Exploring the Radical Black Church

Rev. Terrance Thomas, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Champaign, traced the Black church from the "invisible institution" of slavery through Denmark Vesey, Nat Turner, Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman to theologians James Cone, Katie Cannon and Bishop Yvette Flunder, arguing that a church that is not radical is not the Black church. Pastor Michael Crosby of First Mennonite Church introduced him; an extended Q&A covered Gaza, policing, gender in the Black church and the spread of the prosperity gospel. University YMCA executive director Jim Hinterlong spoke from the floor about the Y as a space for candid speech. A Black History Month Friday Forum, held jointly with Conversation Cafe.