Rev. Dr. Shakira Sanchez-Collins
Executive Pastor, St. James AME Church, Chicago, Illinois
In the wake of political turmoil and growing injustices, Black Christians from all over the country gathered in Chicago during Black History Month to take part in the Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference. Founded in 2003 by the Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jr., Dr. Iva Carruthers, Reverend Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, this annual sacred gathering was held to equip clergy, laypersons, and seminarians to address the injustices of our times through community organizing, collaboration, and ministry development.
Everyone gathered for the opening worship service in the historic edifice of Quinn Chapel AME Church, the first Black church in Chicago, Illinois, and a station on the Underground Railroad. Under the leadership of Rev. Troy Venning, Quinn Chapel AME Church served as the sacred sanctuary where the conference began with prophetic preaching from the Rev. Reginald Sharpe, uplifting song, and intentional worship.
This year’s theme, “Sacred Fire: Igniting Resilience, Resistance, and Response,” was demonstrated through the informative workshops, powerful preaching, and the honoring of our elders. Having attended the Proctor Conference since its earliest days, I have found it to be not just an informative space but also a space of renewal and reunion. Coming together with your co-laborers in Christ in one place reminds us that we have the power of community (both near and far) across denominations, undergirding us as we strive to meet the needs of our present time in our respective places. In a time when injustices have only increased, it is imperative that our churches serve as sacred spaces that perpetuate love and justice.
I attended a workshop called “Economic Justice: Toward a Freedom Budget for the 21st Century,” led by Dr. Michael Greene, an economist, that focused on addressing economic rights as human rights. Rooted in the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr., A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, and Sadie T.M Alexander, among others, the workshop emphasized that economic rights are central to Black Freedom. Dr. Greene’s work inspired us to think beyond teaching individual financial literacy and to also advocate for communal economic rights, such as the right to work, the right to organize/join unions, and the right to a livable income. Other workshops and plenary sessions focused on essential issues, including, but not limited to, political mobilization, community organizing and advocacy, Black Pastoral Care approaches, and clergy wellness.
The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference continues to be a time and space for encouraging and equipping churches and church leaders to live up to scripture found in Micah 6:8 that asks “… what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
*Pictured: From Left to Right
Chinelo Tyler, Rev. Craig Robinson, Jr., Rev. Dr. AnneMarie Mingo, Brittni Joy West-Ware, Rev. Anita Clemons, Rev. Dr. Diane Bogues, Rev. Dr. Shakira Sanchez-Collins
