By Michael Freeman, Managing Editor
In light of the Students’ Association noose incident Sept. 3, race issues are heavily imprinted on students’ minds. But, the topics of race and racial reconciliation also were on students’ minds last year when Brady Bryce, director of ministry events, was planning the 2008 Summit.
“It was really on student awareness then,” Bryce said. “And now, it’s back on the radar in a big, big way, probably even more so. It’s just something that’s there; it’s something that people wonder about.”
Students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to discuss race issues in three different lecture sessions during Summit. “Transcending Racism” will be Monday through Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the Biblical Studies Building Room 130. “Show Us How You Do It: Marshall Keeble and the Rise of Black Churches of Christ in the United States” will be Monday at 4 p.m. in the Biblical Studies Building Room 120. “Multiculturalism and Diversity: The 21st Century Challenges for the Church” will be Tuesday and Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the Biblical Studies Building Room 127.
“Diversity is probably the 21st century church’s greatest challenge,” said George Pendergrass, director of the Office for Multicultural Enrichment. “We want to diversify; we just don’t know how.
Pendergrass will be leading the “Multiculturalism and Diversity” lecture, where the focus will be on how Churches of Christ can best integrate diversity into their congregations.
“You look at any organization that is diverse and you look at the organizations that are not and you will see a major productivity and production difference,” Pendergrass said.
Church leaders and alumni were not the only ones who were initially interested in these sessions. When Summit was being planned, the ACU Student Planning Team specifically requested race-related lectures.
“There was not an intentional effort to just turn on a bunch of burners, and let’s talk about every controversial issue,” Bryce said.
Douglas Foster, Travis Stanley, Walter Taylor, Damon Parker, Beatriz Walker, Edward Robinson and Pendergrass will all lead the different race-related lectures. Pendergrass said he is glad extensive planning went into bringing these speakers to Summit.
“I just applaud him in such a tremendous way,” Pendergrass said of Bryce. “He’s dealing with the Bible and making [it] applicable to contemporary issues. That’s what we need. And personally, I think our young people appreciate it. They’re tired of the surface level religion.”
