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Heal Us, Emmanuel: A Call for Racial Reconciliation, Representation, and Unity in the Church
Most Christians would say they believe all people are made in the image of God and are equal before him. They would say red, brown, yellow, black, and white, they are precious in his sight. But do they have any friends of another race? Is there anyone at their church who does not look like them? Does this matter to God? The majority of American Christians do not have significant relationships with anyone who does not look like them, which makes them susceptible to cultural blind spots and less effective as ambassadors for biblical justice. The thirty church leaders who contributed to Heal Us, Emmanuel desire racial reconciliation, representation, and supernatural unity in all the churches of Christ.
326 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2016
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February 13, 2023
Three words to describe this book: humility, conviction, and repentance.
On one hand it’s very one sided: every one of the 30 contributing authors is a man in leadership in the PCA.
On the other hand, every chapter has a different voice, a different story, and it creates a stunning kaleidoscope of experiences, questions, and honest feedback. Would’ve loved to have a chapter written by a woman 👀, but I can recognize the good while also recognize that the PCA still needs to do better - thankfully something that every author reflects on. The reading resulted in a lot of reflection of my own sin and the corporate sin of the church. Change takes a lot of time and I’m thankful for the slow and steady progress that’s happening; thankful for a God who mercifully molds and shapes us to look more like Him. Would 100% recommend.
On one hand it’s very one sided: every one of the 30 contributing authors is a man in leadership in the PCA.
On the other hand, every chapter has a different voice, a different story, and it creates a stunning kaleidoscope of experiences, questions, and honest feedback. Would’ve loved to have a chapter written by a woman 👀, but I can recognize the good while also recognize that the PCA still needs to do better - thankfully something that every author reflects on. The reading resulted in a lot of reflection of my own sin and the corporate sin of the church. Change takes a lot of time and I’m thankful for the slow and steady progress that’s happening; thankful for a God who mercifully molds and shapes us to look more like Him. Would 100% recommend.
June 30, 2016
I couldn’t believe what I was just hearing. I had recently retired after spending 20 years of enlistment in the U.S. Air Force, working side-by-side with men and women from all kinds of ethnic backgrounds, and was about to become ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). And here was an elder in what would be my first PCA church, surrounded by the whole eldership, telling me I was not allowed to invite “any of those people to this church”! The same elder later told me that he was not convinced that “those people” were fully human! Then some time later another elder stood with me on the church steps trying to educate me in the finer points of life in this small southern town, by proving to me that “those people” who made up 90% of the town’s population, were really immoral and horrible sinners. When I asked him to clarify, he gave me examples of drug use, fornication and loud music blaring from their vehicles. When I challenged this by pointing out that the folks on the white side of town did the same things (his own 40-something son had just come out of a drug rehab), he spewed out, “No! Those people are the ones who are really sinful!” Needless to say, it was a difficult church experience.
Not to be stymied I walked down to the police station, and offered myself to the black police chief to be the chaplain for the all-black police department. I joined the mixed race volunteer fire department, and fought fires shoulder-to-shoulder with black and white firefighters on both the black and white sides of town. And I met with the black mayor. I found out, to my surprise, that none of the African-American pastors lived anywhere close to town, and so I asked him if he would like me to meet with him every week and not talk politics, but just pray. He was stunned, but agreed and we prayed together every week for over three years. Some six years after I moved away, he called me in Midland, Texas, after his doctor told him he had a brain tumor and asked me to pray for him.
I recount all of these scenarios to say that there are still problems in our world, and even in my denomination with regard to race; and to show that this subject is dear to me and I have been doing something about it for years. So when the General Editor, Doug Serven, pastor of City Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, OK and author, handed me a copy of the 326 page paperback “Heal Us, Emmanuel: A Call for Racial Reconciliation, Representation, and Unity in the Church,” I was hopeful that this might be a valuable resource. Pastor Serven has even designated the profits from the book to support minority student and staff development for our denomination’s Reformed University Fellowship.
