Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference Holds Annual Conference in Atlanta; Two AMEs Honored with “Beautiful are their feet” Awards
Historically, the Black Church has been established as the organizing grounds for applied revolutionary and liberating theologies. From the hush harbors to the first established Black denomination, Black people have embodied and personified faith in our being as heirs of the imago dei. And if there is any body of people keeping the hope of that history alive, it is the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference. After 2 years of prayerdemic and virtual conference gatherings, the organization declared that “the streetlights are on and it’s time to return home”. A home that according to Jamar Boyd, senior manager of Organizational impact, “has since its inception sought to reclaim the Afro-canity and centricity of Christianity and the gospel. Engaging the global epicenters of equity, economics, and communal experiences through education, advocacy, and activism we aim to create sustainable futures for people of African descent”.
The conference convened in person in Atlanta, Ga from February 20-23rd for the first time since February 2020. And as it has for the last 20 years, some of the most prolific voices of our generation called out to faith leaders across the nation and diaspora to gather around the table for the leading Clergy and Lay Leadership Conference of the Black Church. For so many, “this served as a sort of reunion and opportunity to witness how we’ve all morphed, transitioned (some have literally made gender-affirming transitions), and become” -Racquel Gill.
Across generations, hundreds of attendees gathered for the opening worship service at the Ebenezer Baptist Church where Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock is the pastor. In true Black Church nature, protocols were established by a roster of honorable guests and a 2.5 hour celebration that set the tone for spiritual renewal was underway. The centering word from tag-team duo, Rev. Dr. Teresa Fry-Brown and Rev. Dr. Brandon Crowley emphasized the necessity of intergenerational relationships, mentorship, and succession planning if our churches and communities are “to be” in the future. The subsequent workshops and meditation moments provided resources, networks, and practical tools for living, growing, and thriving in our being.
Each day began with an 8am dining at the table of meditation complete with spirited praise and worship and a sermonic moment upon which to hang our meditative reflections. The first sermon preached by Rev. Joshua Mitchell built upon the theme “Where Future Meets Legacy”, encouraging listeners to “Confront the Terrifying Truths” of our calling and purpose even if it must be a path not laid by those before us. Similarly, each evening ended with tag-team sermons that not only called us home to the self and to our communal roots, but called us to create a world of healing, safety, and protection for the most vulnerable members of our community. Rev. Dr. Gina Stewart preached the final word of celebration, encouraging listeners to “Thank God for the midwives who have worked behind the scene to ensure that we live beyond it”. This is our legacy, “celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me- racism, sexism, classism, ableism, etc- and has failed”.
The offered sessions were comprehensively aligned with the overarching theme and are categorized as follows: Ableism, African Spirituality, Gender, Theoethics, Tech, Afrofuturism, Health, and Womanism. The sessions were led by diverse panels of the best and brightest voices in their respective fields, one of whom is a leading pastor in the AME Church. Rev. William H. Lamar, IV encouraged listeners to enter into stillness and “ask the future what it might be teaching us, even as we remember that if we want a future, we must tend to the soil of our history”. For Rev. Dr. Heber Brown of Baltimore, it is our moral and livelihood imperative to “find a way back to the soil, because who controls our food controls us”. The two perspectives hold in tandem the city and southern voices of both ancestral presence and future legacy. In just 4 days, the convening served as a crucible of justice, culture, intellect, and spirituality that transformed all who were open to fresh revelation.
Understanding the brevity of the content and its possible impact on individuals, a meditation room was set up for reprieve throughout the day. It was truly a model for holistic care in the midst of our necessary work. In addition to the space that was already designated, hosts of the African Spirituality session offered a word-of-mouth, open invitation gathering that became a 4hr long deliverance service. Having learned at the feet of the elders, session attendees had an opportunity to gather ‘round the altar of African traditional religion for practical application- a place of refuge, tears, shared stories, and prayer. In the words of Mama Dr. Itihari Toure, “this is only the beginning. We are ever-seeking and ever growing in our journey…”
The Proctor Conference, therefore serves as our clarion call. “The streetlights are on and we’ve made it back home. Wash yourself off- the Grief of Black bodies, the stench of oppression, inability to trust one another- wash off those smells of outside. Come on home and call one another by name so we always know where home is. And you safeguard home with all that you have. Safeguard proctor- make it good for trans, poor, Women, Black people. Call one another by name and declare ‘I am a link in this chain and the chain will not break with me’”.
You can support the ongoing work of the conference via the website at https://sdpconference.info/legacy-fund/
