Beloved Trinity
We are the body of Christ – each and every one of us. That’s the core of where we start. What we are seeing right now is an increasing awareness that we are not where we want to be. - Tra Walker, committee member
Beloved Trinity is a layperson-led group within Holy Trinity Parish that seeks to live into our baptismal vows by engaging our church and community in better discerning the whole Body of Christ, particularly in our Christian response to systemic racism.
This week, the Georgia House of Representatives introduced a sweeping bill that would restrict voting access across the state. This legislation further silences voices that have been marginalized in our democracy for far too long. Click on our newsletter to learn how you can help!
An Episcopal Moment in Black History
Dr. Verna Josephine Dozier (1917-2006) was an English teacher, school administrator, Christian educator, and theologian who changed the way Episcopalians learn and use scripture in our lives. She is best known today for her national leadership in Christian formation and for empowering the ministry of the laity. For her work in this space, she received honorary doctorates from both the University of the South and Virginia Theological Seminary. One of her best-loved quotes is, "The important question to ask is not, 'What do you believe?' but 'What difference does it make that you believe?'" Click here to read more about her.
Beloved Trinity has two primary paths for this work:
- Formation: engaging in discussion, reading, and learning within our church to help us live more fully into our baptismal call as Christians.
- Activism: engaging with our community (neighborhood, city, state, and country) to advocate for justice and peace among all people.
Within activism, we have discerned three focus points at this time: demilitarizing the police, anti-lynching legislation, and voting rights.
As part of this work, we value:
- Measurable action, rooted in our faith
- A spirit of compassion, humility, and respect for the dignity of every human being
- Going beyond “polite Christianity” and building deep, formative, authentic community
About our name: We seek Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of Beloved Community here at Holy Trinity; hence, Beloved Trinity.
"Now is the time to stand with the people of color within your communities, amplify their voices, and take action! That action, for Holy Trinity Parish, begins with simple signage “BLACK LIVES MATTER TO GOD; BLACK LIVES MATTER TO US”. To see how you can get involved with the holy work being done by the Beloved Trinity, please contact us using the below contact information." - Roger Carter, Committee Member
Get Involved
We would love to have you join us. To get involved in our work, please fill out this form and a committee member will be in touch with you.
We want to be a part of building the future in this church. As a committee we will seek ways to use the resources available through the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing. We will seek opportunities for spiritual formation and learning guided by the Word of God, and then take these learnings outside the church walls into Spirit-filled action, advocacy, and activism. - Peter Gross, committee member
Links and Resources (websites, sermons, podcasts, prayers)
To
read Tra and Peter’s full letter, click
here.
To
read Carter’s full letter, click
here.
To read other
letters from our committee members, follow
this link.