“Heal Us, Emmanuel” breaks down into four sections. The first portion invites the reader to listen. It contains five chapters telling personal stories of pilgrimage, struggle, concern, challenge and direction. There are accusations of white microaggressions, invitations to confession and repentance, reminders that the church is to care about justice, and the story of forgiveness exhibited by the members of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Charleston, SC after Dylann Roof brutally murdered nine of our brothers and sisters.
The next section challenges us to recognize White Privilege, and much of what that means. The authors recount the historical place of race in America, and how even the poorest white person benefited from being part of the majority population. There are numerous requests to not only identify White Privilege, but to begin sharing power with other ethnic groups. Rev. Sam Wheatley of New Song Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City, beckons us to understand “where we have been entrusted with power and creatively plot how to share, loan, or give that power to others we would have previously considered a problem” (82).
Afterwards comes the unit unpacking our sins of omission and commission. The authors draw attention to the subtle, and not always subtle, ways racism has shown up in America and among American Christians. And these chapters recount the various experiences of how congregations and individuals have tried to remediate the racism where they are. Rightly, Ruling Elder Samuel Graham, of independent Presbyterian Church in Memphis, remarks that we “cannot undo that which has been done. We can, however, be faithful today whenever we see injustice” (113). And Rev. Chris Granberry, Pastor of Hope Fellowship on the Yakama Reservation in Washington, wisely observes that to “do justice means we engage in the fight against injustice in a certain area. We pray and take baby steps” (138).
Following this, “Heal Us, Emanuel” turns to chronological and theological perspectives. These chapters are heavily historical from within our American Presbyterian context. The racist and segregationist positions of old heroes, and one or two still living, are addressed and called out. There is plenty of “backed-up” material here to bring the most headstrong to bow their heads and wonder how this could have happened.
The theme of confession and reconciliation have been trumpeted through the book, and now come into their own section. The solicitations for a personal, congregational and/or denominational confession of sin and resultant move to reconciliation are gentle and generally restrained. Stories abound, but most have to do with the life-tales of how each of these authors have striven to exhibit some sense of being multiethnic in their congregations.
The book ends with prescriptions for the way forward. This final section is not a set of checklists, but more a series of examples on how “to talk less and to listen more to the minority voice” (275). And, as Rev. Scott Sauls, Senior Minister of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, states it, to extend real charity, the kind that “must result in empowerment, where the majority humbles and positions itself to follow the minority voice regularly” (276).
In the end, “Hear Us, Emmanuel” was not the book I expected. Instead of being a conversation starter, it was often a protest piece: shrill with a side of sane. Several authors threw rocks inside their glass houses, and then when the shards of glass blew back at them and stung them they cried “White Privilege.” For example, one author, a member in a Korean Presbytery, where all of the senior and solo pastors listed are Korean and all of the leadership pictured on his home-church’s web page are all Asian, shamed white Christians for microaggressions. I was sorely disappointed with this approach because it followed more of a Darwinian mindset of conflict and competition, survival of the fittest, struggle and supremacy that I expected to hear from my time in a secular Air Force, or coming from the National Education Association, EEOC, etc. He even defined racism in such a way as, inadvertently I hope, to excuse himself and accuse white Christians; “I would argue that while everyone has some level of prejudice –against people who are different from them-racism refers specifically to privilege and power within a system of dominance. Racism is prejudice multiplied by power” (26). By the end of this chapter it was obvious that a white reader was damned: damned if they speak, damned if they hold their tongue, damned to be white. If that wasn’t the author’s intention, it still was the combative way he came across. There were several other chapters that made it hard to read the book because of the shrill tone.
On the other hand, there was a side of sane to “Heal Us, Emmanuel,” those who spoke less emotively. Though I didn’t agree with everything they wrote, nevertheless I felt like after reading Higgins, Long, Granberry, Lucas, Castro, and Ince, to name a few, I could have sat down with them and conversed, challenged and been safely and caringly challenged by them. Almost all of the historical and theological section was this way, and a few chapters sprinkled here and there.
