Justice Ministries

St. Bartholomew's Justice Ministries provide ways for parishioners to live into the promise in our Baptismal Covenant to: "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305)


The national outcry over racial injustices in the summer of 2020 challenged faith communities, including St. Bartholomew's, to respond. St. B's led with a parish-wide book study on The Color of Compromise by Jamar Tisby, which addresses the Church’s historical role in racial oppression and its potential as a community for reconciliation and healing. In August 2020, Nancy Cason was named volunteer Assistant to the Rector for Justice Ministries, and several parishioners and clergy attended the five-week diocesan workshop "Becoming A Catalyst" in preparation to promote racial justice and healing in our diocese and in the world. Our work continues with involvement in The Episcopal Church's "Sacred Ground Dialogues," which over 40 parishioners have participated in, as well as book studies, relationship building, volunteering, and discernment about next steps. If you have questions about our Justice Ministries, please email Nancy Cason.


Pilgrimage to Montgomery

To further understand the importance of our work toward racial reconciliation, healing and justice, St. B’s has planned an overnight pilgrimage to Montgomery, AL. Please join fellow parishioners in visiting two museums that offer immersive experiences in the history of slavery and the legacy of racism in America.  


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ITINERARY: OCT. 14 - 15


We’ll leave St. B’s by chartered bus mid-afternoon on Friday, October 14 and after checking into our downtown Montgomery hotel, enjoy a casual dinner together. Saturday morning will be spent at The Legacy Museum, located on a site where enslaved Black people were forced to labor in bondage. After a stop for conversation over boxed lunches at historic St. John’s Episcopal Church, we’ll visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. The day will wrap up with a discussion led by an Equal Justice Initiative staff member. Snacks will be provided for the bus ride home, with an expected arrival by 8:00 pm.


 

BASIC COST


The basic cost is $150 per person and includes bus transportation on First Class Charter Bus Line, a casual dinner together on Friday night, a boxed lunch on Saturday, tickets to the two museums, a meeting with an EJI staff person, and snacks for the ride home. We must have a minimum of 30 people to use this transportation. If by August 1, fewer than 30 people have registered, the trip will be made in personal vehicles, with folks encouraged to carpool. Refunds of $100 per person for unused bus transportation will be issued. If you plan to drive yourself, the cost is only $50 per person. 


Scholarship help is available. Please contact Rev. Serena. 



ACCOMODATIONS

 

For your convenience, we have secured a limited number of king rooms (recommended for couples) and double queen rooms (for singles or families) at the Hampton Inn and Suites, Downtown Montgomery, at a group rate of $189 per night. Participants are responsible for making their own hotel reservation (see link in the registration form). Because Friday nights are the busiest for Montgomery hotels, we encourage you to secure a room as soon as you are ready to commit to this trip. Your credit card will not be charged until you check in, and you can cancel your reservation up to 24 hours before arrival. 

 

If you choose to stay elsewhere in Montgomery, please make arrangements to meet the group at the Hampton Inn Saturday morning by 8:30 a.m. All overnight luggage will be secured on the bus Saturday as we visit museums. 



FAMILIES

 

Families with older children are encouraged to participate. It is recommended that children be at least middle school aged, and have the maturity to process and absorb the powerful content of the museums. We anticipate spending a total of four hours at museums, and another hour with the EJI staff on Saturday. The bus ride will be 4–4 ½ hours. 



REGISTRATION

 

The deadline for registering and submitting payment of $150 per person is August 1 (although we encourage all to sign up as early as possible!). Each individual must complete a separate registration form here. If you need scholarship assistance,  please contact Rev. Serena (ssides@stbs.net).  For any other questions, contact Nancy Cason at ncason@stbs.net.



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Walk in Love

On Sunday, April 18, 2021, 20 parishioners from St. Bartholomew’s participated in the annual Walk in Love to honor the life of Z. Alexander Looby, a Black civil rights lawyer and Episcopalian. The bombing of Looby's Nashville home in 1960 resulted in a 3000 student-led civil rights march on the Metro Courthouse and the subsequent desegregation of Nashville’s downtown lunch counters. We also read the Looby Litany at our Eucharist on Monday, April 19. Resources from the Diocese on The Walk in Love can be found here.