Bettie Durrah Living History interview, 2013.

Primary tabs

Download

TEXT

Transcript

speaker
The one thing I want to say is
speaker
it would be helpful if when
speaker
I ask the question you could kind of
speaker
rephrase the question when you
speaker
start your answer.
speaker
Because what we do is we cut my voice down.
speaker
If you don't. Don't worry about it don't think about
speaker
it too hard because you'll respond
speaker
and have come out.
speaker
So the first thing I'd like you to do is
speaker
state your name
speaker
and say where we're at.
speaker
And anything else you kind of just
speaker
one thing about who you are as a general
speaker
introduction
speaker
don't really
speaker
address the first church.
speaker
And that's where we are now.
speaker
That's good news.
speaker
Tell us about your early life in the church.
speaker
What was it like.
speaker
Did you have any mentors that stand
speaker
out to you want
speaker
to know about my early life.
speaker
Well I was born
speaker
in after church third generation
speaker
Presbyterian 140
speaker
miles from here first
speaker
Unitus for Terry church
speaker
and my father was a
speaker
really elder coach
speaker
just called it elders at the time
speaker
and grew
speaker
up in that church.
speaker
My grandmother joined the Presbyterian
speaker
church so that her two children
speaker
could attend a.
speaker
We're going to school.
speaker
McClellan hadn't had a point in time.
speaker
No public high
speaker
school was available for
speaker
African-Americans.
speaker
So I did a number of
speaker
things in the church.
speaker
I was also sent to
speaker
conferences Stillman College
speaker
in Tuscaloosa Alabama
speaker
and I was hit by some white women from
speaker
First Presbyterian Church.
speaker
And I think at the time they
speaker
knew that they were a part of the
speaker
Southern branch
speaker
and we are part of the northern branch.
speaker
But when I became Monterey the first year
speaker
Greater Atlanta Moses says after reading
speaker
it now I said that
speaker
to me she had
speaker
now become a full partner in the machine
speaker
and for mentors.
speaker
Q You asked about that
speaker
two mentors there now
speaker
Mildred Brown
speaker
who was a former staff
speaker
and I worked with her in
speaker
was was women of color
speaker
the third or women's Coordinating Committee
speaker
and Thelma enough
speaker
to fill the air.
speaker
In fact I first began going to the General
speaker
Assembly in 1976
speaker
to firm in her
speaker
election
speaker
and I've been going since.
speaker
Never miss a day.
speaker
You are an active member of Women's Organizations
speaker
and held office offices
speaker
and Presbyterian women
speaker
and Church Women United.
speaker
How did you start becoming involved
speaker
in these groups.
speaker
Well let me tell you about women
speaker
first
speaker
and my involvement in that
speaker
right after college I joined
speaker
this church
speaker
and as soon as I joined
speaker
the first two women it wasn't
speaker
called that time
speaker
asked me if I would serve as secretary
speaker
of the Presbyterian Ga.
speaker
And I said yes.
speaker
The woman who was a secretary was moved
speaker
into telephone call
speaker
came
speaker
involved in that organization
speaker
worked with women two
speaker
and three times my age
speaker
but honing my skills in the country
speaker
moving in various leadership roles.
speaker
The first meeting as I began my secretarial
speaker
role.
speaker
Someone said that's Conemaugh
speaker
commission on a medical mission
speaker
and relations.
speaker
And I remember that very well she said.
speaker
I'm saying that the secretary
speaker
and what she was saying was
speaker
you a novice.
speaker
You have to learn
speaker
and we're willing to help you.
speaker
And I've always appreciated that.
speaker
In fact she's a sister in law was
speaker
a prominent Presbyterians
speaker
in this denomination
speaker
and this is
speaker
one of
speaker
mine.
speaker
Tell us about how you
speaker
got involved with church women united.
speaker
Well to be Presbyterian
speaker
apostles ecumenical actual state.
speaker
One always hears.
speaker
So I couldn't be involved
speaker
in persecuting women without
speaker
being
speaker
with church from you.
speaker
So I began attending
speaker
Thurstan night celebrations
speaker
because they met on Thursday night
speaker
and I couldn't go to that Friday
speaker
the Friday morning celebrations.
speaker
And so I met
speaker
with them and worked
speaker
my way up to becoming
speaker
the president of the
speaker
United in Georgia
speaker
and not in greater Atlanta not
speaker
implant her.
speaker
And that is because they still need them said
speaker
on Friday morning Saturday.
speaker
And I'm not available
speaker
but the point is I have worked
speaker
with that organization for many years.
speaker
Well let me back up for a moment
speaker
as I went into Presbyterian women I
speaker
became the model
speaker
through a number of leadership positions
speaker
and then became the moderator of Presbyterian
speaker
women at
speaker
presbytery and at the Senate level
speaker
and served on a number of other committees
speaker
blue ribbon committees.
speaker
And at the point although
speaker
I was a part of a Joint Committee on
speaker
Women
speaker
where are we.
speaker
What do you want to put together all the women
speaker
constituency groups
speaker
that were going into the new denomination
speaker
but what church of your mind.
speaker
I was working simultaneously
speaker
with Presbyterian women
speaker
and a few other organizations
speaker
and they went to
speaker
serve on the nominating committee
speaker
for churchwomen United nationally
speaker
and found to be coming
speaker
a few years ago.
speaker
Chair of the Communications
speaker
Committee
speaker
and because of that I have
speaker
the responsibility for preparing
speaker
the newsletter
speaker
which came out every other month.
speaker
I didn't hide what I did was approve
speaker
the copy prepare my
speaker
my work and set
speaker
the directions for that newsletter.
speaker
And that's what most of that is that I have available
speaker
for you to see.
speaker
When you were part of the
speaker
Sunni militiamen I ask you this
speaker
when you were part of the Reunion
speaker
Committee bringing the women's organizations
speaker
