 |
| Dr. John Perkins and the author |
There are some battles that
must be fought continuously. We often succumb
to the idea that once certain victories are won, an issue is settled. More than once, I have heard people say, “We
have dealt with the idea of women being pastors; let’s move on.” This is far from true as churches that seek
to exercise their autonomy, deciding that the best qualified person to be their
pastor is a woman, are disfellowshipped from the larger community of faith.
This is true of racism as
well. We have come a long way to be
sure. The sports heroes of one of my
grandsons are African Americans like Odell Beckham, Jr., of the New York Giants;
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors; and Olympian Jesse Owens. My
children and grandchildren don’t see race as a barrier, but racism is embedded
in our society. White supremacy is
resurgent, white privilege is an uncomfortable fact, and institutional racism
is a reality.
I recently attended the Urban
Missional Institute Symposium at Central Seminary in Shawnee, Kansas. The two speakers represented both the success
of past efforts in achieving civil rights but also the unfinished task of overcoming
racism.
Dr. John Perkins, civil
rights activist and author of Let Justice Roll Down, is a hero of the movement
of the 50s and 60s. He has invested his
life in seeking racial justice, rooting his efforts in the Christian faith and
using legal and economic means to further the cause. At 87, he realizes that the struggle goes
on.
We are not where we need to
be. His is still a powerful voice for
justice.
 |
| Dr. Drew G. I. Hart |
Dr. Drew G. I. Hart,
professor of religion at Messiah College, a social activist, and author of Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism, brought the
insight of a younger generation to the conversation, emphasizing the need to
change perspectives and values that sustain white privilege and institutional
racism. His keen and clear insights
challenge the status quo.
Complacency threatens the
successes of the past. An older generation tires of the struggle and must renew
its focus. A new generation awakens to
realize that the fight goes on and becomes more engaged. We cannot rest on our laurels but must address
the challenges that continue to emerge.
I
Comments