Are You ready to assert Your Role in Reconciling the Church?

Black Episcopalians Speak with Power

I learn a lot about leadership in this Church…about leadership as a Black person in this Church, by watching my mother…

By the grace of God, she has been incredibly active in the life of the Church.

She’s a Lay Canon and the Chancellor of the Diocese of the Virgin Islands. She’s a Senior Deputy to General Convention and Member of the Program, Budget and Finance Committee. She serves on the Assessment Review Committee. She’s a former Executive Council Member, serving on Executive Committee of Council. She’s Vice President of Province II. She’s the Lay Representative from the Episcopal Church to the Anglican Consultative Council. She’s a Member of the Board for both Episcopal Relief and Development and the Church Pension Group.

As a good Caribbean woman, she couldn’t have just one job! LOL

In starting to follow her footsteps, I serve on Executive Council.

I know…

Only one committee?!?!? #Slacker…

Yet, I had only been ordained a little over two years when I was elected. So, I’ve still got time…

One of the things I’ve learned from my mother is how important it is to have folk who’ve been there – been to the halls of power, return to share their knowledge and grow the next wave of leaders.

That’s one of the things that’s most lacking for Black people…

That’s a major reason we are where we are, in this Church.

We don’t know all of the various levers of power within the governing structures of the Church. And, those levers we do know – we don’t really have a long history of engagement…

There haven’t been that many Black folk who’ve been involved. And so, harnessing and leveraging power within the Episcopal Church hasn’t really become part of our culture within the Church.

It can’t remain that way…

As I sit on Executive Council and see how things are done, I have to consider ways to change this dynamic.

You see, I have a feeling about where things are going with Nigger-Gate…

We tried…

Some White people…Hispanic people…and Asian people joined with myself and another Black person (who’s term on Council is ending this triennium) to address the issue.

With compassion…

Without shaming…

With an eye to the Spirit-filled opportunity to take the unfortunate event and consecrate it – returning it to the Church as Eucharist…the Holy Food of Oneness and Reconciliation…

I mean: ain’t that what we’re supposed to do in remembrance of Him? Isn’t that the larger witness of Holy Communion?

But that opportunity was rejected…

This is only coming from the Black people…

You know us Black folk…we’re always getting “bent outta shape” for no reason…

Why you so angry?!?! I think he’s emotionally unstable…

…so the Black people need to wait…need to simply remain in the traumatic space created by White power and privilege, while Whites in power use their power to carefully consider how to respond in ways that won’t diminish their power…

(read that sentence one more time…)

I understand why that’s the response…

I used to work in politics before I was ordained. I served as Communications Director to a Member of the US House of Representatives. So, I understand the politics of expediency.

Ultimately, that Spirit-filled opportunity was rejected because we – Black people – lack any real power in this Church.

And those with power concede nothing without a demand.

One of us may have power…

Two of us – as individuals – might have power…

But we lack the collective power of a strong identity that is rooted in theology and tied to a narrative that compels us to reconciliation.

If the Church is going to take serious the call to racial reconciliation, this has to change…

And, while I’m sitting in one of those seats of power in this Church, I’m committing to make that change. #ManMeetMirror

And, I’m inviting you to join me on that journey…

It’s time we get serious about reshaping the Church as a force for racial healing. It’s time we take a different approach that allows us to harness and leverage the authentic power of the Gospel.

At least, that’s what I believe…

If you believe that too, then I’d love to share this journey with you…so, click the link below and let’s get started…

Let’s build Beloved Community together, and give this Country – and this world – some very good news!

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– Fr. Jabriel S. Ballentine