Civil rights, protests, and social reformers

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About this Collection

History of Presbyterian and ecumenical involvement in civil rights movements, protests, and social justice issues, as well as individual social reformers and activists. Featured image: Presbyterian peacemaking rally to freeze nuclear weapons, 1985.

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Title:
Dan Smith memorial service, 2023.
Description:
Dan Smith was a Presbyterian and Congregationalist minister, longtime pastor of West Hollywood United Church of Christ. He was born 2 February 1953 in Buffalo, N.Y., and educated at SUNY Fredonia and Princeton Theological Seminary. He was a conscientious objector during the American war in Vietnam. He was ordained in 1978 and spent six years installed at First Presbyterian Church (Geneva, N.Y.) before moving to Los Angeles. He took the pastorate of West Hollywood Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles, Calif.) in 1984, becoming the first openly gay minister installed in a PC(USA) congregation. During his tenure the congregation would spearhead AIDS ministry in West Hollywood, and build the Lazarus Project, dedicated to reconciling the church with its LGBTQ community. Smith retired in 2020. He died 12 June 2023.
Creator:
Smith, Daniel Edmund, 1953-2023. (dedicatee), West Hollywood United Church of Christ (Los Angeles, Calif.) (creator)
Subject names:
West Hollywood Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles, Calif.), Smith, Daniel Edmund, 1953-2023.
Topics:
LGBTQ+ Presbyterians., Gay clergy.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:345470
Title:
Babs Miller oral history, 2023.
Description:
Oral history with Babs Miller, parish associate at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Austin, Tex.), on her career in ministry, including with Metropolitan Community Church (Austin, Tex.) during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, and as an evangelist with That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) in the 2000s. Babs Miller is a Presbyterian minister, ordained by Mission Presbytery in 2014. Born in Victoria, Texas in 1942, she attended the Presbyterian School for Christian Education (Richmond, Va.) in the 1960s, and worked as a Christian educator, a social worker, and a high school teacher in Texas. She went to Austin Theological Seminary from 1987 to 1990, came out as a lesbian, and began work with Metropolitan Community Church (Austin, Tex.). From about 2004 to 2012 she was an evangelist with That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS). She has served as parish associate at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Austin, Tex.) since 2014, and continues advocacy for GLBTQ+ rights, in particular protection of trans youth and their families threatened by Texas state law codifying trans health therapies as child abuse. Starting in 2015, Miller was part of the group at St. Andrew's, as part of the Austin Sanctuary Network, declaring public sanctuary for migrants, and helped a mother and child, Hilda and Ivan, seek asylum.
Creator:
Miller, Babs Ann, 1942- (interviewee), Staniunas, David. (interviewer)
Subject names:
Metropolitan Community Church (Austin, Tex.), That All May Freely Serve (Association), St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Austin, Tex.)
Topics:
Ordination of lesbians--Presbyterians., Sanctuary movement., Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterians., Church work with immigrants.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:344175
Title:
Restorative Actions.
Description:
Web site of Restorative Actions, a grass roots voluntary initiative for churches, individuals, mid-councils, and agencies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) as well as other ecumenical partners and interested organizations, to take a leadership stance in opposition to racism and racial privilege. Its premise is that it would be right and fair for predominantly white churches and affiliated organizations to return benefits that have accrued to them directly or indirectly from systemic inequities.
Topics:
Race relations--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:288194
Title:
Memorial Presbyterian Church (Charlotte, N.C.) worship, 2021.
Description:
"Peace, Peace, Where There Is No Peace," by Rev. Rodney Sadler Jr.
Creator:
Memorial Presbyterian Church (Charlotte, N.C.) (creator), Sadler, Rodney, Jr. (speaker)
Subject names:
Memorial Presbyterian Church (Charlotte, N.C.)
Topics:
Police brutality--United States., Police-community relations--United States., Racism--United States--21st century.
Geographic subjects:
Charlotte (N.C.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181725
Title:
Calvary Presbyterian Church (San Francisco, Calif.) sermon, 2016.
Description:
On the church's Black Lives Matter banner and discussions with the San Francisco Police Department.
Creator:
Calvary Presbyterian Church (San Francisco, Calif.) (creator)
Subject names:
Calvary Presbyterian Church (San Francisco, Calif.)
Topics:
Police brutality--United States., Police-community relations--United States., Racism--United States--21st century.
Geographic subjects:
San Francisco (Calif.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181723
Title:
Presbyterian Church (Morristown, N.J.) Black Lives Matter rally, 2014.
Creator:
Presbyterian Church (Morristown, N.J.) (creator)
Subject names:
Presbyterian Church (Morristown, N.J.)
Topics:
Police brutality--United States., Police-community relations--United States., Racism--United States--21st century.
Geographic subjects:
Morristown (N.J.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181715
Title:
Bannside Presbyterian Church (Banbridge, Northern Ireland) worship, 2021.
Description:
Rev. Nibs Stroupe preaching.
Creator:
Bannside Presbyterian Church (Banbridge, Northern Ireland) (creator), Stroupe, Nibs. (speaker)
Subject names:
Bannside Presbyterian Church (Banbridge, Northern Ireland)
Topics:
Police brutality--United States., Police-community relations--United States., Racism--United States--21st century.
Geographic subjects:
Banbridge (Northern Ireland)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181691
Title:
Westminster Presbyterian Church (Sacramento, Calif.) news coverage, 2019.
Description:
News coverage of the church's advocacy for California Assembly Bill 392, in the wake of the police murder of Stephon Clark.
Creator:
KXTV (Television station : Sacramento, Calif.) (creator)
Subject names:
Westminster Presbyterian Church (Sacramento, Calif.)
Topics:
