Brooklyn Boro

Church group prepares to delve into Rev. Wallis’ book on racism

‘America’s Original Sin’ Is Topic of Series At First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn

June 2, 2016 By Francesca Norsen Tate, Religion Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Eric Thomas is pictured preaching at an interfaith service earlier this year commemorating the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Brooklyn Eagle Photo by Francesca N. Tate
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“Overcoming racism is more than an issue or a cause — it is also a story, which can be part of each of our stories, too. The story about race that was embedded into America at the founding of our nation was a lie; it is time to change that story and discover a new one.”

So writes the Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners and a best-selling author. The words above are part of the first paragraph of his book “America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege and the Bridge to a New America,” which was published earlier this year.

Wallis, who is an in-demand teacher, preacher and activist, had just finished the book when, on June 17, 2015, white supremacist Dylann Roof took a gun and murdered the nine Bible study participants place at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina. (This tragedy is the subject of the preface that he wrote later.)

Wallis in Chapter 1 points to white privilege as the legacy of white supremacy. “White privilege is the assumption of racial entitlement and the normality of whiteness, something that most of those of us who are white still fail to recognize or resist. The only redemption of the sin of June 17 is to name the sin of racism and to ask ourselves what true repentance means. As the Bible teaches, repentance is much more than saying we are brokenhearted and sorry; it means turning in a totally new direction.”

First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn’s members are taking that next step. They will discuss “America’s Original Sin” as part of a Wednesday evening series that Eric Thomas, director of Christian education will facilitate, starting on June 8.

The wider community is welcome. The group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the church’s Elliot Room. Wallis’ book may be found in a variety of formats (electronic, hard cover, audio) at your favorite online or brick and mortar book seller. First Presbyterian Church is located at 124 Henry St.

 

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