NBA Collaborates with St. Louis-Area Clergy on Racial Justice Initiatives

by NBA Cares

Following the fatal shooting of young adult Michael Brown on August 9, 2014, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, several Disciples clergy and laypersons joined many others in community responses for justice in Ferguson and beyond. The National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)—in cooperation with Reconciliation Ministry, Office of the General Minister and President, Week of Compassion, and Higher Education and Leadership Ministries—hopes to support these local Disciples efforts for justice and racial reconciliation by promoting and facilitating conversation, gathering, advocacy, and healing.

Key clergy in this movement, including Rev. Dietra Wise Baker, Rev. Jacque Foster, Rev. Jeff Moore, Rev. Derrick Perkins, and Rev. Margie Pride, have been meeting with Regional Ministry Team Leader Rev. Penny Ross-Corona to determine ongoing local actions and wider church response. These actions include:

  • Creating a documentary promoting justice work through the testimony of activist clergy, lay leaders, and residents;
  • Working on initiatives addressing the school-to-prison pipeline;
  • Developing tools and resources for the wider Church to address other justice crises;
  • Nurturing peer groups of Disciples for racial justice; and
  • Organizing a St. Louis-Area Disciples Summit on Racial Justice to gather and challenge area Disciples to forge a unique mission imperative for racial justice in the St. Louis region.

St. Louis-Area Disciples Summit on Racial Justice

The St. Louis-Area Disciples Summit on Racial Justice, planned for September 19, will be an opportunity to bring St. Louis-area congregations together to dialogue around issues of racial justice and to equip congregations theologically and emotionally to enter, and sustain, this difficult work. Register for the event and learn more here >>

To help facilitate these efforts, the NBA is contracting with Rev. Dietra Wise Baker, who will serve in a temporary position to coordinate the local organizing of the St. Louis-Area Disciples Summit on Racial Justice. Baker will manage event communications and logistics, working closely with Rev. Jacque Foster, pastor of Compton Heights Christian Church and co-host of the event.

Baker serves as chaplain and program development manager for Episcopal City Mission; adjunct professor at her alma mater, Eden Theological Seminary; and pastor and planter of Liberation Christian Church in St. Louis. Responding quickly to the Brown shooting, in August 2014 Baker became the clergy caucus co-leader of the Gamaliel Networks’ Metropolitan Congregations United, an organization that resourced clergy and congregations in the early stages of the community responses that emerged following Brown’s death in Ferguson.

“We have to come face to face with the fact that racial injustice is everywhere—in our churches, schools, police departments, and local courts,” says Baker. “We are calling St. Louis-area Disciples to decide how we will work together and be known for mission and ministry around racial justice issues. Right now we are known for our hearts—it’s time to be known for our hands.”

“My prayer is that Disciples will come together as we have not come together before—to hear and support each other and to enter into a new depth of ministry to build an anti-racist community,” says Foster. “In this last year, God has moved us to a new place. I believe this is a moment of critical opportunity for us.”

To learn more about racial justice initiatives in the St. Louis region and/or to participate in the upcoming St. Louis-Area Disciples Summit on Racial Justice on September 19, please RSVP here or contact STLsummit@nbacares.org.

Additional Disciples resources related to Ferguson:

Chalice Press books

About the National Benevolent Association
The National Benevolent Association (NBA) serves as the health and social service general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The NBA partners with local congregations, regional and general ministries, and a variety of Disciples-related health and social service providers. The NBA initiates, incubates, and connects partner ministries and organizations that provide direct care to those in need.

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