together. What with the nature of that
speaker
work.
speaker
Did you find him working
speaker
with it. Finding
speaker
it was hard work
speaker
because you were bringing two groups of women
speaker
two groups of women in the various
speaker
one group pursuit of the branch the
speaker
one represented on the southern branch you had to
speaker
the women you had third world women
speaker
and the Southern
speaker
to be forgotten
speaker
Committee of Women of Color
speaker
Muslim community women collocate many
speaker
of them you had
speaker
clergywomen you had about four
speaker
different women's constituency
speaker
groups. Oh both sides.
speaker
And each one pulling different things.
speaker
And I remember you
speaker
and I I was in Paris
speaker
and the girl from
speaker
Texas she was chair
speaker
of the Southern Women's Group
speaker
and I'm chair of Third World Women's Coordinating
speaker
Committee and we went before the Joint Committee on
speaker
Women to say what we wanted.
speaker
We wanted a separate organization
speaker
we wanted this we want that we didn't get
speaker
everything that we wanted
speaker
but we did get an
speaker
organization that was willing to
speaker
limit his ministers
speaker
and we were pleased
speaker
with that. But it was due to the hot work
speaker
in the background.
speaker
Mildred M. Brown my mentor
speaker
and incidentally her former
speaker
sister in law is a member of this church.
speaker
And of course Patricia Turner
speaker
another friend of mine who is now deceased
speaker
who worked for the patients
speaker
and me also became very close friends.
speaker
But at the point of reunion
speaker
and we're celebrating 30
speaker
years of 25
speaker
years of Presbyterian women
speaker
this year.
speaker
But I cannot remember now when
speaker
I was moderator of first
speaker
year living at the presbytery
speaker
or the Senate in 1982.
speaker
But in 92 I was
speaker
my first year when I was
speaker
also working simultaneously
speaker
was third are women.
speaker
And so what I did was to write
speaker
a poem called Colors of the human
speaker
family
speaker
with four of the different racial
speaker
ethnic groups
speaker
and we rehearsed that
speaker
and that was one of the most rewarding
speaker
things to me.
speaker
Guns Not denomination
speaker
was to do that
speaker
and of all of us in the production.
speaker
I am the only one
speaker
who slightly forgot a car
speaker
and stay up the background
speaker
reminded me what was
speaker
well me later
speaker
and it wasn't published.
speaker
They didn't. They called a city of Herat
speaker
for Time magazine.
speaker
Thirty years later that same horror your poem
speaker
was produced
speaker
down at the church.
speaker
Why. Yeah no
speaker
no.
speaker
Last year
speaker
they had one other
speaker
racial ethnic group
speaker
and that's the Middle Eastern war.
speaker
And again that was a very satisfying
speaker
thing. But the point is
speaker
at Purdue University in
speaker
82 you had 5000
speaker
women.
speaker
You had about 2000 women a more
speaker
intimate audience.
speaker
But each day each event.
speaker
People came.
speaker
People wanted it until they put it again
speaker
in the magazine.
speaker
I wasn't a part of this.
speaker
I proved them using
speaker
my paper
speaker
and so
speaker
but it's
speaker
been all over the world.
speaker
And we did it in 82 when we were
speaker
asked to do it on screen
speaker
in 1983 here in Atlanta
speaker
and then in eighty
speaker
four.
speaker
I was called the Global Consultation to
speaker
southern Africa representing
speaker
persecuted women in Central South the
speaker
Black six southeastern states
speaker
and all
speaker
we were able to present that
speaker
we didn't have all the racial ethnic groups that
speaker
we were able to present it in Pretoria.
speaker
I think that's
speaker
it now it's going around
speaker
and with other people.
speaker
OK other things.
speaker
Do you think it's as powerful
speaker
today when you most definitely.
speaker
The thing is the reason why I mentioned
speaker
a more intimate group in
speaker
Orlando 2000 people
speaker
it ended
speaker
with
speaker
someone say suicide.
speaker
The group there were six women.
speaker
One woman in the audience
speaker
said she stood aside
speaker
well the entire community stood
speaker
and said
speaker
I think you steal
speaker
them. There are some things that
speaker
have changed
speaker
and perhaps need to be updated.
speaker
But this has also been translated into
speaker
Spanish
speaker
and five Spanish
speaker
pop Latin women in various
speaker
ways.
speaker
VICKY
speaker
My
speaker
can you just.
speaker
Can you describe how you started to become
speaker
a leader in Presbyterian
speaker
women and Church Women United.
speaker
Well I believe every woman is a leader
speaker
and a leader within home sphere of influence.
speaker
So when you just
speaker
do things now
speaker
not a very aggressive
speaker
person.
speaker
Many times I sit in the background
speaker
and because I've been involved for so
speaker
long I add
speaker
history to what's happening.
speaker
Have a thought of what's happening
speaker
but
speaker
but for me
speaker
one job leads to
speaker
another
speaker
and one of the reasons has to do
speaker
with the fact that it is an intergenerational
speaker
group.
speaker
Not just once in a generation these
speaker
days as before
speaker
because I was bringing
speaker
my youth at that time
speaker
and my creativity
speaker
and my willing to share
speaker
with other people to
speaker
the table.
speaker
So it just evolved.
speaker
And the time was right for me
speaker
and the time was right.
speaker
An African-American woman
speaker
who knew what she was doing to
speaker
share in various ways.
speaker
And so I did. And one of the things that I
speaker
did as I was
speaker
developing my leadership skills
speaker
was to bring other women
speaker
especially women in my church
speaker
and I carry them
speaker
with me to Presbyterian
speaker
and Senate meetings not always
speaker
to the General Assembly.
speaker
So it was a different kind of thing
speaker
to go to
speaker
but many women
speaker
credit me
speaker
with helping them to do various
speaker
things.
speaker
Well now they go
speaker
and do things I don't even know
speaker
the things that they have to
speaker
say that I'm pleased because every
speaker
leader should help
speaker
