racial reconciliation

On the 60th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson spoke on the importance of remembering the difficult moments of racial inequality in U.S. history.

According to the Smithsonian Institution, “Juneteenth marks our country’s second independence day.” On this day in 1865, some two thousand Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, where they announced that the more than two hundred and fifty thousand enslaved black people in the state were free by executive decree. The day became known as “Juneteenth” by the newly freed people in Texas and eventually became a federal holiday.

Platt came to his own personal conclusion that he needed to hold nothing back in his own life when it comes to letting God deal with the same issues and blind spots that he is challenging his readers to deal with and experience. 

Last night, SBC messengers elected as president Pastor Ed Litton of Alabama. He was nominated by Fred Luter, the only Black pastor to serve as president of the largest Protestant denomination in the US. Rev. Luter praised Litton’s commitment to racial reconciliation and told messengers that he has dealt compassionately with the issue of sexual abuse within SBC churches as well. We need a leader of such compassion in these difficult times.

According to a new LifeWay Research survey, in 2020 fewer pastors than in 2016 thought that their church congregants would be open to hearing a sermon on racial reconciliation.

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has decided not to change the names of some of the school's buildings named for men who owned slaves. The school did, however, set aside a substantial amount of money to fund scholarships for African American students.

The United Methodist Church is considering changing its "Cross and Flame" logo as it holds a racisist connotation to some members of the church.

Six months after the police-involved killing of Breonna Taylor, the city of Louisville, Kentucky has reached a $12 million settlement with Taylor's family. City officials have also promised the family police reform. 

Many leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention are considering changing the denominations name to "Great Commission Baptists" amid recent racial unrest.

Amid civil unrest following the police-involved shooting of another Black man,  John Cooper of Christian rock band, Skillet, is praying for racial reconciliation, particularly in his hometown of Kenosha.