“Heal Us, Emmanuel” wants desperately to be a conversation starter on the subject of race and racism in the Presbyterian Church in America. It may well speak to the hearts of some, but it will likely slam the door on the fingers of others. Therefore, as a conversation starter I feel it is difficult to recommend the book because of the deafeningly shrill, though the side of sane was very helpful. But if you’re looking for a protest book, then this may be the volume for you.
My thanks to Doug Serven and White Blackbird Books for providing the free copy of “Heal Us, Emmanuel” used for this review. The assessments are mine given without restrictions or requirements (as per Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255).
Not to be stymied I walked down to the police station, and offered myself to the black police chief to be the chaplain for the all-black police department. I joined the mixed race volunteer fire department, and fought fires shoulder-to-shoulder with black and white firefighters on both the black and white sides of town. And I met with the black mayor. I found out, to my surprise, that none of the African-American pastors lived anywhere close to town, and so I asked him if he would like me to meet with him every week and not talk politics, but just pray. He was stunned, but agreed and we prayed together every week for over three years. Some six years after I moved away, he called me in Midland, Texas, after his doctor told him he had a brain tumor and asked me to pray for him.
I recount all of these scenarios to say that there are still problems in our world, and even in my denomination with regard to race; and to show that this subject is dear to me and I have been doing something about it for years. So when the General Editor, Doug Serven, pastor of City Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, OK and author, handed me a copy of the 326 page paperback “Heal Us, Emmanuel: A Call for Racial Reconciliation, Representation, and Unity in the Church,” I was hopeful that this might be a valuable resource. Pastor Serven has even designated the profits from the book to support minority student and staff development for our denomination’s Reformed University Fellowship.
“Heal Us, Emmanuel” breaks down into four sections. The first portion invites the reader to listen. It contains five chapters telling personal stories of pilgrimage, struggle, concern, challenge and direction. There are accusations of white microaggressions, invitations to confession and repentance, reminders that the church is to care about justice, and the story of forgiveness exhibited by the members of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Charleston, SC after Dylann Roof brutally murdered nine of our brothers and sisters.
The next section challenges us to recognize White Privilege, and much of what that means. The authors recount the historical place of race in America, and how even the poorest white person benefited from being part of the majority population. There are numerous requests to not only identify White Privilege, but to begin sharing power with other ethnic groups. Rev. Sam Wheatley of New Song Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City, beckons us to understand “where we have been entrusted with power and creatively plot how to share, loan, or give that power to others we would have previously considered a problem” (82).
Afterwards comes the unit unpacking our sins of omission and commission. The authors draw attention to the subtle, and not always subtle, ways racism has shown up in America and among American Christians. And these chapters recount the various experiences of how congregations and individuals have tried to remediate the racism where they are. Rightly, Ruling Elder Samuel Graham, of independent Presbyterian Church in Memphis, remarks that we “cannot undo that which has been done. We can, however, be faithful today whenever we see injustice” (113). And Rev. Chris Granberry, Pastor of Hope Fellowship on the Yakama Reservation in Washington, wisely observes that to “do justice means we engage in the fight against injustice in a certain area. We pray and take baby steps” (138).
Following this, “Heal Us, Emanuel” turns to chronological and theological perspectives. These chapters are heavily historical from within our American Presbyterian context. The racist and segregationist positions of old heroes, and one or two still living, are addressed and called out. There is plenty of “backed-up” material here to bring the most headstrong to bow their heads and wonder how this could have happened.
The theme of confession and reconciliation have been trumpeted through the book, and now come into their own section. The solicitations for a personal, congregational and/or denominational confession of sin and resultant move to reconciliation are gentle and generally restrained. Stories abound, but most have to do with the life-tales of how each of these authors have striven to exhibit some sense of being multiethnic in their congregations.
