Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Spring 2014 Issue | Page 7

A Ministry of Understanding: Conversations on Race
Liz Bartenstein

“ I think it’s going to be important for all of us to do some
…
soul-searching. There has been talk about should we convene
a conversation on race. On the other hand, in families and
churches and workplaces, there’s the possibility that people
are a little bit more honest, and at least you ask yourself
your own questions about, am I wringing as much bias out of
myself as I can? Am I judging people as much as I can, based on
not the color of their skin, but the content of their character?”

Within hours, the Rev. Wallace Adams-Riley, rector
at St. Paul’s, Richmond, and the Rev. Phoebe Roaf, rector
of St. Philip’s, Richmond, were in touch and considering
how the two congregations might answer the call to have
conversations on race. They both felt that, if their respective
congregations continued to discuss the question of race
only within their own communities, they’d be missing an
important perspective. For St. Paul’s, that would be largely a
white conversation, and for St. Philip’s, that would be largely
a black conversation. The genesis of this ministry was the
desire to do something inclusive and constructive.

At both churches, people wondered how the
conversation would unfold. “The first step in the process
involves building trust and establishing relationships,” said
Roaf. “It is necessary to have conversations to develop the
trust that can allow people to speak the truth in love and
hear the truth in love. For some, the time for talking is over
and they are ready for action.”

St. Paul’s mission statement is “Proclaiming Christ in
the heart of the city.” Their current program year features a
concentrated reflection and study on the nature of “radical
welcome.” According to the book Radical Welcome by
Stephanie Spellers, some of the first tasks for congregational
radical welcome include examining relationships with
the “other” and engaging in dialogue with those who
are different than we are. St. Paul’s is also committed to
downtown mission, which is similarly a ministry of engaging
others in ways that might challenge or stretch us.

As the oldest historically African-American congregation
in the Diocese, St. Philip’s has a long history of working to
eradicate racism in the greater Richmond metropolitan
area. Its members are longstanding supporters of the Union
of Black Episcopalians, and they have encouraged greater

Multicultural and Ethnic Ministries

Two Episcopal churches in Richmond recently saw an
opportunity to reach a deeper understanding of one
another, as well as to explore more deeply Christ’s call to
reconciliation.

Following the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman
verdict, President Barack Obama gave a July 2013 speech,
calling for a national conversation on race:

Photo: Liz Bartenstein

Members of St. Philip’s, Richmond, and St. Paul’s, Richmond,
gathered at St. Paul’s in November 2013 for a continuing
conversation on race and faith.

diversity at the diocesan and Church-wide level ̸($)Q