to his or her witness to service
speaker
other people to grow.
speaker
And as for things that I have done I've
speaker
been a silent
speaker
awe person in some
speaker
ways in the background.
speaker
I've been a ghost writer
speaker
in a number of instances
speaker
and this happens to be one of those
speaker
now this
speaker
ethnicity the untold
speaker
story
speaker
was produced for third
speaker
quarter the media I wrote
speaker
for Blackphone story
speaker
it wasn't a part of
speaker
helping
speaker
helping people to
speaker
become leaders.
speaker
So I don't know how I became
speaker
a leader.
speaker
And right now I'm not getting
speaker
involved in
speaker
the top leadership.
speaker
I'm I'm I'm sitting back a little
speaker
bit. But again
speaker
I have to bring a history of
speaker
essence. I have served
speaker
on the board of trustees
speaker
or just the small
speaker
Theological Seminary 12
speaker
years and being back on
speaker
again and now
speaker
and again
speaker
with new people around the table.
speaker
I always have information to share.
speaker
That is just
speaker
a part of me.
speaker
What role would you say you played
speaker
as in these groups
speaker
and in Presbyterian women.
speaker
Sometimes a catalyst
speaker
sometimes just a silent
speaker
person sometimes just a presence
speaker
and sometimes a person who would just ask
speaker
a hard question.
speaker
Sometimes I wouldn't get that involved
speaker
in the conversation.
speaker
And then all of a sudden I would
speaker
ask the question I'll make a comment
speaker
which might help
speaker
to turn the causation around
speaker
especially as it related to all
speaker
persons of color
speaker
and how their views
speaker
and skills were being used.
speaker
Can you think of an example that
speaker
time maybe you were at a meeting
speaker
and you were quiet
speaker
and you spoke up
speaker
at just that pivotal moment
speaker
where in the same
speaker
form on that.
speaker
OK.
speaker
Well I even asked why.
speaker
Why not use this individual.
speaker
OK.
speaker
She's sitting around the table quietly.
speaker
Let's see what she was saying
speaker
or share some information about
speaker
her and I think she might be
speaker
a workshop.
speaker
We just seen her do these things.
speaker
OK.
speaker
Now
speaker
you became a charter member
speaker
of the Committee of Women of color.
speaker
Can you describe how that organization
speaker
was created
speaker
and why it was made.
speaker
Well it was needed because
speaker
the committee would come of this meeting because
speaker
racial ethnic women needed a safe
speaker
environment
speaker
and we they at home the Skky leadership
speaker
skills
speaker
and we've come a long way in this nomination
speaker
and in the last 30 some years.
speaker
But there was a point in time when we had
speaker
no moderate as a Presbyterian
speaker
women
speaker
who were on the end of a
speaker
race or ethnic group
speaker
and
speaker
all they had a
speaker
position called at
speaker
large
speaker
and we still have large positions
speaker
but those at large positions now
speaker
can be made into something they can
speaker
actually do something.
speaker
OK. Help to make some changes
speaker
real changes in the structure of what's
speaker
going on.
speaker
So what percentage
speaker
points in November
speaker
we are forgetting.
speaker
Can you describe how the Committee of
speaker
Women of Color was organized
speaker
and why it was made.
speaker
OK
speaker
and it was organized
speaker
with each of the Native Americans
speaker
Hispanic Americans
speaker
Asian Americans African
speaker
Americans and later
speaker
the
speaker
persons Oh I
speaker
couldn't think of a name right there
speaker
into the
speaker
actual rooms
speaker
and each of the different caucuses became
speaker
involved.
speaker
You.
speaker
Then they morphed into
speaker
came into the comedia women of color.
speaker
And quite frankly within each
speaker
of the caucuses you
speaker
had an organization
speaker
that I was chair of.
speaker
Well President I guess you call
speaker
it a national black Presbyterian caucus.
speaker
OK. Well we all sat around the table.
speaker
We discussed what our concerns
speaker
were concerns
speaker
what particular
speaker
skills we had to be told
speaker
something about our heritage.
speaker
So that each person could know
speaker
what the other individual
speaker
and serve
speaker
as a conduit for making
speaker
change.
speaker
Whenever we were at the table
speaker
so we were preparing women in small
speaker
ways so that they could sit
speaker
at a larger table
speaker
with women especially
speaker
white women who were not as accustomed
speaker
to working with
speaker
what. Did you try to dress
speaker
through the committee.
speaker
Women in color.
speaker
Well one was representation.
speaker
Was major thing.
speaker
One was just getting people to know
speaker
what white privilege was.
speaker
And that
speaker
that just getting to see
speaker
other people as humans
speaker
and not just oddities.
speaker
And those look
speaker
the major things are just recognizing
speaker
that this is feels that they all
speaker
and then and then that's what we
speaker
do.
speaker
Do you feel like it's improved.
speaker
Oh definitely it has improved.
speaker
All you gotta do is look at the
speaker
look at all oh
speaker
Coordinating Committee at a press secretary
speaker
or senator
speaker
or for that matter on
speaker
church fine.
speaker
In fact you're vice moderator
speaker
for one of the issues
speaker
that is part of African-American
speaker
men.
speaker
And then you've got all of the different
speaker
races and ethnic groups sitting
speaker
at the table
speaker
and even on the table.
speaker
I'm assuming that they all machinery
speaker
equally because they all have had
speaker
opportunities now many opportunities
speaker
for leadership development.
speaker
And that was a major theme
speaker
that we worked on.
speaker
What does it take to be a leader
speaker
and how do you express your ideas
speaker
and even just how do you
speaker
put your ideas down on paper.
speaker
But I remember writing once you're
speaker
a good liberal
speaker
periodical called Monday Morning
speaker
I'm writing something
speaker
and I was taken to task.
speaker
It was a social justice issue.
speaker
But you know how people ministers
speaker
were writing after
speaker