The book ends with prescriptions for the way forward. This final section is not a set of checklists, but more a series of examples on how “to talk less and to listen more to the minority voice” (275). And, as Rev. Scott Sauls, Senior Minister of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, states it, to extend real charity, the kind that “must result in empowerment, where the majority humbles and positions itself to follow the minority voice regularly” (276).
In the end, “Hear Us, Emmanuel” was not the book I expected. Instead of being a conversation starter, it was often a protest piece: shrill with a side of sane. Several authors threw rocks inside their glass houses, and then when the shards of glass blew back at them and stung them they cried “White Privilege.” For example, one author, a member in a Korean Presbytery, where all of the senior and solo pastors listed are Korean and all of the leadership pictured on his home-church’s web page are all Asian, shamed white Christians for microaggressions. I was sorely disappointed with this approach because it followed more of a Darwinian mindset of conflict and competition, survival of the fittest, struggle and supremacy that I expected to hear from my time in a secular Air Force, or coming from the National Education Association, EEOC, etc. He even defined racism in such a way as, inadvertently I hope, to excuse himself and accuse white Christians; “I would argue that while everyone has some level of prejudice –against people who are different from them-racism refers specifically to privilege and power within a system of dominance. Racism is prejudice multiplied by power” (26). By the end of this chapter it was obvious that a white reader was damned: damned if they speak, damned if they hold their tongue, damned to be white. If that wasn’t the author’s intention, it still was the combative way he came across. There were several other chapters that made it hard to read the book because of the shrill tone.
On the other hand, there was a side of sane to “Heal Us, Emmanuel,” those who spoke less emotively. Though I didn’t agree with everything they wrote, nevertheless I felt like after reading Higgins, Long, Granberry, Lucas, Castro, and Ince, to name a few, I could have sat down with them and conversed, challenged and been safely and caringly challenged by them. Almost all of the historical and theological section was this way, and a few chapters sprinkled here and there.
“Heal Us, Emmanuel” wants desperately to be a conversation starter on the subject of race and racism in the Presbyterian Church in America. It may well speak to the hearts of some, but it will likely slam the door on the fingers of others. Therefore, as a conversation starter I feel it is difficult to recommend the book because of the deafeningly shrill, though the side of sane was very helpful. But if you’re looking for a protest book, then this may be the volume for you.
My thanks to Doug Serven and White Blackbird Books for providing the free copy of “Heal Us, Emmanuel” used for this review. The assessments are mine given without restrictions or requirements (as per Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255).
February 21, 2023
Recommend for any Christians, but especially in the PCA. humbling, convicting, and showing me I have lots more to learn! I enjoyed how the book contains stories of personal experience, history, and biblical instruction for repentance and unity in the church.
October 17, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this and I don’t think my review will do it justice or touch on the way you may change from reading it, so I recommend! Though I was left with a lot of questions like how to move forward with such an important task and message? This is a quote from the book and I think it’s so important and central to what this book is about... “Heal Us, Emmanuel reminds us that no matter how sophisticated our theology may be, it is always in need of being disciplined, corrected, and expanded by Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16), not by man-made ideologies. It challenges use to get busy doing theology that addresses current issues while being faithful to Scripture. Doing so will enable us to walk in biblical wisdom — a wisdom that far surpasses the power and scope of today’s prevailing short-sighted ideologies.”
This book is full of repentance from a historically white Presbyterian denomination and how the church deeply desires to take redemptive steps from theology built on ideologies that aren’t loving, aren’t welcoming but actually prejudice and prideful. That’s my blanket statement of the book and the writers say everything so beautifully and honestly. I needed to read it and I am thankful that the Presbyterian church wants to seek love, justice, mercy and kindness.
This book is full of repentance from a historically white Presbyterian denomination and how the church deeply desires to take redemptive steps from theology built on ideologies that aren’t loving, aren’t welcoming but actually prejudice and prideful. That’s my blanket statement of the book and the writers say everything so beautifully and honestly. I needed to read it and I am thankful that the Presbyterian church wants to seek love, justice, mercy and kindness.
