We commend to our churches the open letter from PCA agency presidents and permanent committee coordinators, addressing present racial injustices and tensions that Christians of all ethnicities must address with Scripture’s truth and grace.
Kevin Smith, chairman of the study committee, hopes that the report will help congregations begin to see racism as a moral issue, like abortion. And as with other moral issues, Smith notes, refusing to talk about the issue will not make it go away.
“There’s no reason this church should be growing and thriving. God is bringing people together in Christ.”
Members of the committee will present their findings, conclusions, and recommendations at General Assembly. Their presentation will be Thursday morning, June 14, at 8 a.m.
“The wealthy church, or the all-black church – are they blessed? Yes,” Henning says. “But what people don’t know is what they are missing.” A mosaic of vibrant color that reflects God’s glory and His purposes in the world.
In 2012, a fellow Montgomery pastor told DePace about his conversation with a Montgomery man who described FPC as “the church that would not let black people in.” DePace was stunned, so he delved into the church archives himself.
The 45th General Assembly voted to accept the recommendation that the Racial and Ethnic Reconciliation Study Committee conduct a survey and present its final report to the 46th General Assembly in 2018.
Higgins’ journey to the PCA was marked by a series of friendships with welcoming individuals who affirmed that the denomination would benefit from more minorities like Higgins.
The documentary was created by Grain, a St. Louis-based creative firm that helps its clients create beauty and uproot ugliness. Director John Pa hoped that sharing Higgins’ story would “at least start a conversation about these prejudices we have in our heads, minds, and hearts.”
“I think the passing of Overture 43, and the fruit that will come of it, will be a help in recruiting African-American pastors into our denomination. It demonstrates to them that we are real, not trying to cover up sins of the past or present, but owning them and seeking to grow from them.”