The 224th annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

Last fall Katrina Browne and I participated in a screening of Traces of the Trade at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore, Maryland, followed by a day-long discussion of how the Diocese of Maryland could face its own challenges related to the legacy of slavery. While there I met Beth McNamara who, along with her daughter Alison, owns St. Bede’s Books (conveniently located at the Cathedral, which also serves as the Diocesan Center).

Beth stayed in touch with me and, along with the Anti-Racism Committee of the diocese, arranged to have me present for their annual convention May 2-3. They wanted me to be available to speak with their fellow convention attendees about Traces of the Trade as well as about my memoir of our journey, Inheriting The Trade.

I’m not Episcopalian so don’t follow the church’s commitment as a denomination to undoing racism as closely as some of my cousins do. What I witnessed over these two days has shown me that there is a growing group of dedicated Episcopalians in Maryland who are serious about deepening the conversation about race in their church and in our nation.

Though I am not a member of a church I enjoy working with churches. Over the past several years I’ve learned that churches have the potential of being ideal places to hold difficult conversations such as those involving injustice based in issues of race. Church people profess to believe in spiritual things and to holding each other accountable for living just lives and treating others with grace and equity. What I experienced these past two days reinforces the hope I have that we truly can make a difference in undoing racism in our world.

No Comments »