June 6, 2021
A book worth wrestling through if you come from a reformed background and especially if you’re in the PCA (where most of the authors are members, elders, or leaders to some capacity.)
The collection is divided into 30 essays that grapple with racial reconciliation, and racial representation in the church. This book doesn’t have one message, but it does have many thoughtful voices that for me urged me to think, consider, and pray through their message, experience, or story.
Many essays challenged my assumptions and beliefs. I’m thankful for this book and it’s many authors.
The collection is divided into 30 essays that grapple with racial reconciliation, and racial representation in the church. This book doesn’t have one message, but it does have many thoughtful voices that for me urged me to think, consider, and pray through their message, experience, or story.
Many essays challenged my assumptions and beliefs. I’m thankful for this book and it’s many authors.
July 20, 2021
Honest and needed read in regards to identifying and evaluating how race and racial inequality has shaped how different racial groups follow God in America, and how racism has shaped the American Church. It gives excellent insight into the history of the American church, and is brought to you by 30 different authors with differing problems and solutions for the issue of systemic racism in the Church.
It did seem unidirectional, and seemed to provide many more problems and qualms with the white American church that it offered practical solutions of reconciliation; which could seem to overcomplicate the already complex problem of systemic racial inequality and bias within the American church.
It did seem unidirectional, and seemed to provide many more problems and qualms with the white American church that it offered practical solutions of reconciliation; which could seem to overcomplicate the already complex problem of systemic racial inequality and bias within the American church.
March 31, 2017
Christians should read this book.
October 30, 2020
An anthology so some chapters are better than others, but overall give some helpful categories/challenges to think about. It does seem a bit dated at this point. It could also use clear definitions of significant terms used in the midst of racial discourse.
December 20, 2016
Informative, convicting, hopeful. This book is one you'll want to move through slowly because there is so much to think about.
December 28, 2020
This is a thoughtful examination of the role of the Church, and individual believers, in racial reconciliation. The 30 essays are well worth your time.
The diversity of the voices is invaluable. Some of the pieces are very personal; others read more like sermons; still others like academic papers. They come from pastors and teachers from many ethnic and cultural backgrounds, with wide experiences and perspectives.
I appreciated this, from the foreword: “Heal Us, Emmanuel reminds us that no matter how sophisticated our theology may be, it is always in need of being disciplined, corrected, and expanded by Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16), not by man-made ideologies. Its challenge is to get busy doing theology that address current issues while being faithful to Scripture.”
Throughout the book, there were hard truths that White Christians need to hear from our Black brothers and sisters:
“Do all of these acts [of racism] present a significant hindrance to our obtaining the kind of lifestyle most Americans desire? No, they do not. What’s the big deal then, you ask? The big deal is that among other things, acts of racism serve as a statement that we’re not valued, welcomed, or wanted. They are the reminder that we are viewed as different, we are ‘the other,’ and that thought we may be tolerated, we’re not truly accepted.”
From another essay: “Please understand … in the minds of many Black people, each racialized event serves as a heart-rending cipher for chattel slavery, Jim Crow, historic church bombings, Klan terrorism, redlining, and many other wounds received personally, and by living family members of former generations. Each event reads like another chapter in America’s running commentary on my Blackness – my worth, my status, my place in society – and it’s not a hopeful picture.”
The same author adds: “… inasmuch as you refuse to acknowledge this and mourn with the mourner (Rom. 12:15), you exacerbate the pain and alienation.”
Many Black writers were generous, especially to their contemporaries, blaming obliviousness more often than malice. But, one wondered, “what will it take to move away from intent and begin to focus on impact?”
Many of the essays called all Christians to active pursuit of literal diversity and unity in our churches. “To hold the conviction that all we need is a kind of ‘spiritual’ unity across ethnic lines that never manifests itself in real live relationships is simply not biblically sound or correct,” one wrote.
