Discussion Series on Peace, Justice, and Race, Third Wednesdays at 6:30pm via Zoom.
by Norwood Coleman, Sr.
For the next few months on the third Wednesday of the month, I plan to have videos and discussions of topics related to peace, justice, and race. Many of you who attended our previous Zoom sessions expressed appreciation for and further interest in these sessions. Thank you for your interest and support.
Our new sessions will strive to feature topics and events in which SsAM members have participated and/or specific interests or knowledge.
Our first session was on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. This was a follow-up to a live presentation of Margaret Bones’ Credo, a musical setting of Dr. W.E.B. DuBois’ poem by the same name. Click here to read the poem. Click here to listen to the music.
All sessions begin at 6:30 pm. and end no later than 9:00. We will open these Zoom session at 6:20 pm.
Our June session will be June 21, and feature the African Burial Grounds in New York. August will feature the Nashville Student protest of the 1960s. At each session we plan to have a SsAM member who participated in the event as part of our session.
Please join us and if you know of someone without a computer who might be interested in these sessions, please invite them to share the session with you. Sessions may also be accessed by mobile phone.
SsAM Peace and Justice Initiative Communication No. 1
by Norwood Coleman, Sr., Friday, July 22, 2022
I am humbled to have been invited to serve as the liaison between SsAM and the Diocesan Justice and Reconciliation Commission.
It is my intent to facilitate our church’s efforts by involving as many fellow congregants as possible in our deliberations.
I am working with a friend who has worked in the area of peace and racial justice since childhood and who possesses extensive organizational development skills. He has had experience helping large numbers of people develop and carry out successful multicultural, peace and racial justice initiatives throughout our country and other parts of the world.
Take Four Steps toward Peace and Justice
I have spoken with some SsAM members and invite you to join me in a four step process:
- Discover what we (SsAM) have done well in the area of peace and racial justice, how we developed and maintained these practices;
- Dream of a future where we as a congregation fully and inclusively embrace and practice peace and racial justice at levels beyond our current practices;
- Design ministries, practices and resources that help us to move toward a truly peaceful and just church and community; and,
- Deploy — put into action — these practices in our church, among our congregants and in our communities at the same time we assess, evaluate and re-evaluate as necessary.
Over the next few days, you may receive a phone call, letter and/or email inviting you to discuss with me and explore with me the process outlined above.
If you do not hear from me or are unable to participate at this time, there will be other opportunities to inquire about and engage in the process. More details soon.
Norwood J. Coleman, Sr.