Police brutality--United States., Police-community relations--United States., Racism--United States--21st century.
Geographic subjects:
Sacramento (Calif.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181689
Title:
How Long O Lord: Existential Martyrdom and Black Suffering, 2021.
Description:
Union Presbyterian Seminary (Charlotte, N.C.) Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation webinar.
Creator:
Union Presbyterian Seminary (Charlotte, N.C.) (creator)
Subject names:
Union Presbyterian Seminary (Charlotte, N.C.)
Topics:
Police brutality--United States., Police-community relations--United States., Racism--United States--21st century.
Geographic subjects:
Charlotte (N.C.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181688
Title:
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church (Springfield, Mass.) news coverage, 2021.
Description:
News coverage of arson of MLK Community Presbyterian Church.
Creator:
WGGB-TV (Television station : Springfield, Mass.) (creator)
Subject names:
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church (Springfield, Mass.)
Topics:
Arson--United States., Hate crimes--United States., Racism--United States--21st century., African American churches--Fires and fire prevention--United States.
Geographic subjects:
Springfield (Mass.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181680
Title:
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church (Springfield, Mass.) worship, 2021.
Description:
Worship following arson attack by a white supremacist on the church building.
Creator:
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church (Springfield, Mass.) (creator)
Subject names:
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church (Springfield, Mass.)
Topics:
Arson--United States., Hate crimes--United States., Racism--United States--21st century., African American churches--Fires and fire prevention--United States.
Geographic subjects:
Springfield (Mass.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181679
Title:
Liberty Community Presbyterian Church (Minneapolis, Minn) worship, 2021.
Creator:
Liberty Community Presbyterian Church (Minneapolis, Minn.) (creator)
Subject names:
Liberty Community Presbyterian Church (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Topics:
Police brutality--United States., Police-community relations--United States., Racism--United States--21st century.
Geographic subjects:
Minneapolis (Minn.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181678
Title:
Ginter Park Presbyterian Church (Richmond, Va.) sermon, 2021.
Description:
Sermon given by Jess Cook, "Who We Are."
Creator:
Ginter Park Presbyterian Church (Richmond, Va.) (creator), Cook, Jess. (speaker)
Subject names:
Ginter Park Presbyterian Church (Richmond, Va.), More Light Presbyterians.
Topics:
Police brutality--United States., Police-community relations--United States., Racism--United States--21st century.
Geographic subjects:
Richmond (Va.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181677
Title:
Heartland Presbytery calls on Kansas City Police Chief to resign, 2021.
Description:
After Kansas City police chief Rick Smith blocked two criminal complaints against police officers, Heartland Presbytery joined the National Urban league and other groups in calling for the chief's ouster and a federal Department of Justice investigation into patterns of KCPD brutality.
Creator:
WDAF-TV (Television station : Kansas City, Mo.) (creator)
Subject names:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Presbytery of Heartland.
Topics:
Police brutality--United States., Police-community relations--United States., Racism--United States--21st century.
Geographic subjects:
Kansas City (Mo.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181676
Title:
Fallston Presbyterian Church (Fallston, Md.) vigil, 2015.
Description:
Vigil for "unity and peace," folllowing police murder of Freddie Gray in Baltimore.
Creator:
Fallston Presbyterian Church (Fallston, Md.) (creator)
Subject names:
Fallston Presbyterian Church (Fallston, Md.)
Topics:
Police brutality--United States., Police-community relations--United States., Racism--United States--21st century.
Geographic subjects:
Fallston (Md.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:181670
Title:
Abolitionist Advent.
Description:
Web site for Abolitionist Advent, a collaboration between three organizations (Fellowship of Reconciliation, More Light Presbyterians, and Presbyterian Peace Fellowship) and additional thought-partners Rev. Lindsay Anderson, Myles Markham, Minister Candace Simpson, and Rev. Annanda Barclay.
Creator:
Fellowship of Reconciliation (U.S.) (creator), More Light Presbyterians. (creator), Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. (creator), Anderson, Lindsay. (contributor), Markham, Myles. (contributor), Simpson, Candace. (contributor), Barclay, Annanda. (contributor)
Subject names:
Fellowship of Reconciliation (U.S.), More Light Presbyterians., Presbyterian Peace Fellowship., Anderson, Lindsay., Markham, Myles., Simpson, Candace., Barclay, Annanda.
Topics:
Police--United States., Prisons--United States., Abolitionists--United States., Prison reform--United States.
Geographic subjects:
United States.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:177405
Title:
Chris Paige oral history, 2019.
Description:
Chris Paige is a transgender activist who created Transfaith Online in 1999. Paige was ordained as an elder in the PC(USA) in 1971 and helped establish transgender groups in the United Church of Christ, the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, and throughout Philadelphia.
Creator:
Paige, Chris. (interviewee), Wittrig, Elizabeth L. (interviewer)
Subject names:
More Light Presbyterians
Topics:
Gender identity--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., Christian transgender people., Transgender people.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:153484
Title:
Rev. Janie Spahr Trial Updates.
Description:
Rev. Janie Spahr's personal Web site covering news related to her trial for performing same-sex marriages.
Creator:
Spahr, Jane Adams. (creator)
Subject names:
Spahr, Jane Adams., Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Presbytery of the Redwoods.
Topics:
Lesbian clergy--United States., Gay rights--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church., Church work with gays--United States., Sexual orientation--Religious aspects--Christianity., Christian sexual minorities--United States., Same-sex marriage--United States.
Geographic subjects:
United States.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:142522

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