"The 78th General Convention of our Church did a remarkable thing: the General Convention invited us as a church to take up this Jesus Movement. We made a commitment to live into being the Jesus Movement by committing to evangelism and the work of reconciliation — beginning with racial reconciliation … across the borders and boundaries that divide the human family of God. This is difficult work. But we can do it. It’s about listening and sharing. It’s about God.” — Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry

Covenant for Reckoning with White Supremacy as a House of Bishops and as a Church

 

Racial Healing Commission

The Rev. Jan Sholtz, St. Matthew’s - Co-chair

The Rev. Karl Ruttan, Urban Partnership, Co-chair

Jesse Hendrix-Inman, Church of the Advent

Nelson Jackson, Church of the Advent

David Lee, Christ Church Bowling Green

The Rev. Canon Jason Lewis, Bishop’s Liaison

Ron Parris, St. George’s

Peggy Woolley, St. Matthew’s

The Rev. Clint Wilson, St. Francis in the Fields

Here are a few definitions that our commission would like to share with you. They come from this resource. 

2024 Pilgrimage to Montgomery & Selma

September 25th-28th 

Registration for this event closed Friday, August 30th. 

The Racial Healing Commission is hosting a pilgrimage for September 25-28, 2024. Members from throughout the Diocese of Kentucky will meet in Montgomery, AL and the surrounding region, for a two day journey as we visit the 3 Legacy sites created by the Equal Justice Initiative: The Legacy Museum, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the newly opened - The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. A local guide and historian will lead us as we visit Hayneville (Jonathan Myrick Daniels Memorial) and Selma (Edmund Pettus Bridge). We will gather together at St. John's Episcopal Church for discussion and prayer.  

James Craik and GC81

Renouncing the Theology of Slavery held by the Rev. James Craik, 11th PHoD and Rector of Christ Church, Louisville

Slavery in the South: What is our Present Duty to the Slaves? by James Craik 

Sacred Ground 

The Sacred Ground series is part of the Becoming Beloved Community initiative of The Episcopal Church, a long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. Built around powerful documentary films and readings, it brings participants’ attention to various key chapters in U.S. history of race and racism, as well some of the latest thinking by scholars and practitioners of racial healing, racial equity, and whiteness. During the 11 sessions, while exploring these resources and sharing stories from family and personal histories, participants experience a powerful spiritual journey of discovery and empowerment.

Sacred Ground Dialogue Circles

St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Louisville will be hosting two circles starting in February, 2023. One will be on zoom and one will be in-person. Zoom will be every other Wednesday from 3:00-5:00 pm ET starting on Wednesday, February 15th. In-person, at St. Matthews, will be every other Monday from 10:00am to 12:00pm ET starting Monday, February 20th. Registration deadline is February 8th.

REGISTER HERE

If you would like to be a sacred ground facilitator, or have any questions about the dialogue series, please contact Peggy Woolley at sacredground@episcopalky.org.

Diocesan Celebration of The Rev. Alexander Hamilton McNeil (aka Aaron McNeil) 

Every year the Diocese of Kentucky hosts a celebration commeorating the Rev. Alexander Hamilton McNeil.

On Saturday, October 12th, 2024, Grace Church, Hopkinsville will host the Celebration of the Rev. Aaron McNeil. 

Click here for an informational PDF about A.H. McNeil

Click here for a full size flier

Click here for a social media ad

Click here for a map to Grace, Hopkinsville

The Rev. A. H. (Alexander Hamilton) McNeil (aka Aaron McNeil, a name by which he is fondly remembered by his community today), was a pioneer, churchman, educator, and community leader, as the first African American Episcopal clergyman (deacon) in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He was born, October 10, 1858 and served faithfully as the first pastor (deacon in charge) of the Mission of the Good Shepherd, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, until his death in Hopkinsville, January 14, 1901. Come to this special observance as we remember and celebrate his life and the ongoing community ministry that continues in his name to this day through the Aaron McNeil House.

