Ahead of a Thursday afternoon “Power and Privilege” report delivered by consultant Marian Vasser, the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board broke into two virtual groups — board members of color and white board members — to discuss in closed session ways the Board might better serve people of color as it does its work overseeing and supporting the mission agency.
Dr. Michael W. Waters, the author of Flyaway Books’ “For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World,” talked Wednesday about the inspiration for his character Jeremiah, who asks his fictional father pointed questions about systemic racism and gun violence throughout the new book.
During the holidays, so many of us can suffer for all kinds of reasons. The magnitude of our weary world weighs on our hearts and minds. We wrestle with chronic pain, broken relationships, shattered dreams, fragile faith, and unexpected losses. Our grief and sorrow feel particularly acute when compared to the festivity and joy everyone else seems to be feeling. More and more churches are acknowledging this fact with “Blue Christmas” services (also called “Longest Night” services) and offering resources to give particular support and comfort to those struggling during the “most wonderful time of the year.”
The Muhammad Ali Center and Flyaway Books will co-host “Believing in a Better World: Talking with Children about Race and Racial Violence” from 7-8:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 23. The free, virtual event will celebrate the release of “For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World,” a timely picture book by author Michael W. Waters and illustrator Keisha Morris that tells the story of a boy named Jeremiah and his family who discover hopeful forms of activism and advocacy in response to racism and gun violence in their community. The picture book includes a discussion and activity guide (available here) created by the Muhammad Ali Center that adults can use with children to further discuss racism, gun violence and social change.
For too long the women of the Bible have been depicted in one-dimensional terms. On one side are saints, such as Mary, while on the other are “bad girls,” such as Eve and Jezebel. Just as often, the female characters of the Bible are simply ignored.
In 2014, the Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape study revealed that nearly 8% of the U.S. population comprised adults who had been raised evangelical but had either switched to another religious tradition or no longer identified with any religious tradition at all, roughly 25 million Americans. White evangelicalism, in particular, has seen many leave the faith in droves, especially after white evangelical support of Donald Trump coalesced during the 2016 election. Many of those who have left have branded themselves #exvangelicals, exvangelicals, or post-evangelicals. How should these post-evangelicals move forward? Many wonder if they should leave Christianity and Jesus altogether.
So many white people — good intentioned, Christian white people — believe that they live outside of racism or do not see the racist system at all. In doing so, they remain complicit in it. In order to break free and to find justice for our Black siblings in Christ, white Christians must wrestle with their white identity to find their anti-racist selves beneath.
Flyaway Books, the sister imprint of Westminster John Knox Press, is expanding its religious offerings for young children with the release of its newest board book, “Dedication Promises,” by Carol A. Wehrheim and illustrator Roz Fulcher.
The pandemic has ushered in a time of bewilderment but also a golden opportunity, according to the Rev. Dr. Paul H. Lang, author of “The Pilgrim’s Compass: Finding and Following the God We Seek.”