they ruefully read something that
speaker
they didn't like. They disagreed
speaker
with whether it was right
speaker
or wrong.
speaker
I was taken to task.
speaker
But again you know I
speaker
was who
speaker
was brave enough to write
speaker
a follow up question.
speaker
You have written a number of
speaker
Corio columns comes
speaker
I'm subjects about race heritage
speaker
and ethnicity.
speaker
Can you talk a little about your inspiration.
speaker
Well you know most of them
speaker
have not been about race
speaker
and ethnicity.
speaker
I have a number of follow little poems.
speaker
I write them for different occasions
speaker
even though my very first one
speaker
was called the human family.
speaker
And after that I began writing
speaker
and them always came out to South Africa
speaker
and wrote a colours economic justice
speaker
and I had students
speaker
to perform that in Atlanta when Nelson
speaker
Mandela came here in 1990.
speaker
Gloria points
speaker
to Latin Americans.
speaker
That was
speaker
presented at
speaker
the church.
speaker
I've written about a year
speaker
with Africa
speaker
the ordination of ordination
speaker
of women as
speaker
clergy persons.
speaker
I wrote about the 48 year that was
speaker
presented to the national clergy
speaker
in the year
speaker
for Women's Day celebration at this
speaker
church.
speaker
I'm just waiting for a number of things
speaker
on a number of things.
speaker
But all right well two
speaker
three four and sometimes five
speaker
voices.
speaker
And that gives an opportunity for
speaker
not just one of two women
speaker
to share their voices
speaker
but many need to share
speaker
something second one doesn't have to do
speaker
a lot of rehearsal
speaker
rehearsing one simply has
speaker
to protect oneself
speaker
and
speaker
come across.
speaker
So I have about
speaker
maybe 40 between 30
speaker
and 44 points
speaker
and I can remember first that
speaker
well what about voices
speaker
in the public square
speaker
that was presented down in Houston at
speaker
a peace convocation
speaker
now wasn't they.
speaker
Oh yes. I went to China to
speaker
the Beijing Women's Conference.
speaker
I wrote
speaker
a tale of two cities Beijing
speaker
and one in Rome
speaker
and that was
speaker
that was published in Turkish society.
speaker
A lot of people. It helped me to tell the story.
speaker
And this one on the colors
speaker
just has help me to tell the story
speaker
of what I observed
speaker
traveling throughout South Africa.
speaker
And I just found I found
speaker
that writing this away of this
speaker
coupon is a way of telling stories
speaker
and Ted and you're in such a way that it doesn't
speaker
infuriate anyone
speaker
that one can always see something
speaker
in him.
speaker
Find him or herself in
speaker
all these scenes on a positive
speaker
note.
speaker
I can't put
speaker
one to say
speaker
you must Muslim children's children
speaker
mostly an honor.
speaker
Can you tell me about Korean
speaker
puns.
speaker
What is their heritage.
speaker
What did they get the frames
speaker
from.
speaker
Well Shane gave
speaker
hope to cover I was calling her.
speaker
Her poetry called
speaker
it a poem and that's why I
speaker
use that term.
speaker
And it's one word my
speaker
hyphenated.
speaker
And the way she used it
speaker
and the way I
speaker
see
speaker
license something to
speaker
say someone
speaker
expressing
speaker
what one must say
speaker
and do
speaker
with what's
speaker
voices I'd say
speaker
bleeding all the voices.
speaker
I always tell people oh women
speaker
and men have been involved in it too
speaker
because I wrote one for 200
speaker
and the first African-American
speaker
Presbyterians
speaker
and we did that up in Philadelphia
speaker
and first back in
speaker
by always say when you're
speaker
preparing when you're part of a
speaker
foreign
speaker
you know who you are
speaker
and you share your
speaker
gifts and graces
speaker
through your voice through your expressions.
speaker
And don't let anyone else
speaker
come out any better than you.
speaker
OK so this is
speaker
well
speaker
all most people
speaker
and the most persons have been a part of
speaker
that
speaker
and I hope when I haven't even been a part
speaker
of the event the same
speaker
things happened.
speaker
Excuse me. How are the Korean poems prefund.
speaker
Oh in a fast pace
speaker
moving way.
speaker
Like
speaker
oh beautiful.
speaker
And also another person says
speaker
the land of plenty.
speaker
Most national corporations
speaker
a law
speaker
and on and on like that
speaker
but maybe I will
speaker
take your family
speaker
which is a little more dramatic.
speaker
Color me yellow color me Brown cover
speaker
me black
speaker
white everybody color
speaker
me part of the human family
speaker
and they talk about each one.
speaker
Just do the one for the black woman.
speaker
I can find they
speaker
can't find it right now.
speaker
OK.
speaker
Come on me Brown Company black
speaker
Celia color me fierce
speaker
and proud of.
speaker
People want to see your
speaker
wall.
speaker
American Negro.
speaker
Call me
speaker
and it goes like that.
speaker
And then the next person
speaker
reads sparkling red
speaker
Majestic Red barring
speaker
blood giving life
speaker
Color Brave original
speaker
Aboriginal native
speaker
Navajo nation at heart
speaker
and on and on.
speaker
And you may know this
speaker
but here in
speaker
Long Island New York who was a Native American
speaker
in this particular area.
speaker
OK
speaker
and here all five of us
speaker
at Purdue and all of us
speaker
dressed in all different colors.
speaker
OK.
speaker
Now the winner this summer
speaker
learned that Paul.
speaker
So that's how it works.
speaker
OK. And sometimes you might have to
speaker
pay for church of
speaker
United
speaker
to your celebration of the least clothing
speaker
that is published in an Asian publication.
speaker
You know things that I have written
speaker
about
speaker
and I just keep a copy of
speaker
some of them done
speaker
for different organizations
speaker
of the church from the 9
speaker
year old comedian
speaker
cult or something like that.
speaker
OK so awesome community
speaker
groups also
speaker
I want to go back to when
speaker
we were talking about the Committee of Women in
speaker
color of color.
speaker
And now that there's a lot of different
speaker
groups being represented at the table
