Church Center concludes Black History Month series with call to engage one another
Episcopal News Service. February 27, 2008 [022708-02]
Daphne Mack
The celebration of Black History Month drew to a close at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City on February 26 with the Rev. Canon Benjamin Musoke-Lubega, program officer for Anglican Partnerships at Trinity Church Wall Street, New York City, delivering a lecture titled "Let Justice Roll down like Waters."
Referencing Amos 5:24 he said, "As Christians, we cannot live in silos."
"We need to engage one another," said Musoke-Lubega. "It is then that we begin to see the pain and experiences of others."
In collaboration with the Office of the Presiding Bishop and Human Resource Management, the Office of Black Ministries invited black clergy and laity to the Church Center every Tuesday during the month of February to officiate at the daily Eucharist service in the Chapel of Christ the Lord and lead an evening lecture series in observance of Black History Month. Celebrants included: the Rev. Allister Rawlins, rector, St. George's Episcopal Church in Hempstead, New York; the Rev. Jayne Oasin, social justice officer, Office of Peace and Justice Ministries; and the Rev. Darryl James, rector, Grace Episcopal Church, Jamaica, New York.
"The observance of Black History Month is important in the ongoing work of sharing this history to continue to educate society about the attributes, and contributions of African Americans," said the Rev. Angela S. Ifill, missioner of the Office of Black Ministries.
Describing similarities of areas in South Africa where to some extent "apartheid is still alive and well" and the plight of the urban and rural poor in the U.S., Musoke-Lubega said all must work to "erase the barriers from around us" in order to achieve social justice.
Musoke-Lubega, who prior to joining Trinity was partnership officer for Africa at the Church Center, said the Black History Month gathering was important because it raises awareness about the struggles of black people in this country and in the church.
Hard work of love
The Rev. Sandye Wilson's lecture on February 19, "What will history say about us; African Americans in this new century," drew on the observance of the Feast of Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, the "Hallmark inspired holiday" Valentine's Day and recent news reports of a school shooting and hate crime committed against a middle school student.
The story of Jones, Allen and other black members of St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania walking out during a Sunday service when ushers attempted to move them and other black members upstairs, Wilson said represented the "hard work of love."
"It's a love that is so much deeper and requires so much more than the Hallmark gifts of hearts, candy, flowers and cards," she explained. "It showed their love of people, God, pride and a love that cast out any fear of what degradation and prejudice could do to them."
Wilson, rector of St. Andrew and Holy Communion Church in South Orange, New Jersey also spoke about the call to transformation and change to do the work of love.
"We need to stand up, show up and speak up for the disenfranchised," she said. "We need to pay attention to trends around us especially ones that oppress and see the ways that we are actively engaged in the oppression of others."
She stated our call is to recognize that "we are, because others are."
"We are people through other people and the only way that we are going to come into the kingdom is arm and arm together," said Wilson.
Jane R. Cosby, president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, lectured on February 12 on "To be or Not to be -- A Black Episcopalian."
In her presentation, she spoke about beliefs, and the history of black people in the church coupled with their struggles. Cosby, who served on the Joint Committee to Nominate the Next Presiding Bishop, also spoke about the factors that allow people of color to remain in the church and what makes it easy for them to leave.
"It is white Episcopalians who grant full inclusion and it has not happened yet," she said. "While I think it's wonderful that this series is happening in the month of February, what I'm willing to work for is to have full inclusion all the time, everywhere."
The Rev. Petero Sabune, chaplain at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York, served as both celebrant and lecturer on February 5. In his lecture, titled "Forgive Us or Forgive Them (The first is from the Lord's Prayer and the second is from the cross)," he referred to Black History Month as a season of forgiveness and drew the connection between the Lord's Prayer and Jesus' words from the cross.
Sabune said: "We are all people of faith" and that "if hatred is learned, it can be unlearned."
"Historical forgiveness lies in the seed of redemption" he stated, and asked those in attendance "what are you going to do from here on?"