Rev. Kelli X: An Integral Part of The Way Forward
Rev. Kelli X: An Integral Part of The Way Forward
Scarritt Bennett Center Director of Racial Justice Ministries Rev. Kelli X is slated to join a lineup of leaders from across the country who will convene in Nashville to discuss the way of following Jesus in a time of white Christian nationalism.
A Way Forward: Hope in Uncertain Times is a gathering for all who care about justice and community, seeking to reclaim the true message of Jesus as a counter-voice to white Christian nationalism. Through inspiring speakers and meaningful breakout sessions, the free 3-day event is designed to offer hope, education and actionable next steps to address an extremist movement fueled by white exceptionalism and exclusion with the goal of whitewashing America.
Rev. Kelli X will be participating in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Jemar Tisby on the morning of Saturday August 29th. Rev. X, alongside fellow panelists Rep. Justin J. Pearson and Terry O’Neil will tap into Nashville’s rich history of simple, faithful folk who pursued justice to help point a way forward into God’s purposeful and preferred future.
“It is a joy and a sacred honor to join this gathering of kindred spirits for A Way Forward,” shared Rev. Kelli X. “As people of faith, we are called not to despair in uncertain times, but to be bearers of hope — to stand in the truth of a Jesus who walked among the marginalized and spoke boldly against injustice. I look forward to this holy conversation, to breaking bread with these fellow laborers in the work of justice, and to reminding our community that the arc still bends, and we are not walking this road alone.”
A Way Forward is sponsored by Congregations United for Racial Equity & Justice (CUREJ), Brentwood UMC Race & Faith Team, Belmont University, and TWK United Methodist Church Conference Anti-Racism Coalition
“America once again finds itself at a critical crossroads. The polarization dividing our nation reaches beyond politics. It enters our neighborhoods, our communities, and even our pews,” said Rev. Dr. Sondrea Tolbert, Executive Director of Scarritt Bennett Center. “White Christian nationalism distorts the Christian faith to advance a vision of America that denies our diversity and attempts to erase the painful truth that much of this nation’s power and wealth was built through stolen labor, stolen land, and the exploitation of the gifts, ideas, and innovations of marginalized people.”
Rev. Tolbert continued, “Scarritt Bennett Center and our predecessor institution, Scarritt College for Christian Workers, have long stood at the intersection of faith, education, civil rights, and social justice. From challenging segregation and preparing generations of courageous leaders to supporting Nashville’s Civil Rights Movement, our campus has been sacred ground for those working toward freedom and human dignity. Our historic witness is not simply something we celebrate. Our historic witness is a responsibility we continue to carry. We stood against explicit and implicit racism then, and we are still standing, speaking, educating, and creating space for a more just world today.”
Learn more and register for A Way Forward: Hope in Uncertain Times.
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