wfn.org | PDAT Speaker Shares Racial Justice

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

22-April-1997 
97177 
 
                 PDAT Speaker Shares Racial Justice And 
                      Reconciliation Experience 
 
                           by Julian Shipp 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Addressing members of the newly organized Presbyterian 
Disaster Assistance Team (PDAT) here April 17, the Rev. Morris 
Stimage-Norwood said he was emotionally compelled to combat the racism that 
fueled the burning of black churches nationwide and spiritually led to join 
the ongoing rebuilding efforts. 
 
    African-American pastor of Martin Luther King Jr. Community 
Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Mass., Stimage-Norwood is credited with 
galvanizing the Council of Churches of Greater Springfield to become a 
convener for "Project Rebuild," a broad-based initiative in the Springfield 
area for rebuilding Rosemary Baptist Church in Barnwell, S.C. The Council's 
efforts are part of a nationwide appeal by the National Council of 
Churches. 
 
    As he stood last August amid the smoldering remains of Rosemary Baptist 
Church, Stimage- Norwood said, he was nearly overcome by feelings of 
despair and anger as he saw wooden pews and hymnals reduced to ash and a 
piano and stained-glass windows burned beyond recognition. For generations, 
the 114-year-old church had served the spiritual and social needs of more 
than 50 African- American families in Barnwell.  
 
    "At that moment, I understood how Nehemiah must have felt when he 
entered through the gates of Jerusalem and found that the city was lying in 
ruins," Stimage-Norwood said. "And after Nehemiah assessed the situation, 
he said we must rise up and rebuild. I believe that as I stood there ... I 
was absolutely convinced that God was telling us to rise up and to rebuild 
this church." 
 
    And rise up they did. After prayer and discussion, it was determined 
that the best way to rebuild the church would be to develop a strong, 
broad-based coalition. 
 
     Marshaling all available resources, including United Way organizations 
in Columbia, S.C., Barnwell, S.C., and Springfield, Mass., a local 
African-American clergy group, state and local officials, Habitat for 
Humanity, the Jewish Federation, the Brotherhood Builders of the Southern 
Baptist Convention, more than 109 volunteers from the Springfield area and 
more than 30 student volunteers from Western New England College, 
Stimage-Norwood used the opportunity to build bridges in the community. 
 
    Consequently, framing on the new church building was to be completed 
April 19 and the church building should be completed by early summer. 
Stimage-Norwood said one of Project Rebuild's goals was to foster racial 
reconciliation by intentionally recruiting workers willing to work across 
racial, theological and cultural lines. 
 
    "We believe we have made some type of contribution to race relations in 
this country," Stimage-Norwood said. "We have great faith in this project 
and we fully expect that each of our 14 work teams will have a 
life-changing experience ... that reshapes our thinking, revives our 
healing and renews our belief in the quality and equality of all God's 
children." 
 
    Stimage-Norwood said he suggested to colleagues that Rosemary Baptist 
Church be selected after several telephone conversations with the Rev. Ruth 
Aiken, church pastor, and the Rev. David Turner, pastor of Barnwell 
Presbyterian Church. He said he heard of Aiken through the Rev. Ferdinand 
O. Pharr, stated clerk of Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery. 
 
    Ironically, before moving to Springfield, Mass., in 1995, 
Stimage-Norwood said, he considered the pastorate at Matthews-Murkland 
Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C. Matthews-Murkland had an unused 
sanctuary destroyed by arson June 6, 1996. 
 
    Stan Hankins, associate for the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) 
program in the Worldwide Ministries Division, said the spate of church 
burnings demanded a great deal of time and attention, but the crisis 
focused the denomination's work teams and resources. Following the National 
Council of Churches' lead, Hankins said, Presbyterians have donated more 
than $800,000 to aid burned churches nationally. 
 
    PDA is one of three programs supported by the One Great Hour of Sharing 
Offering. It is part of the Worldwide Ministries Division of the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is administered under the direction of the 
Global Service and Witness Program Area. 
 
    PDAT's work teams are composed of volunteers who provide valuable 
assistance to communities affected by a disaster. For more information, 
write Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, 
KY 40202-1396. 

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