Motivated by the enduring legacy of racial segregation, theologian Erica Whitaker seeks to make “whiteness” in churches visible. She proposes pathways toward ecclesial reform, reconciliation and an antiracist Christian moral vision.
In her dissertation Whitaker examines how “whiteness” shapes predominantly white Baptist worship spaces in the United States and how it influences Baptist theology and church life. Her work addresses urgent issues of systemic racism, Christian nationalism and ecclesial complicity.
“Here, whiteness refers not simply to race,” Whitaker says, “but to a cultural and visual system that presents white norms as neutral, pure, and authoritative. My study explores how whiteness functions as an often-unseen organizing structure that can distort Christian understandings of God, creation, authority and belonging.”
Real consequences
“My most important conclusion is this: whiteness often works best when no one notices it. When something feels “normal” or “just the way things are,” we rarely question it. But in many white churches, ideas, images and leadership styles have quietly centered white experiences and treated them as the standard for everyone. That has real consequences for who feels seen, valued, and close to God.
“Simply noticing this problem is not enough. White scholars and churches must take responsibility for changing it. That means listening seriously to Black voices and other people who have experienced racism. It also means rethinking things that may seem small - like pictures of a white Jesus - but actually shape how we imagine God and authority.”
