Dear Outlook reader,
To introduce myself: In June of 2019, I retired from 17 years of service as the senior pastor of The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. Before that, I served for 12 years as the senior pastor of Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church in Baltimore. I am currently serving Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia, part time as their theologian in residence. Over the last 30 years, I have devoted myself to connecting the contemplative arts and theological reflection to the practice of community organizing and ministry.
I have written two books trying to make the connections between these disciplines: “Theology from the Trenches: Reflections on Urban Ministry” and “The Cross Examen: A Spirituality for Activists.” The latter book, hot off the press, explores the essential relationship between spirituality and activism — I contend that they share the same footprint: the theology of the cross. The cross of Jesus Christ reveals both the brokenness in our lives and the corresponding brokenness in the world; it also discloses the God who is always (and already) bringing resurrection and life out of the death-tending ways of our world. I suspect you will hear some of the themes of this book in editorial columns over the coming months.
I have also spent much of the last 30 years in community organizing with two affiliates of The Industrial Areas Foundation in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The IAF is the nation’s largest and oldest network of faith- and community-based organizations. As its website explains, it “partners with religious congregations and civic organizations at the local level to build broad-based organizing projects, which create new capacity in a community for leadership development, citizen-led action and relationships across the lines that often divide our communities.” Community organizing has taught me a great deal about the power of relational culture — the power of connecting deeply with people’s stories of anger over injustices and their yearning to do something about it. I have found that the tools of community organizing are not only an effective way to organize a local community, they also have a great deal to contribute to the life and ministry of the church. In the coming months, you also will no doubt hear some of my stories about the church’s engagement in community organizing.
My wife Frances and I reside in Richmond, Virginia, where she serves on the faculty at Union Presbyterian Seminary, and where I also occasionally teach as adjunct faculty. In our spare time, we love to hike. Every August (when pandemics do not sabotage plans) we travel to the Rocky Mountain National Park and Indian Peaks Wilderness in Colorado to hike and read. We truly love it there — it is our home away from home! I also play the classical guitar, though after many years of guitar lessons, I still have a long way to go. I love it because it is one area of my life where I am actually improving! Bach’s lute and cello suites are my favorites.
Jay Blossom will join me in interim leadership in January. Over the coming months, I look forward to serving at the Outlook, contributing to reflections on what God is calling Presbyterians to be and do in the midst of the challenges of our current historical moment.
In Christ,
Roger