I loved that the conversation touched on everything from fellowship to sermon styles to music.
“We need to understand that there is so much we can learn from our ‘other ethnic’ brothers and sisters. There will be huge implications for how we worship, do community, and do church business, which will be a challenge. No culture perfectly reflects the heart of God.”
And from another essay: “If our congregations really reflected the kind of diversity that they should, then everyone should expect to sing some songs that they don’t like. … We must give expression to the fact that the church of God is bigger than any one cultural expression.”
Many of the White writers described a change in their thinking in the last decade or so.
One said he used to be “as conservative and Republican as anyone could get. Now, while I’ve not become liberal, I’m changed. I see the flaws in all sides. I’m looking for a savior that’s not of this world.”
They described a willingness to take on work that looks impossible from a human perspective.
“I am comfortable with the fact that I will be working my entire life, and my children and their children will be working their entire lives, to undo the mess made by our forefathers.”
Listening more than talking came up often. Sorrow and repentance did, too.
“We need a redemptive way to help others who have great trouble and shame, much of which we have directly or indirectly caused. We need their forgiveness, and we need to stop pretending that we have worked for all we’ve gotten and they have gotten all they deserved.”
Some of the writing focused specifically on the founding of the Presbyterian Church in America. (Most, or maybe even all, of the contributors are connected to the PCA.) For many of the founders “theological commitments and insights were held captive by their commitment to White superiority and racial inequity.”
I felt the heavy weight of the problem often as I read. But the focus on the hope of the Gospel, woven all through, gave me confidence that I can find my personal ways to respond – and so can the Church.
“Passivity has never been a viable Christian response to divisive and destructive social dynamic, especially within the church.”
I loved this, from an essay by a Black pastor in the final section, A Way Forward: “Don’t politicize this issue, gospelize it. The Gospel is the only story big enough to swallow up the grief of a ruined humanity, overcoming that ruin with the glory of a renewed humanity.”
The diversity of the voices is invaluable. Some of the pieces are very personal; others read more like sermons; still others like academic papers. They come from pastors and teachers from many ethnic and cultural backgrounds, with wide experiences and perspectives.
I appreciated this, from the foreword: “Heal Us, Emmanuel reminds us that no matter how sophisticated our theology may be, it is always in need of being disciplined, corrected, and expanded by Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16), not by man-made ideologies. Its challenge is to get busy doing theology that address current issues while being faithful to Scripture.”
Throughout the book, there were hard truths that White Christians need to hear from our Black brothers and sisters:
“Do all of these acts [of racism] present a significant hindrance to our obtaining the kind of lifestyle most Americans desire? No, they do not. What’s the big deal then, you ask? The big deal is that among other things, acts of racism serve as a statement that we’re not valued, welcomed, or wanted. They are the reminder that we are viewed as different, we are ‘the other,’ and that thought we may be tolerated, we’re not truly accepted.”
From another essay: “Please understand … in the minds of many Black people, each racialized event serves as a heart-rending cipher for chattel slavery, Jim Crow, historic church bombings, Klan terrorism, redlining, and many other wounds received personally, and by living family members of former generations. Each event reads like another chapter in America’s running commentary on my Blackness – my worth, my status, my place in society – and it’s not a hopeful picture.”
The same author adds: “… inasmuch as you refuse to acknowledge this and mourn with the mourner (Rom. 12:15), you exacerbate the pain and alienation.”
Many Black writers were generous, especially to their contemporaries, blaming obliviousness more often than malice. But, one wondered, “what will it take to move away from intent and begin to focus on impact?”
Many of the essays called all Christians to active pursuit of literal diversity and unity in our churches. “To hold the conviction that all we need is a kind of ‘spiritual’ unity across ethnic lines that never manifests itself in real live relationships is simply not biblically sound or correct,” one wrote.
