History that HauntsI traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama last week to speak to the National Black Presbyterian Caucus. My purpose was to invite members of that caucus to participate with us in Montreat, particularly at the Church Unbound Conference next summer. But it was also my purpose to encourage African-American Presbyterians to join us more vigorously in all our conferences and to consider having us host their special events.
Before my invitation could be heard, however, members of that group had to hear something else from me. They had to hear me acknowledge Montreat’s history of being inhospitable to African-Americans. They knew that history before I arrived. It is the history of how this institution for years barred African-
Americans from welcome here and then of how the MRA was so slow to change its segregationist policies — so much slower than the General Assembly of the old Southern Presbyterian Church. I know there is more to Montreat’s history than this dark side.
I know that it was here in those days of segregation that many courageous voices were lifted calling for this place to follow Jesus the Christ and welcome all of God’s children. But that painful history of shunning some of God’s people still haunts this place. And I am discovering that it is only as we acknowledge the reality of that history publicly without trying to sugarcoat it and as we openly and honestly express regret that it is a part of our story that people once hurt by us will trust our welcome.
Looking back, I wonder if it was fear that made Montreat cling so long to the way of segregation. And that being said, I wonder, too, if there are those today who, because of fears we have now, are being shunned and not fully welcomed into this place set apart. I pray for the courage we need to face our fears. I pray that those who come to Montreat after us will never be haunted by our lack of hospitality toward any of God’s children.
Grace and peace,
Pete
Before my invitation could be heard, however, members of that group had to hear something else from me. They had to hear me acknowledge Montreat’s history of being inhospitable to African-Americans. They knew that history before I arrived. It is the history of how this institution for years barred African-
Americans from welcome here and then of how the MRA was so slow to change its segregationist policies — so much slower than the General Assembly of the old Southern Presbyterian Church. I know there is more to Montreat’s history than this dark side.
I know that it was here in those days of segregation that many courageous voices were lifted calling for this place to follow Jesus the Christ and welcome all of God’s children. But that painful history of shunning some of God’s people still haunts this place. And I am discovering that it is only as we acknowledge the reality of that history publicly without trying to sugarcoat it and as we openly and honestly express regret that it is a part of our story that people once hurt by us will trust our welcome.
Looking back, I wonder if it was fear that made Montreat cling so long to the way of segregation. And that being said, I wonder, too, if there are those today who, because of fears we have now, are being shunned and not fully welcomed into this place set apart. I pray for the courage we need to face our fears. I pray that those who come to Montreat after us will never be haunted by our lack of hospitality toward any of God’s children.
Grace and peace,
Pete
Courtney Kovacs is the Creative Assistant at Montreat Conference Center. She works on This Week In Montreat and the Sunday Worship Bulletins. This is her second year on Summer Staff.
Courtney can be reached at creativeassistant@montreat.org.
Courtney can be reached at creativeassistant@montreat.org.
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