Description

Julie and Casey sit down with Rev. Dr. Courtney Pace to talk about social justice, racism and sexism within religious traditions, how to have difficult conversations, the powerful story of civil rights activist Prathia Hall, and how both faith traditions and workplaces can decentralize power and uplift everyone.  And also figure skating.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

• To understand people who are different from us, we have to understand intersectionality, and how everyone carries multiple identities that often complicate their experience of discrimination.
• Sometimes, an environment doesn’t have to TELL you to be quiet if it teaches you effectively to quiet yourself.  And sometimes you don’t realize how weird that is until you get out - the fish doesn’t understand what water is, because it’s just their world.
• Courtney’s philosophy: the central deity in faith is working toward liberation and dismantling hierarchy where everyone treats everyone else with love - but because people think in terms of dominance and power, we project our own stuff onto God and create toxic systems.
• The worst thing that can happen if you ask a question (even of something as big as GOD) is that you don’t get an answer . . . but often you find information that helps you understand and participate in the world in a richer way.
• Difficult conversations require practice.  Telling people the truth is important (and sometimes the kindest thing you can do for the community and the individual), and how we do it and the intention with which we do it with is incredibly important.
• Prathia Hall (the subject of Courtney’s book) was central to the story of the Selma march, a leading voice in the civil rights movement, and one of the most formidable minds of her generation.
• When people can be their real selves, they are happier, more productive, and more creative.  When everyone has what they need, it leads to community thriving.
• Re: the patriarchy and/or toxic circumstances: “If my tombstone reads “That Girl Was a Problem”, then glory be.”

Mentioned in the episode:

Jes Kast https://www.revjeskast.com

Broderick Greer  http://www.broderickgreer.com

Allyson Dylan Robinson  http://allysonrobinson.com

Robyn Henderson Espinosa  https://irobyn.com

Emmy Keggler  http://emmykegler.com

Hear Prathia Hall preach:

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-stole-sisters-31041590/episode/rev-dr-prathia-hall-a-38236357/

https://soundcloud.com/dradambanks/01-between-the-wilderness-and

Read Courtney's work for Forbes.

Read “Freedom Faith: The Womanist Vision of Prathia Hall”

Courtney Pace is Associate Vice President of Talent at FedEx Credit Association, overseeing Human Resources, Training, Leadership Development, and Volunteering. She joined the invitation-only Forbes Human Resources Council in 2019. Her research interests include race and gender, Baptist history, the Civil Rights Movement, and social justice in American religion. Her first book, Freedom Faith (UGA Press, 2019), is the first ever biography of Rev. Dr. Prathia Hall, a womanist Baptist preacher and civil rights activist. She is currently completing an anthology of Hall’s sermons and essays. She has a PhD in Religion from Baylor University (2014), a Masters of Divinity in Theology from George W. Truett Theological Seminary (2007), and an Honors Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Engineering, with minors in Mathematics and Psychology, from The University of Texas at Arlington (2004) and is the Prathia Hall Scholar in Residence of Social Justice History for Equity for Women in the Church. She is ordained through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and works closely with the Alliance of Baptists and Baptist Women in Ministry. She is a board member of Equity for Women in the Church, a non-profit organization that promotes the acceptance and placement of women in ministry as well as interracial and ecumenical cooperation, and is frequently invited as guest preacher to churches across the country. She is also the founder and chair of the Clergy Advocacy Board for Planned Parenthood of Greater Tennessee and North Mississippi. Rev. Dr. Pace also created popular podcast “Stole Sisters,” which features women preachers representing multiple denominations, races, and regions.