A Note from Dr. Dennis R. Edwards, Dean of the Seminary
I recently had two opportunities during this Black History Month to speak about race and power in Christian contexts. The first was on Feb 14 at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL, where I addressed a group of faculty and staff who voluntarily participate in a group called Mosaic. The second message was at the Faith & Race Conference at Radiant Covenant Church near Seattle on Feb 17. The first gathering was pleasant, although almost all the questions at the end came from African Americans. The only white person who asked a question is someone I know personally. But I still think the session was meaningful in some way. By way of contrast, the Faith & Race gathering was energizing, stimulating, and offered opportunities to think about and discuss the realities of our racialized society from a Christian perspective. While I was honored to be part of both events, I couldn’t help but to experience some mixed emotions. On the one hand, I am thrilled that this OG still gets invited to speak and I haven’t yet been totally kicked to the curb. But on the other hand, some of the things we discussed were topics that came up nearly 40 years ago when I was a young preacher invited to engage in evangelical settings. I couldn’t help but to wonder why Christians continue to struggle when it comes to embracing an anti-racist way of life.
But, when I stop and reflect, I realize that I should not be surprised that the same questions, concerns, conflicts, and potential strategies come up today as they did decades ago. After all, our early Christian forbears needed to consistently grapple with the reality of evil in all sorts of arenas: exploitative power, sexual behaviors, lust for money, pride, and a host of other issues. In fact, it is a good sign that Christians are still working through issues of race and have not given up on the quest to be the united people of God that we can be.
Let me encourage all of us to keep pursuing God’s justice in all arenas, keeping in mind the apostle Paul’s admonition to the Galatians: “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith” (Gal 6:9-10). Black History Month invites us to celebrate the rich heritage of African Americans and to lament the oppression we faced. And it is also an opportunity to be inspired to press on in faith and love for what beloved community can mean in our day. God bless you.