speaker
how do you think the issues have changed
speaker
from when those groups were first being
speaker
formed and coming together to
speaker
tell what we're facing today.
speaker
Well we're a little more open now.
speaker
Women on both sides are open
speaker
on this and
speaker
they have somebody else
speaker
feels different groups.
speaker
And so they are more
speaker
open to sharing power
speaker
but also
speaker
you must know that at some the women
speaker
of color have ascended to power
speaker
some of them white women have
speaker
backed down
speaker
or have assumed
speaker
less power.
speaker
And I'm not sure what that's all about
speaker
but I'm not at the table now
speaker
and I must tell you that
speaker
as I said Friday We do not have
speaker
a great deal at that point a reunion.
speaker
Individuals wanted me to start at
speaker
the bottom
speaker
and women were
speaker
right to nominate me to be the moderator
speaker
first two women as the first female.
speaker
But
speaker
Christian Women's histeria
speaker
did not want to accept would not accept
speaker
this time because I was wholly
speaker
unknown entity.
speaker
But yet
speaker
over the years something
speaker
is as a go
speaker
different places
speaker
and say that I'm from Atlanta.
speaker
People assume that I'm a staff
speaker
at 341 Ponce de Leon.
speaker
Oh no I don't work
speaker
from a church.
speaker
I worked for the church.
speaker
OK but I work for the church for
speaker
women's ministries.
speaker
When I.
speaker
But that was
speaker
something. And everything that I have done
speaker
as a paid staff is what I have done as a
speaker
volunteer
speaker
and still continue to do
speaker
and people still continue to call
speaker
and ask me guys
speaker
and things like that
speaker
and ask me to do things.
speaker
And I
speaker
agree for the most part
speaker
when the time permits.
speaker
What are some of the most meaningful
speaker
memories you have about your experience
speaker
with Presbyterian.
speaker
Well I must tell you
speaker
for 20 years I had
speaker
a newsletter for your wedding
speaker
and this congregation
speaker
and it was a one woman
speaker
task.
speaker
I get up briefly
speaker
and another woman to submit.
speaker
So it has been a 24 year history.
speaker
But I included information
speaker
about some of the things that were happening
speaker
across the nation that other people
speaker
did. We had a wide Apolinar
speaker
vigils across
speaker
the country who received those letters.
speaker
And there was was
speaker
highlights for me was to do
speaker
that newsletter
speaker
and to receive
speaker
the affirmation
speaker
from women across not just women
speaker
across the country.
speaker
And even though
speaker
I was just learning
speaker
computer
speaker
not knowing how to ski
speaker
but
speaker
I never missed a deadline.
speaker
First Saturday age
speaker
twenty two years
speaker
later seasons.
speaker
And so that's one
speaker
of my biggest
speaker
things that I
speaker
really enjoyed doing.
speaker
What else.
speaker
I love prepared messages
speaker
and it may not seem that way
speaker
when I'm doing now
speaker
but I love preparing messages
speaker
and workshops
speaker
and having people affirm me
speaker
when I teach because of my creativity.
speaker
And I remember
speaker
this was one workshop of the Black Caucus
speaker
on inclusive language.
speaker
So I made sure that I got a curve to home to
speaker
help me with that one.
speaker
And I heard footsteps outside of
speaker
the door I'm inviting people
speaker
to come and
speaker
I'm one of the persons who came here
speaker
was the head of the General Assembly.
speaker
These young Deidre.
speaker
And I was so nervous.
speaker
But anyway my
speaker
partner helped.
speaker
And were all very well
speaker
but Tom
speaker
I just get excited
speaker
and have that excited when
speaker
my creativity
speaker
comes out
speaker
and it's appreciated
speaker
and affirmed by other people.
speaker
And I also
speaker
appreciate creativity
speaker
and affirm people
speaker
from the same thing you know a person's.
speaker
You said that and we might
speaker
not we might not
speaker
think that you like to
speaker
to write based on what you're
speaker
doing now.
speaker
No I mean look what
speaker
I love right.
speaker
I don't speak
speaker
OK. And I say based on
speaker
what I'm doing now
speaker
what I did was the whole my writing skills
speaker
because I had a sister
speaker
who was just out there.
speaker
She was very bright
speaker
and
speaker
I wasn't that bright
speaker
when it came to speaking extemporaneously.
speaker
But
speaker
now
speaker
I'd rather write and speak
speaker
all our lives.
speaker
Why had me come
speaker
back to
speaker
and then all the other people talk.
speaker
I mean I'm sitting in a room for
speaker
but absorb it all.
speaker
OK. I'm most of it.
speaker
And then right.
speaker
And one of your information
speaker
though I'm not doing read this newsletter.
speaker
I am doing now three
speaker
newsletters one for national
speaker
black Presbyterian caucus which you can find
speaker
on the web.
speaker
Ah
speaker
the Maraya theory Thawne
speaker
and churchwomen United Kingdom
speaker
laughter.
speaker
So that's three.
speaker
And those three keep me busy.
speaker
Well.
speaker
What do you think the most important role
speaker
of Presbyterian women has been in
speaker
the church.
speaker
Well when we spend most
speaker
of our roles for Christian women turnspit
speaker
to prepare women to be leaders
speaker
in the Lodge.
speaker
By now I have
speaker
an expression called Leave the politics
speaker
and I try to leave the politics
speaker
in order and I think I'll trust you
speaker
women as an organization
speaker
has been preparing women to
speaker
lead the polity so
speaker
that they not only work within that
speaker
organization
speaker
but they can go
speaker
and work in the governing
speaker
body.
speaker
But as many of the women
speaker
came to Dors
speaker
book first for two women they
speaker
work as hard as presbyter
speaker
but I continued working
speaker
with the presbytery.
speaker
But I think that's one of the key things
speaker
that that organization has done
speaker
with several different women
speaker
in different arenas including
speaker
Russia.
speaker
What role do you think
speaker
P.W.
speaker
Presbyterian women can have in the future.
