Seeing Together
< /p>Motivated by the enduring legacy of racial segregation , theologian Erica Whitaker seeks to make “whiteness” in churches visible. She proposes pathways toward ecclesial reform, reconciliati on and an antiracist Christian moral vision.
In her di ssertation Whitaker examines how “whiteness” shapes predominantly white Baptist worship spaces in the United States and how it influen ces Baptist theology and church life. Her work addresses urgent issue s 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 fu nctions as an often-unseen organizing structure that can distort Chri stian understandings of God, creation, authority and belonging.”
Real consequences
“My most important con clusion is this: whiteness often works best when no one notices it. W hen something feels “normal” or “just the way things are,” we rarely question it. But in many white churches, ideas, images and le adership styles have quietly centered white experiences and treated t hem as the standard for everyone. That has real consequences for who feels seen, valued, and close to God.
“Simply noticing this p roblem is not enough. White scholars and churches must take responsib ility for changing it. That means listening seriously to Black voices and other people who have experienced racism. It also means rethinki ng things that may seem small - like pictures of a white Jesus - but actually shape how we imagine God and authority.”
More inform ation on the thesis
DESCRIPTION: Seeing Together Motivated by the enduring legacy of racial segregation, theologian Erica Whitaker seeks to make “whi teness” 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 addresse s urgent issues of systemic racism, Christian nationalism and ecclesi al complicity.“Here, whiteness refers not simply to race,” Whitak er says, “but to a cultural and visual system that presents white n orms as neutral, pure, and authoritative. My study explores how white ness functions as an often-unseen organizing structure that can disto rt 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 som ething feels “normal” or “just the way things are,” we rarely question it. But in many white churches, ideas, images and leadershi p styles have quietly centered white experiences and treated them as the standard for everyone. That has real consequences for who feels s een, valued, and close to God.“Simply noticing this problem is not enough. White scholars and churches must take responsibility for chan ging it. That means listening seriously to Black voices and other peo ple 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.”More information on the thes is END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR