“Black, brown, black, brown, black, brown.” That’s how the Rev. Will Brawner instructed the youth at the Black and Brown Youth Retreat, April 1-3, to sit in chairs encircling Gretna Glen Camp & Retreat Center’s largest meeting room. He mixed …
Letter of Support for Emmanuel UMC
I pray everyone is well and that God has been keeping you in spite of the continued challenging times we find ourselves in. Attached please find a letter of support in response to the recent events at Emmanuel UMC. As Emmanuel …
2022 BMCR Philadelphia Caucus membership application
Attached is the 2022 BMCR Philadelphia Caucus membership application. Our 1st meeting of the year is set for February 25th at 6pm and the zoom information is below. We are looking forward to seeing you and engaging in ministry and …
Phila. church hopes good overcomes evil after hate mail and burglary
Literally adding insult to injury, Emmanuel UMC in Philadelphia, a historic African American church, received a hateful, insulting message scrawled on notepaper this week, less than a month after the church was broken into…
Preserving Black church history
Consider an African proverb: “If the lion does not tell its story, the hunter will always be the hero.” “Persons who are depressed and oppressed have a tendency not to tell their story,” said retired Bishop Forrest Stith, who played …
Inspiration, expertise for Black churches
When the leaders of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century declare that ministry going forward needs to be done from the “right side,” they’re not referring to politics. The full, mildly irreverent title of SBC21’s Dec. 1-2 conference in Houston is “Shift Happens: …
Juneteenth and July 4th: A tale of two Independence Days
At a time when America’s freedom is endangered by efforts to restrict or even thwart voting rights for all, it may be timely for us to have two holidays to celebrate our nation’s freedom and independence—both actual and aspirational. July …
Juneteenth now a federal holiday
Church leads Chester celebration
The U.S. Congress this week approved a bill to make June 19 a national holiday to celebrate Juneteenth National Independence Day. Although arguably misnamed, the bill, which celebrates national freedom not independence, was signed into law by President Joe Biden today, June 17.
Living into our Calling for Reparations
On the Tulsa Race Massacre and the theological calling for reparations for African Americans Last week we observed 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst events of anti-Black terror and violence in U.S. history which devastated …
United Methodists react to Chauvin verdict
Bishop Peggy Johnson joined other UMs across the connection in responding to a jury’s guilty verdict –three counts of murder and manslaughter–given April 20 to former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for killing George Floyd. Learn more…