Jerry Finn speaks during an event at the Town Clock Church in New Albany. there, but it’ s also a museum of sorts where members of the public often visit to learn about the brave men and women of what was then Second Presbyterian who helped enslaved Black people find freedom.
In 2025, the church welcomed almost 1,300 area students for tours.
“ To me, the most important lesson learned from what happened there at Second Presbyterian Church is that a group of people did not follow the majority and really looked at their own conscience, looked at their own faith, looked at their own personal beliefs and said we’ re going to take a stand for what we believe is right,” said Jerry Finn of Friends of the Town Clock Church.
That lesson is one that people must still learn today, he continued. Like
... a group of people did not follow the majority and really looked at their own conscience, looked at their own faith, looked at their own personal beliefs and said we’ re going to take a stand for what we believe is right.
Megenity, Finn is concerned about DEI restrictions and how they may affect the teaching of history. Town Clock provides a place where people can learn about the cruelty of slavery as well as the implications of Jim Crow laws and segregation that carry on today.
“ I think as a community we need to think about what we need to do to level the playing field,” Finn said.
He sees a parallel between the plight of enslaved people during the
19th century to those being deported today. While giving a tour at the church recently, Finn said a person made a similar comparison.
“ What are we going to need to do to help those who are looked at for being deported?,” Finn said.“ How are we going to help Hispanic people.”
Education and thoughtfulness are big parts of understanding diversity and history, he continued.
“ We need to get more people to think about what’ s really right and what’ s really wrong,” Finn said.“ There’ s a lot of talk about being Christian. This is nothing that Jesus would ever do. All you would have to do is read the Gospels and it’ s pretty clear what’ s expected of Christians.”
14 DIVERSITY July | August 2025