speaker
Welcome to YOUR MONEY.
speaker
The future needs to continue to push
speaker
women to assert
speaker
themselves.
speaker
But it needs to affirm clergywomen
speaker
continue to affirm clergy women
speaker
and help them to find a place
speaker
and just do what they are doing so that
speaker
maybe they could take a little bit about
speaker
cutting back on some things.
speaker
Some phases of the organization
speaker
but one based organization is mission
speaker
given and that has been the hallmark
speaker
of this organization
speaker
and that's what I have pushed for many years.
speaker
In fact I'm just telling you
speaker
the first year this congregation
speaker
was a leader
speaker
and not because of that it
speaker
was a leader.
speaker
In the end he did more
speaker
than heal the church.
speaker
This past winter in some
speaker
parts with tears for women his mission
speaker
getting
speaker
him done in the last two years.
speaker
OK
speaker
but it wasn't because of one
speaker
person it was because
speaker
we had split.
speaker
Came out of tradition
speaker
and we're just going to continue
speaker
working on what
speaker
we were doing.
speaker
But I
speaker
don't know about Christian women.
speaker
Things something's
speaker
happening
speaker
but that's everybody is having many
speaker
challenges now.
speaker
I think to find a way.
speaker
And I'm not sure what
speaker
I do not as
speaker
a Presbyterian when I'm
speaker
at the presbytery
speaker
or center
speaker
or church choir at this point.
speaker
I do keep up to
speaker
an extent.
speaker
For instance
speaker
I'm not going to sing songs while
speaker
I'm in a couple of weeks
speaker
and we will have about
speaker
12 women from this congregation.
speaker
And that just shows you
speaker
how women in my age group.
speaker
They don't need me.
speaker
And sometimes I say it has
speaker
been
speaker
so hard to stay quiet.
speaker
Why do you think women's groups are so
speaker
valuable to Christian life.
speaker
Well
speaker
women's groups are Bible to Christian life
speaker
because number one
speaker
every person needs somewhere
speaker
to be a witness
speaker
and a women's organization
speaker
has been a safe place where women
speaker
could share their beliefs
speaker
do their Bible study
speaker
and learn some new skills
speaker
so they can move out into the larger
speaker
larger arena.
speaker
But some women
speaker
are not coming that route.
speaker
They're doing other things.
speaker
They're going directly into being
speaker
elders
speaker
and sharing ways
speaker
and saying we have no time
speaker
but that's
speaker
some true in this congregation
speaker
question going
speaker
at it.
speaker
What is it
speaker
about you or what is it inside of you
speaker
that has really driven you
speaker
to do a lot of the work
speaker
and you push a
speaker
lot of the causes that you've been involved in.
speaker
You can you can go tell them
speaker
what's inside me.
speaker
I went to a women's college.
speaker
My three sisters and I went to a women's college
speaker
in Atlanta from college.
speaker
And we
speaker
just always
speaker
went out from doing things
speaker
but also as an African-American
speaker
woman we see justice.
speaker
I just
speaker
tried to push for justice issues
speaker
right about justice issues.
speaker
It's the only thing is that
speaker
as I am as I became involved
speaker
in the church I just
speaker
continued
speaker
and it was
speaker
it wasn't hard.
speaker
Nothing was forcing me.
speaker
It was just what was
speaker
now.
speaker
Sometimes I was over my
speaker
head and by that I mean no time
speaker
no time
speaker
have to replace that
speaker
knowing you're going like I am working
speaker
on
speaker
this inside of me
speaker
but I got inside
speaker
me. God is
speaker
has always been inside of me.
speaker
And God helps
speaker
me to
speaker
do what it is and have to do.
speaker
And I've met a lot of people over
speaker
the years
speaker
who have also helped me
speaker
and helped me along.
speaker
I want you to know one of those
speaker
is still my bed
speaker
and I continue affirming her
speaker
as I say.
speaker
I went to the dentist in 76
speaker
and if you count on I've been to thirty
speaker
three and not for the whole time
speaker
but
speaker
you get to hear people speak
speaker
ten workshops
speaker
and you can keep growing
speaker
and sharing something pushes you out.
speaker
Some push you need to
speaker
do some things OK.
speaker
I can't sit at home
speaker
and I can't sit idly by as
speaker
other people say
speaker
and as my other mentor said
speaker
I cannot sit idly by
speaker
and let it just go unchecked.
speaker
I too must do something.
speaker
Were you active in the civil rights movement
speaker
in Atlanta
speaker
in the sense that
speaker
I went to see Dr.
speaker
King Dr.
speaker
King. But my father also did not
speaker
want us to get involved to the
speaker
extent that we had come out
speaker
of college
speaker
and lose money
speaker
but active in the sense that
speaker
I learned everything that was going
speaker
on went
speaker
to rallies
speaker
and
speaker
wrote things like
speaker
that
speaker
but not becoming not
speaker
involved in not going to
speaker
jail.
speaker
OK.
speaker
And even after the
speaker
Civil Rights Movement I've been involved
speaker
in anti-Apartheid rallies
speaker
and social justice things
speaker
like
speaker
other things
speaker
and I'm also involved in
speaker
not right now serving
speaker
women
speaker
homeless shelter serving
speaker
breakfast as the women do
speaker
in my congregation
speaker
and I've been involved in doing that.
speaker
Coming out of that
speaker
and writing up
speaker
about the event
speaker
the feelings of people here are also
speaker
getting teen evangelism newsletter.
speaker
I was told in a newsletter
speaker
Dear fans in this newsletter in this
speaker
church
speaker
and Tom
speaker
when you wrote that evangelism
speaker
newsletter did you have other
speaker
people you talk to about ideas
speaker
or were you really on your
speaker
own now
speaker
but this time because
speaker
I had to involve
speaker
people I have one copy of that I
speaker
think OK.
speaker
Had an evangelism committee.
speaker
So naturally I
speaker
had the reports and what have you from that committee.
speaker
They're working it was something that
speaker
I was building and including
speaker
