Category: RJT

Racial Justice is Something I Didn’t Sign Up For!

“Pastor, it’s a shame that we have school districts that have so many minorities.”

This was one of the most heartbreaking comments I’ve ever heard. I serve in Schuylkill County, which is at the last census 90.7% white in its population and 3.8% black, and also 3.3% Hispanic. Yes, I am aware that this adds up to 97.8, and the rest of that is designated as “other”. That comment that you read above? It came not from any parishioner I’ve had, but from someone who attended a funeral that I had led.

Racial Justice Work is God’s Work, Our Hands

“Why should I care about all this racial justice stuff?”

“The church should stick to spiritual matters, not get involved in politics!”

I sometimes hear these arguments. And I get it. There was a time when I didn’t see how my call to be a pastor included a call to work for justice. I thought these were two separate things – both good things, to be sure – but not necessarily related. Was I ever wrong!

Racial Justice Work

Where does one begin? That’s a great question! If you are asking, then you are already on the right track. When I first came to the realization that I needed to learn and understand more about my whiteness and the experience of black and brown people, I started with John Lewis’ Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change and Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy and Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give.