefore we cannot be racist. In chapter… Read More
RevGal Anti-Racism Project: Waking Up White, Week 2
This week covers “Midlife Wake-Up Calls”, chapters 6-11 (approx. 40 pages). How do you feel about pain? Let’s assume that, in general, you don’t like pain. Which bothers you more- the idea of you being in pain or the idea of someone else being in pain? Do you have additional questions, perhaps is the person… Read More
