Just outside of the town of Blacksburg, which is located about 40 miles southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina, sits a church with a unique rock exterior. It sits on a plot of land along Highway 5 across the street from its cemetery. There is perhaps no other church like it in the area, at least none that could match its solid-rock edifice that was built by Black men who left a permanent symbol in honor of God and their place of worship for future generations.
“Consider this a time when you’re able to just sit down and talk with a doctor about anything. We’re going to focus on the topic of holistic health in the African American community and why it’s so vitally important,” was the opening statement from Dr. Giavonne Rondo as she addressed participants of the second of three forums to be hosted by the African American Intercultural Congregational Support Ministry during Black History Month.
Wednesday’s online forum Race, Science and the Church uncovered some surprising facts, including this one: Eugenics, which had its heyday between 1880 and 1930 and may be returning in new forms today with genetic engineering techniques like CRISPR, received support from, among others, religious progressives.
“How Long, Not Long” is the popular name given to the speech delivered by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the steps of the Alabama state Capitol in Montgomery on March 25, 1965. King delivered this speech after the completion of the march from Selma to Montgomery. When asked how long it would take to see social justice, King replied, “How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
In the first of three forums in recognition of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s celebration of Black History Month, the Rev. Dr. Terrlyn L. Curry Avery, the pastor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Massachusetts, addressed the subject of service, sacrifice or self-care.
The extent to which being Black is a preexisting condition that can foster poorer health outcomes was the among the topics addressed during a webinar put on Tuesday by Union Presbyterian Seminary.
In celebration of Black History Month, the African American Intercultural Congregational Support Ministries will host the first of three forums to give participants an opportunity to go into an in-depth conversation around the topics of resistance, rest, recovery and reparations, which are the supporting pillars of the theme of the 2022 celebration, “Resiliency to Recovery.”
Recently, I attended an online conference titled, “Mental Health and Asian Americans: Context and Strategies for Faith Leaders” hosted by the Center for Asian American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary. I am still processing my emotions.
Since arriving in Houston from Ghana, Pastor Ebenezer Boateng has persevered through many ups and downs.
But finally, the new worshiping community he founded, the Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer, officially became a chartered congregation in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will be holding a special online worship service at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Feb. 9 to commemorate and honor Black History Month.
