“8th Anniversary of the Interfaith Sacred Conversation on Race & Diversity” by Sandra Miller, Trish Nemore, and Rev. Maybelle Taylor Bennett
May 22, 2016
Trinity Sunday
Sandra Miller
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Holy One, my rock and my redeemer”
On May 18th, 2008 I stood here for the public initiation of the Sacred Conversation, and introduced you to Maybelle Taylor Bennett, now Rev. Bennett, and Rev. Paulette Imani, who so graciously shared part of their personal stories around issues of racism. That was 8 years ago. It was the start of an incredibly rich journey that began with my answering an opportunity Pat offered to Seekers in response to one that the United Church of Christ issued to its churches, in turn a response to Obama’s March 18th, 2008 campaign speech on race that he delivered in Philadelphia, to be community, to talk with each other.
As an introduction to my own story in this I want to go to Obama’s speech for a moment and offer two brief quotes of what drew me in:
As John says in the Gospel reading for today:
Trish Nemore
not done that work primarily in the context of Sacred Conversations. But the intimacy we’ve developed in our relationships in Sacred Conversations gives me a place to process out loud and in the company of others.
Amen.
Rev. Maybelle Taylor Bennett
So, okay, if participating in difficult conversations in a multicultural setting helps this black President propel us toward a more perfect union, I suppose this is the next phase of the struggle that I should be involved in.
There were other ways I had the privilege of growing over the last eight years as well:
I am emerging a better person for having met monthly for eight years with my sisters and (early on) my brothers from Seekers.
I am more open to diversity that goes beyond the binary black/white experience, but includes diversity in sexual relationships, gender identity, income, spiritual and intergenerational experiences as well.
I am more compassionate, more enlightened and more introspective about the value of all kinds of diversity.
• when I could not participate in an activity we had planned, and my sisters came to my house to help me de-clutter my kitchen cabinet and my prayer room;
• when I spontaneously suggested we all attend a play at the Anacostia Playhouse and on the spur of the moment, they met me there the next day;
• when I’ve invited them to join me to celebrate the efforts of the Emergence Community Arts Collective and its director, Sylvia Robinson, and they’ve made it a point to do so every year;
• when we celebrated the life of Mary Church Terrell in a forensics debate competition between Howard and UDC students; and
• when they joined Covenant in exploring the nature of consciousness at a retreat.
These very personal shared experiences have deepened my appreciation of and love for Sandra and Trish especially, but also for many many Seekers to whom I have become closer because of these conversations.
Amen.