Past Commemorations:

You can view a recording of the 2023 Commemoration here.

This event is sponsored by the Racial Healing Commission of the Diocese of Kentucky 

Racism & Truth Telling with Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers

The Racial Healing Commissions of both the Diocese of Kentucky and Lexington sponsored a dual-diocesan-wide event on Racism and Truth Telling with Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers on Wednesday, September 14 at Church of the Ascension in Frankfort, KY.  Click here to watch a recording of this event. 

Racial Injustice 2020 

Resolutions of the 193rd Diocesan Convention pertaining to Racial Healing here. 

Summary of The Kerner Commission Report: The National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders here. 

Dismantling Racism for Youth Training here.

Bishop Announces West Louisville Now Special Appeal here.

Bishop White's Statement on the Shooting of Breonna Taylor here. 

Statement from the Province IV Bishops of The Episcopal Church here.

Department of Justice and Jubilees's Statement on the Shooting of Breonna Taylor here. 

Kentucky Council of Churches Statement here. 

Resources from the Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber here.

Scaffolded Anti-Racism Resources here

Racism: An additional curated list of resources available here. 

Just Faith Ministries’ 3 programs related to racism overview here.

     Just Faith program here.

     Engaging spirituality program here.

     GoodNewsPeople program here. 

Seeing the Face of God Curriculum 

 

189th Convention Materials

 

Brennan Lecture Series: Traces of the Trade

The 2017 Brennan Lecture Series featured two screenings. Traces of the Trade explored the impact and legacy of filmmaker Katrina Browne's ancestors, the largest slave-trading family in American history. Repairing the Breach retraced the Episcopal Church's steps in 2006 to propel racial reconciliation. Featured speakers were Katrina Browne and Dr. Felicia LaBoy. Read more about this year's event and speakers here. 

 

The Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research

Born in Louisville in 1924, Anne Braden was an American civil rights activist, educator, and journalist who pursued racial equality until her death in 2006. A faithful Episcopalian, she was charged with sedition for attempting to desegregate a Louisville neighborhood in 1954. Undeterred, she continued embarking on a lifetime of racial justice organizing. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. hailed her in his 1963 "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" as a white southerner whose rejection of her segregationist upbringing was "eloquent and prophetic," naming her one of five white activists among his allies. Braden's legacy was honored by the creation of the Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research at the University of Louisville. Here are materials the institute has to offer:

Additional resources of interest:

 

The Commemortion of Anne McCarty Braden 

Anne McCarty Braden 1924 – 2006 Advocate for Racial Equality– 

Civil Rights Activist Anne McCarty was born on July 28, 1924, in Louisville, Kentucky, and grew up in Anniston, Alabama. She attended Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she received a degree in English. After working as a journalist for newspapers in Anniston and Birmingham, Alabama, she returned to Kentucky to write for The Louisville Times. She married Carl Braden, a fellow reporter, who was active in progressive politics. She worked more than five decades as a passionate journalist and activist, publishing the stories of injustice and working to change them. In 1954, with a deep concern for racial integration and economic justice, Anne and Carl Braden arranged to purchase a house in an all white neighborhood of Louisville and had it deeded to an African American couple. White supremacists lashed out with cross burnings and by bombing the house. The bombers were never identified nor brought to trial. Anne and Carl Braden were charged with sedition. Carl Braden was convicted of sedition and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. After a U.S. Supreme Court decision invalidated state sedition laws, all charges against Carl Braden were dropped. Thereafter, Anne edited The Southern Patriot, the publication of the Southern Conference Educational Fund (SCEF), an interracial organization to bring white people into the civil rights movement. She supported the work of the Southern Organizing Committee for Economic and Social Justice (SOC) as well as several other regional and national organizations. Anne Braden dedicated her life to committing whites to the causes of racial equality and social justice. For her contributions to civil liberties, she received the American Civil Liberties Union’s first Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty in 1990. As she aged, her activism focused on Louisville, where she remained a leader in anti-racist drives and taught social justice history classes at local universities. She was a devoted member of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Louisville. Anne Braden died on March 6, 2006. The Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research, established at the University of Louisville, opened on April 4, 2007. The institute’s focus is on social justice, especially in the southern United States and the Louisville area. Over nearly six decades, Anne McCarty Braden’s activism was focused on the injustice of racism and the responsibility of the white community to combat it.