to this what I call evangelism
speaker
spar
speaker
over a decade.
speaker
I also had
speaker
one quotation
speaker
out bulletins each Sunday
speaker
and
speaker
had to work hard on doing that.
speaker
If you had one Sunday
speaker
it was something I enjoyed doing.
speaker
And then you reach a point where you get tiring
speaker
what do you think it means to live history.
speaker
Well you know my expression
speaker
is living the politics of the party
speaker
and that's what I'm trying to do.
speaker
But I was telling a story
speaker
and sharing the story
speaker
with other people.
speaker
And
speaker
so they are inspired
speaker
by what you do
speaker
and all
speaker
I can go out and do similar kinds of things
speaker
living histories is pushing
speaker
other and sharing the story
speaker
and pushing other people out there to share
speaker
their stories
speaker
and find out that we all have a story.
speaker
And my favorite expression is my
speaker
story is your story
speaker
and your stories my story
speaker
and our story is in the story.
speaker
So as we leave history
speaker
we continue to delve into the moment
speaker
and
speaker
do what God has called us
speaker
to do
speaker
and we may not always
speaker
agree that this is what should be
speaker
done.
speaker
It may not always be assumed
speaker
that we should look got these terrible
speaker
gives us a new
speaker
kind of focus
speaker
or focus.
speaker
So I like the idea of
speaker
sharing stories
speaker
and write my story.
speaker
And one day I will write my story
speaker
and look forward to reading
speaker
back to this part.
speaker
Do you hope anything that you've been thinking about
speaker
you want to add just
speaker
for
speaker
you kids. And you know I
speaker
just want to discuss
speaker
some things a
speaker
bit more
speaker
even though I've done
speaker
many messages that I have to live
speaker
with at home.
speaker
And the latest one that I did was a month
speaker
on and the King Sunday
speaker
in Charlotte North Carolina
speaker
on that Sunday. But I just want to show you
speaker
a couple of things
speaker
that's coming
speaker
to
speaker
patients.
speaker
The
speaker
first one
speaker
the U.N. Conference on Women in
speaker
Africa this
speaker
well I
speaker
went to that Africa
speaker
Conference of Churches over here.
speaker
You know they
speaker
have to coordinate all
speaker
of these stories
speaker
around here.
speaker
I think one of my moms
speaker
will be here.
speaker
Plus how I
speaker
feel about
speaker
some experiences that
speaker
I don't know about the churches
speaker
that you can
speaker
use what churches.
speaker
Now they all feel
speaker
like
speaker
stuff
speaker
and this one is on the ground that crosses
speaker
time.
speaker
That's just one thing.
speaker
So I had all these pictures
speaker
in my newsletter.
speaker
OK.
speaker
Well that's
speaker
one
speaker
here tonight in
speaker
Paris.
speaker
1 2 3 4
speaker
2 1
speaker
1.
speaker
And
speaker
yes this
speaker
means that the
speaker
most expensive
speaker
entertainment for the comedian
speaker
to come.
speaker
He said he didn't win.
speaker
And I just said
speaker
that I'm giving
speaker
you this
speaker
thing to say
speaker
to you this should
speaker
respect you some more.
speaker
I
speaker
hope this is fair to say
speaker
Kate.
speaker
Certainly
speaker
we're working on
speaker
you sure.
speaker
Are
speaker
you working
speaker
on.
speaker
OK. All of us
speaker
you know
speaker
hoping that it
speaker
is a simple prayer
speaker
connected to the lead
speaker
promoter Lisa.
speaker
And this is my calling for
speaker
the anniversary of that
speaker
at least.
speaker
I want to give you
speaker
I'm giving you this
speaker
nation
speaker
table is set up
speaker
and court
speaker
several friends
speaker
with me over two years
speaker
to meet with the United States
speaker
and to
speaker
say
speaker
this to you
speaker
and your prayers in your medications
speaker
get it given your winner's
speaker
organization.
speaker
Certainly you can do
speaker
of through which you see here
speaker
and
speaker
all
speaker
the
speaker
states all
speaker
came
speaker
I couldn't get
speaker
the nomination
speaker
because of this church.
speaker
Me
speaker
and my
speaker
organization on leadership.
speaker
What I
speaker
is
speaker
me up
speaker
here.
speaker
Thanks
speaker
so much for being
speaker
here for
speaker
being on black education
speaker
on
speaker
all of
speaker
these national
speaker
newspapers out here communication
speaker
with responsible
speaker
news
speaker
and getting
speaker
to
speaker
the same
speaker
this year.
speaker
Oh hey this
speaker
shouldn't be nice.
speaker
That's
speaker
right.
speaker
And
speaker
we suggest that somebody comes
speaker
here and talks to me.
speaker
Pierce Florida this pastor
speaker
writes one of
speaker
the founders of the
speaker
African American
speaker
partnership and mission of
speaker
the
speaker
Black Caucus.
speaker
The July August issue.
speaker
I happen to have his picture here.
speaker
But I'm giving this is the
speaker
original picture
speaker
and I am giving this to
speaker
the stars.
speaker
Senate Commerce to me
speaker
and said
speaker
to me the pastor
speaker
and my father.
speaker
And she's right behind
speaker
the first moment in this church
speaker
it's right here
speaker
and I hope you will
speaker
take that picture with you.
speaker
Now I'm not.
speaker
But that's
speaker
one of the two schools
speaker
that the church
speaker
uses the close
speaker
third Academy
speaker
and you can find this information
speaker
here in time now
speaker
but you get a copy of this book in the
speaker
star sign
speaker
as
speaker
a church newsletter.
speaker
Because I mean to stay
speaker
there.
speaker
One thing to lose.
speaker
And by the way
speaker
I said
speaker
the goal is to be
speaker
into
speaker
church go home.
speaker
I stand
speaker
for Presbyterian into
speaker
an industry that I'm from
speaker
Asia.
speaker
She invited me to buy
speaker
me a friend
speaker
and be sure it was
speaker
Asian woman who's here.
speaker
Where do you want
speaker
to get to where
speaker
and when and how responsible for
speaker
her being ordained.
speaker
She's quoting
speaker
from my church.
speaker
This is just the news here that
speaker
you don't
speaker
show.
speaker
Three from Knoxfield
speaker
give you some idea of what you've have done.
speaker
You're not.