I loved that the conversation touched on everything from fellowship to sermon styles to music.
“We need to understand that there is so much we can learn from our ‘other ethnic’ brothers and sisters. There will be huge implications for how we worship, do community, and do church business, which will be a challenge. No culture perfectly reflects the heart of God.”
And from another essay: “If our congregations really reflected the kind of diversity that they should, then everyone should expect to sing some songs that they don’t like. … We must give expression to the fact that the church of God is bigger than any one cultural expression.”
Many of the White writers described a change in their thinking in the last decade or so.
One said he used to be “as conservative and Republican as anyone could get. Now, while I’ve not become liberal, I’m changed. I see the flaws in all sides. I’m looking for a savior that’s not of this world.”
They described a willingness to take on work that looks impossible from a human perspective.
“I am comfortable with the fact that I will be working my entire life, and my children and their children will be working their entire lives, to undo the mess made by our forefathers.”
Listening more than talking came up often. Sorrow and repentance did, too.
“We need a redemptive way to help others who have great trouble and shame, much of which we have directly or indirectly caused. We need their forgiveness, and we need to stop pretending that we have worked for all we’ve gotten and they have gotten all they deserved.”
Some of the writing focused specifically on the founding of the Presbyterian Church in America. (Most, or maybe even all, of the contributors are connected to the PCA.) For many of the founders “theological commitments and insights were held captive by their commitment to White superiority and racial inequity.”
I felt the heavy weight of the problem often as I read. But the focus on the hope of the Gospel, woven all through, gave me confidence that I can find my personal ways to respond – and so can the Church.
“Passivity has never been a viable Christian response to divisive and destructive social dynamic, especially within the church.”
I loved this, from an essay by a Black pastor in the final section, A Way Forward: “Don’t politicize this issue, gospelize it. The Gospel is the only story big enough to swallow up the grief of a ruined humanity, overcoming that ruin with the glory of a renewed humanity.”
December 18, 2020
Heal Us Emmanuel is a collection of essays written by clergy and leaders in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) addressing the problem of racism in the denomination. I found many good chapters in the book that are worth reading, and I also think the authors' intentions are sincere. However, as a whole, I was bothered that the book does not effectively confront significant attitudes and tactics used in the PCA that perpetuate white domination in local churches. As such, it ultimately fails in its mission.
For example, the book does not sufficiently address racism in the implicit hierarchy of sins taught in the PCA. That is, while racism is an acknowledged sin in the PCA, it is treated as a minor sin. In comparison, PCA members are taught that sexual sin and theological heterodoxy are major sins that must not be tolerated, while at the same time greed and racism are treated as minor sins that must be tolerated in individuals and church leaders. I have heard PCA clergy and leaders teach members to tolerate racists in the church with the hope that more sermons and loving attitudes will change their hearts. At the same time, people of color and interracial families are not tolerated if they speak out (even when asked to do so by church leaders).
Another problem the book does not address is how PCA leaders can protect vulnerable individuals and families of color, as well as interracial families, and in their predominately white congregations. We are invited to stay, but told we must defer to racists in the congregation and metaphorically sit in the back of the bus.
Likewise, the book does not effectively address tactics racists use in PCA churches to preserve white domination without openly promote racists ideas. One tactic I have seen used by a lay leader is to openly claim the problem is not racism, but rather, the problem is promoting the Gospel. This effectively deflects a prophetic finger away from racism in practice in the church, which dilutes the message of the Gospel. Another tactic racist leaders use is to make things so uncomfortable for those who speak out against racism, such as disciplining them for being "unloving and disruptive," that such people eventually "voluntarily" leave. Afterwards, these leaders claim their hearts break over such people leaving, but do nothing significant beyond a phone call or an email message to effectively keep them in the church. I have seen a pastor who spoke out against racism forced to leave a PCA church with the lay leaders falsely claiming it was voluntary.