2024 

At 12noon EST on March 7th, 2024, our diocese will commemorate Anne Braden at Christ Church Cathedral, 421 S. 2nd Street, Louisville Kentucky 40202. The event will also be live streamed and available on Christ Church Cathedral's Facebook page here. Bishop White will celebrate and The Rev. Dr. Dru Kemp, deacon-in-residence, Diocese of Kentucky, will preach. All are encouraged to attend, either in-person or online. A recording of the service will also be made available after the event.

This commemoration is in accordance with Resolution #6 at the 193rd Convention. Here is the language of the resolution passed at that Convention. 

Please share the news of this commemoration with your congregation. You can find a flyer here to share the details of the service.

Lessons

Isaiah 25:6-9

Psalm 40

James 2:14-20 [21-26]

Luke 1:46-55

The Collect

God of all people, who raises up prophets in all times and places, we give you thanks for your servant Anne Braden, who helped us to see that racial injustice and social inequality must be rooted out by persistent and determined action. Kindle in us the vision to recognize the needs before us today, and give us the courage and commitment to stand against the injustices in our world. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Southern Patriot: Anne Braden Film Showing at Christ Church Cathedral

On Thursday, February 29th, 2024, Christ Church Cathedral will host a film showing of Southern Patriot, a documentary about Anne Braden's remarkable story of joining the freedom struggle for civil rights in the United States. Doors will open at 6:30pm ET, show starts at 7:00pm ET. 

Click here for a movie poster.

On Tuesday, March 8th, 2022, our diocese commemorated Anne Braden at noonday Holy Eucharist at Christ Church Cathedral. Bishop White celebrated and Jan Scholtz, chair of the Racial Healing Commission, preached. Racial Healing Commission members Verna Cahoon and Bernadet Hamilton read the appointed lessons for the day. 

Click here to watch a recording of this event.

 

Anne McCarty Braden was commemorated in a service held on March 7, 2020, at St. George’s Episcopal Church where Braden was a devoted member. You can view the commemoration service here.

 

Click here for the Anne McCarty Braden Commemoration service bulletin.

Click here for a PDF of Canon Amy Coultas's sermon 

Follow the links below to view the commemoration service by speaker: 

Mary Jones Carter

Dan Dykstra

Mattie Jones

Dr. Fosl

Canon Amy Coultas

Lisa Vish

Canon Jason Lewis

Bishop White

 

Urban Partnership Workshop with Dr. Catherine Meeks

The Urban Partnership is comprised of Calvary Church, Christ Church Cathedral, Our Merciful Savior, and St. George's Church. Supporting Partners are Church of the Advent, St. Clement's House Church, and St. Thomas' Church. Through the first half of 2017, Urban Partnership hosted "open house" fellowship coffee hours within its urban neighborhoods, allowing Episcopalians within the partnership to network and see places of ministry in the community. 

Dr. Catherine Meeks, editor of Living into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism, led an Urban Partnership workshop, Dismantling Racism. Dr. Meeks is the retired Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Socio-Cultural Studies at Wesleyan College and serves as the Chair of the Beloved Community: Commission on Dismantling Racism of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. This workshop was made possibly by Province IV to the dioceses of Kentucky and Lexington for racial healing work.

 
Additional resources of interest:

 

The Episcopal Church

Members of the Presiding Bishop’s staff have also curated a list of resources for racial justice and reconciliation. More resources from The Episcopal Church are available here.

 

Additional Resources