In collections

Details

Title: Bettie Durrah Living History interview, 2013.
Description: Bettie J. Durrah is a Presbyterian elder, born in Newman, Georgia, a fourth-generation African American Presbyterian. She completed a bachelor's degree in Biology at Spelman College, and holds two master's degrees, from Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University. From 1995 to 2004 she served in the PC(USA) Women's Ministries as national staff in the Synods of Living Waters, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Trinity. An elder at Radcliffe Presbyterian Church (Atlanta, Ga.), she has served as moderator of Presbyterian Women at congregation, presbytery, and synod levels; as moderator of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta; and was a commissioner to the 2000 General Assembly.
Creator: Durrah, Bettie J. (interviewee)
Date: 2013
Type of resource: moving image
Genre: interviews
oral histories
Form: video recordings
born digital
Extent: 1.91 GB (1 MOV file)
Language: English
Subject names: Durrah, Bettie J.--Interviews.
Topics: African American Presbyterians.
African American women in church work.
Geographic subjects: North and Central America--United States
Rights status: IN COPYRIGHT; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Note: Original 4.06 GB MTS file available at the Presbyterian Historical Society.
Physical location: ARCHIVES 18-0407; Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, PA
Related item: Bettie Durrah Living History interview, 2013.--http://prestohost68.inmagic.com/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=Y2RiNWNk...
Identifier (local): 18-0407_BettieDurrah2013
PID (Persistent Identifier): islandora:124549

Pearl Digital Collections

You are here

Bettie Durrah Living History interview, 2013.

Primary tabs

Download

In collections

Bookmark

BookBags: