February 1, 2024

 Today, February 1st, begins Black History Month. It is a time to reflect on the story of African Americans in this country and our many and rich contributions to this country. In the context of the Church and as a Christian, I also believe it is important to reflect on God’s participation and role in our history.

Our history is, simply put, a miraculous one, marked by struggle, resilience and triumph born and sustained by our faith in God. From the horrors of slavery to this day, we have faced immense emotional, spiritual, and physical challenges to our very lives. The plantation owners shared with our ancestors a Jesus who promised ‘pie in the sky in the sweet by and by.’ Yet our ancestors received an Epiphany of God revealing Jesus not as Enslaver, but Liberator. Our history has some resonation with Joseph, a former slave in Egypt who testified to his brothers that “even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as God is doing today (Genesis 50:20).” Despite the persistent evils of racism, discrimination, and white supremacy, the always good intentioned God has preserved, and is, preserving our people.

I also believe that Black History Month also provides an opportunity to reflect on the ways the Church has both supported and hindered the progress of racial equality. While some churches have been at the forefront of the movement, others have, and still, perpetuate racial injustice with their silence and denial. It is important for us as the Church, including the United Church of Christ, to acknowledge the ways in our history we have failed to live out our calling and repent, changing course in heart, direction, and action, so that we can bring forth God’s reign of love, peace, and justice for African Americans and for all people. Thanks to the witness of God of our ancestors, substantial progress has been made. But the continuing legislative assault of voting rights, the real and present threat of environmental injustice, police brutality, and health, education, and economic disparities call for the Church to actively work for dismantling systems of oppression and bring forth the reign of God that is nothing less than our people, and all people, living as beloved community with all rights and privileges thereto.

This day is also an important day in my personal history. Five years ago, today I began serving the Central Atlantic Conference as Conference Minister, the first African American and member of the LGBTQ+ communities to be called to this settled position in the United Church of Christ. I am deeply grateful, and continue to be humbled by your love, faith and trust in me. I also know, fully and unequivocally, that there is no way I would be serving here except for the faith and courage of my ancestors, famous and not, whose witness of God inspired and nurtured my witness of God. My history, and the history of African Americans this and every month, is a testimony to a remarkable people serving a remarkable God. It is also a reminder that yours truly, and all of us, must do our part, in our time, to bring forth a world where racial equality is a reality. Yet bottom line, I am convinced that the grace of God has brought us safe this far. And I am further convinced, as famously sung by Aretha Franklin, ’that same grace’ will lead us home.

Till victory is won,