Here’s how Presbyterians can preach about racism

April 4, 2023

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The Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel recently helped preachers in and around the Synod of the Covenant to think through preaching about racism in an era of critical race theory bans.

Helsel, Associate Professor in the Blair Monie Distinguished Chair of Homiletics at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, “literally wrote the book on the topic today,” according to the Synod of the Covenant’s executive, the Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick. Helsel is the author of the 2018 book “Preaching About Racism: A Guide for Faith Leaders.” Her talk was part of Synod of the Covenant’s Equipping Preachers series, which is available to preachers living inside or outside the Synod of the Covenant — Michigan and most of Ohio.

Helsel briefly traced the history of the racial reckoning following the murder of George Floyd and others and the ensuing reactions. “People took to the streets to protest. They asked their churches to have more conversations,” Helsel said. “But others were interested in changing the subject,” focusing instead on “the dangers of having protesters in the streets. Black Lives Matter was portrayed as a terrorist organization” and the critical race theory label came into prominence on popular outlets, including Fox News. She also took attendees through a handful of CRT policy briefings posted by right-leaning think tanks.

Helsel bolstered her talk by discussing how her work in parish ministry and in the academy has focused attention on helping preachers think about preaching about racism. Years ago, while working at Princeton Theological Seminary, Helsel learned that “feelings of guilt and shame are not the end goal — it’s to be in relationship with people and be able to engage freely in conversations.”

She came to her present post in 2015 and wrote her first book, “Anxious to Talk About It: Helping White Christians Talk Faithfully About Racism,” following the 2016 election of Donald Trump as president. “I wrote it with the spirit of reaching out to family members who I knew voted for Trump,” she said. “His latent call for racist attitudes didn’t deter people from voting for him. I wanted to invite people in with the spirit of connection and empathy.”

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In neither book does Helsel discuss critical race theory, she noted. But asked to write a second edition of “Anxious to Talk About It,” Helsel set out to research what conservative commentators were saying about CRT.

When the video emerged of “Derek Chauvin on the neck of George Floyd and the rage people felt at seeing racism clearly visible, you’d think it would be helpful for Americans to come together and defeat racism wherever it rears its head,” Helsel said. “Instead, people responded strongly to diversity training. They were criticizing ways we are uncovering previously untold stories,” such as more widespread awareness of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre.

Evan as mass shootings continue to occur,  many preachers “fear being ‘political’” in the pulpit, Helsel said. “A lot of what we do and think about can be seen as political. I am sure you have been charged with just that by talking about things that relate to our common life together.”

But political terms like “oppression” are found many times in the Bible. “Way before [Karl] Marx was around, oppression was something that was being done to the Israelites,” Helsel said. “Racism doesn’t go away in the vacuum of our silence. It continues. It festers.”

Oppressed people “have turned to the Scriptures as long as they have been oppressed. They see Jesus Christ as one who redeems outcasts,” Helsel said. “God remembers those whom society has forgotten, and saves those others deem as lost.”

What can preachers do?

“Have conversations about racism,” she suggested.

Attend the meetings of local government boards and councils. “Listen for the comments being said in your own community. Is there already a desire to have conversations about diversity and racism? Support the leaders trying to do that,” Helsel said. “By your presence as a preacher, you’re making a difference by saying, ‘This matters to me as a person of faith and a faith leader, and this is what the gospel calls me to do.’”

Learn more about the Synod of the Covenant’s Equipping Preachers series here.

Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service

Today's Focus: Austin Seminary’s Carolyn Helsel preaching about racism

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