Look and listen, take action, and make your voice heard this Black History Month.
Saturday, February 3, 12:30-3 pm:
Union of Black Episcopalians Meeting
In Founders Hall at St. James’
Join the Myra McDaniel Chapter in person on Saturday, February 3 and learn the history of the Texas Freedom Colonies, largely self-sufficient and independent communities of formerly enslaved people after Emancipation.
Sunday, February 4, 9:15-10:10 am:
Sunday Morning Forum on the Theological Artistry of Delores Williams
In Founders Hall and Online
In 1993, Delores Williams published the book Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God-Talk. This theological text uses black women’s experience of struggle as a way into a fuller exploration of the story of Hagar and Sarah, and Hagar in the wilderness. In the second half of the book, Williams examines the distinctive possibilities of womanist interpretation, arguing that Black women’s experience has often been overlooked in theology, even in Black liberation theology and feminist theology.
Payne Lecture featuring Dr. Donyelle McCray
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
6pm Lecture in Knapp Auditorium at the Seminary of the Southwest
7pm Reception in the Weeks Center
This year’s Payne lecturer is Dr. Donyelle McCray, Associate Professor of Homiletics at Yale Divinity School. Her scholarship focuses on African American preaching, sermon genre, and medieval women’s spirituality. She is the author of The Censored Pulpit: Julian of Norwich as Preacher. The lecture will be presented in person at Seminary of the Southwest and live-streamed at the ssw.edu website and the Southwest Facebook page.
Click here to learn more and register
The community is being invited to wear yellow on this day.
Sunday, February 11, 9:15-10:10 am
Sunday Morning Forum on the Theological Artistry of Kelly Brown Douglas
In Founders Hall and Online
The Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas is a leader in the field of womanist theology, racial reconciliation, social justice and sexuality and the Black church. In this session, we will explore Douglas’ theology of the Black body with reference to her 1994 book The Black Christ and her 2012 book Black Bodies and the Black Church: A Blues Slant.
All Day on Sunday, February 11: St. James’ commemorates Absalom Jones Day and the Consecration of Bishop Barbara Harris with guest preacher, The Rev. Charles Graves IV, Missioner for Houston Canterbury.
Sunday, February 18, 9:15-10:10 am
Sunday Morning Forum on the Theological Artistry of Howard Thurman
In Founders Hall and Online
Howard Thurman was an American author, philosopher, theologian, mystic, educator, and civil rights leader. As a prominent religious figure, he played a leading role in many social justice movements and organizations of the twentieth century. Thurman’s theology of radical nonviolence influenced and shaped a generation of civil rights activists, and he was a key mentor to leaders within the civil rights movement, including Martin Luther King Jr. This session will focus on his book Jesus and the Disinherited.
Celebrate Black Austin – East Austin Walking Tour presented by Counselors for Social Justice
Saturday, February 24, 2024 I 12:00pm-3:30pm
Join us in celebrating Austin’s rich Black History. The event will kickoff with a walking tour of East Austin. This tour will highlight landmarks of historic significance and amplify the voices and stories of those from the community. Following the tour will be opportunities to shop with local Black-owned businesses at the Black Makers Market at the African-American Cultural Heritage Center.
Click here to learn more and register
Sunday, February 25, 9:15-10:10 am
Sunday Morning Forum on the Theological Artistry of James Cone
In Founders Hall and Online
The Rev. James Hal Cone launched a radical spiritual conversation in 1969. With his book, Black Theology & Black Power, he challenged the dominant white theological paradigm. Cone laid out his specific argument for God’s radical identification with black people in the United States. In this session, we will revisit the conversation he started with that text.
Black History Month Keynote Address by Dr. Renita Weems
Monday, February 26, 2024 I 6:45pm in Knapp Auditorium at the Seminary of the Southwest
Please join us for the BHM Keynote Address facilitated by Dr. Renita Weems.
The lecture will begin at 6:45pm and will be live-streamed below, at the ssw.edu website, and the Southwest Facebook page.
In addition to being a former professor at Vanderbilt Divinity School (1987-2004), Dr. Renita Weems has taught at Spelman College, Howard University Divinity School and Memphis Theological Seminary. She grew up in Atlanta, GA where she attended Atlanta public schools.
Dr. Weems earned a Ph.D. degree at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1989 making her the first African American woman to earn a doctorate in Old Testament Studies.
