By Adrianna Castaneda

 

ACU faculty met Tuesday to discuss Dr. Salter McNeil’s latest book about spiritual and social reconciliation, A Credible Witness.

On Jan. 10, Dr. Salter McNeil, president and founder of Salter McNeil & Associates and leader in the field of racial, ethnic and gender reconciliation, will continue the conversation on racial reconciliation at ACU through a discussion of the book.

Dr. Garry Bailey, associate professor of conflict resolution, and Dr. Stephanie Hamm, assistant professor of social work, team-led a faculty reading group centered on McNeil’s book. Hamm said the group could lead toward reconciliation and greater cultural competence on campus.

“Reconciliation is an issue happening now in our country, and historically, religious groups have not been coming together on these issues,” Hamm said.

United by Faith, a faith-based group of ACU faculty and students, meets once a month to talk about issues of race reconciliation with the intent of furthering the movement on campus and throughout the Abilene community, Bailey said. He pointed to the public apology made by Dr. Money in 1999 as an example.

Dr. Money’s apology was delivered in a Southwest Christian College auditorium filled with African-American students who had been excluded from mainstream universities. Money apologized for past injustices ACU committed through its acceptance policies – or lack thereof – for African-American students.

Dr. Dwayne Harapnuik, director of faculty enrichment, said the reading group and faculty discussions with McNeil are all part of a “bigger picture.” Harapnuik said the discussions are leading to a presentation by Tim Wise, an anti-racist author, who will speak to students, faculty and other Abilenians on March 2.

Wise will explain how to identify “systems of privilege,” specifically that of whites in America, said Dennis Marquardt, education technology project manager. Wise will discuss how the systems developed and if they exist today, particularly on campus.

“This might irritate people and cause an uproar, but it will prepare the campus,” Harapnuik said.