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GA06110
Presbyterian Writers Guild luncheon
Wilmore wins Distinguished Writer Award, discusses 'thorny issue' of race
by Emily Enders Odom
BIRMINGHAM, June 20 — A lighthearted gathering, more characteristic of a professional conclave than a traditional Assembly luncheon, moved suddenly into the serious question of race with the introduction of the Rev. Gayraud S. Wilmore, speaker and Presbyterian Writers Guild 2006 honoree.
Wilmore, who was selected as winner of the 2005-2006 David Steele Distinguished Writer Award by the Presbyterian Writers Guild (PWG), was introduced by PWG vice president, the Rev. Jerry Van Marter, as one who "stands alone in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in religious circles in this country for the work that he has done." The plaque presented to Wilmore acknowledged him as a writer "whose gift of words teaches, inspires and tirelessly promotes the justice, peace and dignity of all people."
In beginning his remarks during the Tuesday lunch, Wilmore himself questioned whether it would be appropriate for him to address such a "thorny issue" as race, especially at an event at which he was being honored.
With humor he observed, "Because of the experience of my life for the past 40 years, I can't escape that thorny issue, nor can you. At least not today."
"No one in this room should be embarrassed to reflect on whether or not this award enhances the continuing struggle against exclusivity in our church. Nor should anyone here be surprised to find me worrying that possibilities for rare Black involvement and participation in this church might follow from my having been so honored today."
Wilmore proceeded to summarize and reflect upon several hundred years of Black Presbyterian history and struggle, noting that the occasion of his award might "throw back the blanket" that has concealed the "really impressive literary accomplishments of men and women of color whom we know as Presbyterians."
"The purpose of this woefully abbreviated excursus into black Presbyterian history," he said, "is only to emphasize that black Presbyterian writers of the 19th and early 20th centuries set a fast pace for newcomers like LeRoy Patrick … Katie Cannon … Delores Williams and other writers whose names we know, and whose published work has educated both White and Black Presbyterians."
In closing, Wilmore challenged the PWG to initiate an essay contest on an African American literary figure or pioneer at the 200th-anniversary celebration of Black Presbyterians, which is to be held next year in Philadelphia. He admonished his listeners not to forget the words of Leland S. Cozart, president of Barber-Scotia College from 1932-1964, with which he concluded, "Because of the Presbyterian Church, the Negro in America today is infinitely the richer in body, mind, and spirit. Because of the Negro, the Presbyterian church is immeasurably more responsive to human need … and more Christian."
Other PWG honors were presented to the Rev. J. Barrie Shepherd, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Laurel McKay Horton, winner of the 2005 Jim Angell Award for her book, Mary Black’s Family Quilts: Memory and Meaning in Everyday Life. Horton’s book explores the changing functions and meanings of a collection of 16 family quilts belonging to Mary Snoddy Black at the time of her death in 1927. Horton’s mother, who was in Birmingham to celebrate her 90th birthday with her daughter and family at the PWG luncheon, had been the principal encourager of her daughter’s application for the award.
Shepherd, who was not present to receive his award due to his wife's illness, had invited celebrated author Ann Weems to accept on his behalf. Of Shepherd and his new book, Whatever Happened to Delight: Preaching the Gospel in Poetry and Parable, Weems said, "The word I use for this book and for Barrie’s poetry is 'stellar.'"
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