Locs, Heels, and the Bible

I found some notes relevant to this blog in my journal from a few years ago. I guess we can say that history and the present indeed play tag with each other. I have expanded on my earlier notes for the purpose of this post.  So! What are bullies doing at church? Bullying what else? Well, that, and the same things that many of us are doing in church - seeking, searching, etc. As with every human being, we take ourselves with us wherever we go. Bullies are no different. Additionally, a bully may not even recognize the bullying characteristic in themselves and because they are bullies, there may not be a lot of people who are willing to risk pointing it out. This blog post delves into the collateral damage that occurs when bullying infiltrates the church, exploring this issue through a Biblical lens, grounded in the teachings of the United Methodist Church (UMC).  Human beings generally seek solace, love, and spiritual nourishment in places like churches. However, despite our bes...

  The jackasses are at it again.  When a human entity is named ‘Supreme’ anything, one can expect the possibility that power will be preferred over people.  The supreme court has ruled that affirmative action is ‘unconstitutional’ and the people who would be most negatively affected by this decision are people of Color and anyone of little or no means.  What is affirmative action: Affirmative action is a response to centuries of systemic oppression rooted in racism and more forms of othering. It is aimed at addressing historical disadvantages faced by marginalized communities, promotes inclusivity and diversity, and compels institutions to be accountable for creating spaces mainly for people of Color who are always at the receiving end of the shit stick. The decision to dismantle affirmative action fails to acknowledge the ongoing existence of a white-centric culture and ignores the practical ways in which systems can be restructured to be more inclusive. It serves a...