Ep 3.17 Alexander: Enslaved by a Church with Melinda Summer and Andy Massey

Archivist and historians, Melinda and Andy, share a dark secret from St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charleston, South Carolina: St. Matthew's was an enslaver. Melinda and Andy dive into what we know and don't know about Alexander, his life, and work here. We talk about the implications of a church-owned slave. What does this mean for us today? Why is this important for us to talk about? Tune in for this 20-Foot-Pole episode of German church folk in the 1800s in the south.

(*acknowledgement: we are three white people talking about slavery and racism in an attempt to learn from our past to inform our future)

Discussion:

1. Does it suprise you that a Lutheran church (or church in general) owned a slave?

2. What are the implications of this kind of history?

3. What does it mean for us to be church in the wake of this revelation?

4. What do we do now?

Let us pray,

Gracious and merciful God, we repent of our sins of the institution of slavery, hatred, racism, and continued negligence to work for justice and peace for all of your children. We humbly ask your forgiveness and ask for courage and guidance to work towards this justice in our church, nation, and world today. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Recommended reading from Melinda and Andy:

My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem