Episodes

What has Racial Heresy been up to?! We’ve been hard at work praying, thinking, arguing, and PUSHING the BOUNDARIES of racial reconciliation to explore redemption & humility – What White and Black folks need before we can be reconciled… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucOXd2LJecQ White Supremacy works to keep White folks deluded into thinking they are above their sisters and brothers. White Supremacy works to keep Black folks confined to a position of inferiority. How then can we reconcile? “...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s95xrwINCtM We have a habit in America of celebrating progress. It’s the hallmark of an exceptional society. The great example of this habit is how we talk about racial progress in America. To be the great nation we claim to be, we have to pretend as if everything is getting better and moving in the right direction. But is that really the case? Are we moving in the right direction? We’re supposed to trust the racial progress as evidence that America is moving i...

The “forgotten man and woman” in America isn’t just the typical Trump supporter. There’s also a forgotten, forgotten man and woman…rendered somewhat invisible as Ralph Ellison suggested. Yet if we find empathy for them, we find that our faith is shaped by the work and that our faith shapes the work of reconciliation. Raising Bertie as an example of this dynamic, we’ll learn how to create bridges of trust that make this work possible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5X7yUboee4 Bertie County, N...

Racist American History is a thing we can agree exists, right? And with all the talk about Confederate Monuments and what to do with them, it’s appropriate to explore the divergent answers that each hope for reconciliation. Then we can see how best to achieve the goal of Beloved Community. A while ago, Fr. Cayce & I (Fr. Jabriel) recorded an episode that we never released. I don’t know why we never got around to releasing it…I guess so we could release it now! LOL [spp-tweet tweet=”What do we ...

White supremacy has come out the shadows to reveal itself as a present force in America. If you thought this was a thing of the past, you know have proof otherwise. What should be the Church’s response to the White Supremacist violence we’ve seen? How does the Church become a force for good in these times? What do you want/need to see from the Church, in the face of racism? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQGMKA7F1No In the wake of Charlottesville and the defenses of White Supremacy, we use th...

Boldness is not something mainline denominations are known for. We tend to tip-toe around issues, trying not to offend the diverse perspectives held by those in the pews. But the Episcopal Church, in its most recent General Convention, determined that Racial Reconciliation was going to be the focus of the church. Some parts of the church embrace that call. Many parts of the church play lip-service with it…others still ignore it as anathema to the Christian mission (huh?). I (Fr. Jabriel) mysel...

Sometimes you connect with folk who have a knack for profound conversation that leaves you joyously speechless. Melanie Delva is one of those persons. As the new Reconciliation Animator for the Anglican Church of Canada, Melanie Delva is charged with helping the Canadian Church dive deeper into the mystery of racial reconciliation. We’ve had some engaging conversations with guests on our podcast, but you have to hear what she said that left us without words! Like really…no words, just speechle...

Michael Curry is the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Every Bishop has a Canon to the Ordinary…think Game of Thrones and the “Hand of the King.” Michael Hunn has been representing Bishop Michael Curry for 10 years. He served Bp. Curry in the Diocese of North Carolina and continues to do so at the Church Center. And to be with Michael Curry for this long must mean that Michael Hunn is an equally compelling figure. I became acquainted with Canon Hunn as Bishop Curry was beginning his tr...

“Dear White people…” So begins a letter many Black people have wanted to write. But who could send such a letter? And who would listen? I mean, no such letter ever goes well…it’s guaranteed to be interpreted as “angry.” So, there’s no point in sending it. Nevertheless, that sentiment remains: “Dear White people.” But there’s so much opportunity in such a letter – if only White brothers & sisters of goodwill would dare to engage. Fr. Jon Davis is a certified son of the South & true Georgia Cr...

To comfort white folk seems to be the main objective of the Western Church. Why else does it seem the Church is so ineffective at confronting the social realities of today? Especially on matters of race, the Church is silent at worst or placating at best. But why? And how does the comfort of White folk hurt the Church? In this episode of Racial Heresy, Frs. Jabriel & Cayce speak on the inability of mainstream (White) American Christianity to speak to the social climate in any meaningful way. ...

The peaceful transfer of power is the discussion as we prepare for the Presidential Inauguration. According to pundits, it’s one of the hallmarks of American Democracy. It’s one of the things that makes America great. But, how should we look at this peaceful transfer of power? In this episode, we will examine this peaceful transfer in order to determine how it applies for Christian people. How should Christian people view this peaceful transfer of power? And, what does this peaceful transfer u...

It’s curious how we, as a people, give some people the benefit of the doubt while others get none of that. Some people are innocent until proven guilty, while others are guilty even when they shouldn’t be “on trial.” What is that about? As we watch the Trump Administration take shape, we are faced with prime examples of this reality. If we examine it, we have a chance to change our Society for the better…for all of us. But if we continue to ignore this reality, how will we survive? Resources ...

Donald Trump was elected 45th President of the United States of America. What more can we say? Many are shell-shocked! Can’t believe this happened. How did this happen? What are we to make of it? It’s not as simple as you might think…it’s not simply defeating those who want to defeat us – whatever that might mean. But there’s something far more deeper and within us – ourselves…yes, within those of us who would say we did not support him for President. And that thing that is in us is the reas...

Often times we think that our personal goodness is good enough. What I mean is this: many of us are well-intentioned, good people. We just tend to stay out of the fray…we don’t get involved. We think that focusing on our own selves is enough. Focusing on ourselves is important…but it isn’t enough. It’s like when the cabin pressure fails in an airplane: focusing on ourselves is important, but it isn’t enough. We still are called to focus on those around us, because we are all in this together....

(updated 03/2017) Colin Kaepernick decided not to stand for the Anthem…he did it because of his conflict with the words of the Anthem and the image the Anthem represents, against the backdrop of the experience of Black and Brown people in this Country. The NFL has responded to his kneeling by seemingly locking him out of the League. Their action reinforces the issues we uncover on this podcast. But what do we do in the face of such racism? Even if we’re not sports fans…is this something people ...

White Fragility is a concept unpacked by Dr. Robin DiAngelo, to explain the knee-jerk visceral reactions of White people when issues of race & racism are being discussed. You’ve noticed that right? You’ve experienced it? White Fragility infects the (White) Church too Christians like to claim to be one…they like to claim that their faith in Christ reconciles them. But, when confronted with the topic of racism they respond in ways that break communion rather than strengthen it. How do we overco...

“I’m not racist!” That’s the quick response many Whites make to support a narrow-minded stance. It’s usually followed by: “I have Black friends!” The question then becomes: If you’re not racist then why are you silent? Why are you not vocal about the oppression being broadcast to you daily on the evening news? We post this as the news unfolds of two Black men killed by police in less than 48 hours. With this in mind, and with the title leading us, we share this episode:

This was originally published a year ago, and we wanted to revisit it for a couple of reasons. We have some big things coming up next month (our first guest Dr. Robin DiAngelo) and one of us needs more time to prepare. The other of us has generations of experience having to work multiple jobs! LOL. It’s been eerily silent in the public sphere. The problems the sparked social unrest haven’t been addressed, but there’s very little coverage…very little civic engagement. It’s like we’ve returned t...