Like I previously said, there are some good chapters in the book that touch on such issues, and these are worth reading. However, as a whole, Heal Us Emmanuel ultimately fails in its intended mission in spite of the good intentions of its authors.
For example, the book does not sufficiently address racism in the implicit hierarchy of sins taught in the PCA. That is, while racism is an acknowledged sin in the PCA, it is treated as a minor sin. In comparison, PCA members are taught that sexual sin and theological heterodoxy are major sins that must not be tolerated, while at the same time greed and racism are treated as minor sins that must be tolerated in individuals and church leaders. I have heard PCA clergy and leaders teach members to tolerate racists in the church with the hope that more sermons and loving attitudes will change their hearts. At the same time, people of color and interracial families are not tolerated if they speak out (even when asked to do so by church leaders).
Another problem the book does not address is how PCA leaders can protect vulnerable individuals and families of color, as well as interracial families, and in their predominately white congregations. We are invited to stay, but told we must defer to racists in the congregation and metaphorically sit in the back of the bus.
Likewise, the book does not effectively address tactics racists use in PCA churches to preserve white domination without openly promote racists ideas. One tactic I have seen used by a lay leader is to openly claim the problem is not racism, but rather, the problem is promoting the Gospel. This effectively deflects a prophetic finger away from racism in practice in the church, which dilutes the message of the Gospel. Another tactic racist leaders use is to make things so uncomfortable for those who speak out against racism, such as disciplining them for being "unloving and disruptive," that such people eventually "voluntarily" leave. Afterwards, these leaders claim their hearts break over such people leaving, but do nothing significant beyond a phone call or an email message to effectively keep them in the church. I have seen a pastor who spoke out against racism forced to leave a PCA church with the lay leaders falsely claiming it was voluntary.
Like I previously said, there are some good chapters in the book that touch on such issues, and these are worth reading. However, as a whole, Heal Us Emmanuel ultimately fails in its intended mission in spite of the good intentions of its authors.
June 14, 2019
This thoughtful and challenging book is a collection of essays by a variety of thinkers and pastors on the issues of race and racial reconciliation in the church.
The questions and issues of cultural divides, white privilege, decades of hate and anger--all have a place in this book that focuses heavily on what reformed churches and Christians can do to love others and see real change.
Heady stuff, and emotionally and intellectually challenging--but the authors speak hard truths with few easy answers in ways that are loving, understanding, firm and grace-filled. All of these questions and the search for real, caring solutions will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended for questioning people of faith.
The questions and issues of cultural divides, white privilege, decades of hate and anger--all have a place in this book that focuses heavily on what reformed churches and Christians can do to love others and see real change.
Heady stuff, and emotionally and intellectually challenging--but the authors speak hard truths with few easy answers in ways that are loving, understanding, firm and grace-filled. All of these questions and the search for real, caring solutions will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended for questioning people of faith.
February 28, 2019
As a member of the PCA, I appreciated this collection of essays from pastors in my denomination. Some were a bit academic and over my head, and the essays that stood out to me were those that focused on personal stories of each man’s first-hand experience and repentance.
I appreciate the conversations happening and the hope of change in the PCA and the Church.
I appreciate the conversations happening and the hope of change in the PCA and the Church.
December 7, 2017
Excellent - both thoughtful and challenging
January 20, 2018
Excellent read on racial reconciliation. Loved the perspective from multiple ethnicities.
March 20, 2018
This book is a must read. It opened my eyes to not be passive and to think about how my decisions and actions affect those around me.
September 17, 2018
Solid book. 30 different voices from the PCA tackling a much needed topic. Many of the chapters are autobiographical; a few are predominantly theological.
June 20, 2020
This reads like a family conversation from pastors in the PCA
July 3, 2020
Mix of authors writing from their perspective to call us to unity in the Church.
July 1, 2016
This is an excellent compilation of essays by PCA pastors on the issues of race and racial reconciliation. The authors of these essays have sparked a movement within the denomination towards actively engaging in racial issues.
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