‘The Holy Spirit reminds us that something needs our attention’ Ross-Allam says during the most recent ‘Leading Theologically’ broadcast
December 31, 2023
The Rev. Jermaine Ross-Allam (photo by Rich Copley)
In a recent conversation with the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty, senior director for Theological Education Funds Development with the Presbyterian Foundation, the Rev. Anthony Jermaine Ross-Allam shared his wisdom and thoughtfulness over the work he is doing on behalf of the Presbyterian Mission Agency as the director for the Center for the Repair of Historic Harms. The title of their half-hour “Leading Theologically” talk was “Waking up to What God Gave You.” It can be viewed here.
Ross-Allam told Hinson-Hasty he believes that the work of justice is about entering into the right relationships to provide more opportunities for people to discover what is beautiful about themselves. He believes that despite centuries and layers of denial, the things that we pretend can’t be solved can be if we lean into the truth. Ross-Allam credits the leadership and mentorship of the co-pastors of Liberty Community Church in North Minneapolis, the Revs. Drs. Alika and Ralph Galloway. The church they serve was formerly known as Kwanzaa Community Church.
One of the many lessons Ross-Allam shared is that “when God taps you on the shoulder and puts something on your heart, don’t be content to explain it away or to spiritualize it as just one more piece of data that you know about the past, that you need to represent some kind of guilt or shame over or that you have to acknowledge.”
That insight came amid research he was doing on Queen Mother Audley Moore, the African American civil and human rights leader. Moore complained to the woman interviewing her, Dr. Cheryl Townsend Gilkes, that African American men “with decent educations weren’t using their intelligence to help the community get reparations,” Ross-Allam said. “I wasn’t trying to have an intimate moment with the ancestors or the Creator, but it was in that moment I could hear simultaneously that she might as well have been speaking to me. There was an opportunity in that moment for me to do some of the work that was not finished when Queen Audley Moore passed away [in 1997].”
The Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty
As for possible next steps people can take, Ross-Allam said, “If there’s guilt and there’s shame, then deal with it. And if there’s acknowledgments to be made, then make the acknowledgments. But don’t make the presumption that God is not trying to inspire you to make something a part of the work that you do with other people within the context of the assumption that it can get done.”
“My favorite thing,” he told Hinson-Hasty, “is to get an email or a phone call from a congregation eager to engage in this work.”
Ross-Allam’s posture sending prayer proved to be yet another invitation of hopefulness: “Gracious God, we thank you so much for creating us with the capacity to receive from you all of the love and the grace and the creativity that is flowing out from you, and in your infinite goodness and in your infinite love, and in your infinite wisdom. We pray that we will have the creativity and the courage and the compassion and the energy to make this world a place that shows the evidence of your reality everywhere that we go, in our lifetimes and beyond. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.”
The Rev. Anthony Jermaine Ross-Allam will be leading a workshop on reparations at the Matthew 25 Summit in Atlanta Jan. 16–18, 2024. Learn more and register here.
Watch upcoming and past editions of “Leading Theologically” here.
Shani E. McIlwain, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, December 31, 2023, the First Sunday after Christmas (Year B)
Today’s Focus: Rev. Anthony Jermaine Ross-Allam is a guest on ‘Leading Theologically’ podcast
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Mienda Uriarte, Mission Director, World Mission, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Tina Valdes, Customer Service Representative, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
Let us pray
God, you go with us and sustain us. Thank you for those with a strong faith who seek your will in their lives. Bless them and the stories they have to tell. Encourage, comfort and make your presence known to all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.