What do the daughters of Zelophehad say about livable wages? Was Jesus using the People’s Mic to share the Beatitudes? What would the volunteers of the Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast Program say to the folks gathered at the feeding of over five thousand people? And how do we make all that come alive in Bible Study? This course will weave Black liberation goals, Black Feminist methods of classroom design, and Womanist Biblical interpretation. Participants will engage in an example of a justice-oriented Bible study and offer feedback. As a class artifact, participants will design a class element (a flyer, invitation, syllabus, or lesson plan) and receive feedback from peers.
This class is designed for those who want a more rigorous treatment of Biblical text and modern movements for social justice. It is recommended, but not necessary, that participants come with a seed of an idea about a class or workshop you want to host. Religious educators, lay people, organizers, pastors, and dreaming-people are encouraged to attend.
Minister Candace Simpson is a Brooklyn native, sister, writer and educator. She is also a Program Advisor of the Concord Freedom School, a literacy-based social justice education program for children in Bedford- Stuyvesant. As an M. Div. student at Union Theological Seminary, she wrote her thesis on community-controlled programming, Womanist ethics and Freedom School. She weaves her passions for teaching, ministry and community organizing for the ultimate aim of building more loving and sustainable spaces. Currently, Minister Simpson serves on a team of Faith and Justice Educators at United Methodist Women. She is also an associate minister at Concord Baptist Church of Christ. It is Candace’s philosophy that Heaven is a Revolution that can happen right here on Earth.