Black Mary + Brown Jesus
image: “Nossa Senhora Aparecida” by Rev. Alex da Silva Souto, Santo André, Brasil.
The past few weeks we have seen America experience a new wave of protests and demonstrations. None of this is new, per se; the impetus for these actions is certainly not new. But most have noted that this year feels different. A pandemic that has forced many people out of jobs and into their homes for months, combined with yet another wave of violence aimed at multiple innocent Black bodies, seems to have birthed a global movement looking to take historical steps towards toppling White-Supremacy and addressing the inequalities of centuries of institutional racism.
While we all know that a few protests, or a few changes, will not eradicate the ills of racism in a few years, this does feel like an opportunity to take advantage of a populace ready to do lasting anti-racism work. And the question will be asked - where is the Church in all this? What can the Church do?
The Church certainly can and must play a role in toppling all systems of oppression. Jesus demands it from His followers. This is, of course, not new, and Methodists have long been involved in conversations around economic opportunities and educational resources for underserved communities of color. We continue to listen to those putting in the work in these communities, and learning how the Church can support their good work. It is part of bringing the kin-dom of God to Earth.
One specific change I'd like to encourage churches to do regards the image of Jesus Christ and His mother, Mary. While on a Zoom call led by Northern Illinois Conference leaders on racism, one of our District Superintendents, Rev. Jacques Conway, mentioned that we have White images of Jesus in most of our churches, regardless of the racial makeup of the congregation. But if we were to advocate putting images of a Black Jesus in churches, congregations would refuse. And that inspired me to ask - why aren't we challenging our churches to put images of the historically Brown Jesus in their church buildings?
The images of Jesus (and Mary and other Biblical figures) that routinely find their way into our churches are Caucasian looking. While there are people that would use the "I don't see color" defense, or even cite Galatians 3:28, in suggesting that this isn't an issue, we know better. Images matter. Having God depicted as an older White man with a beard has certainly had an effect on how all races see themselves in relation to God. As Jacques noted, it clearly matters. If it truly didn't matter, we'd have replaced White Jesus with the historical Brown skinned Jesus long ago.
The digitally recreated face of Jesus. Popular Mechanics
We should replace Sunday School curriculums with educational resources that show our children that the characters they learn about are Brown skinned Jews from the Ancient Near East. I believe such changes will have a positive effect on the next generation as we seek to teach that racism is incompatible with Christian teaching. I had originally intended this to be a call for Northern Illinois, but if we are connected, this should be a call for the global UMC to consider. And so I ask that the Bishops consider leading a charge to update images of Christ and Mary (and more) in our churches worldwide. Discipleship Ministries could make some of these new resources, and the GBHEM should encourage our universities and colleges to replace images of White Jesus (and others), and bishops can encourage UM publishing house to create the new educational resources and with new images of historically Brown Jesus. Bishops may not control agencies but they have influence over them, and these changes could be a great way for bishops to enact change.
As a layperson I have seen my fellow lay people push back against church initiatives or changes pastors try to make. I know this can be hard on a pastor. I don't readily know the financial and emotional cost to each individual church should we begin these conversations directly within our pews. Of course, maybe our congregations would surprise us and be all on board. But in the likely event that this suggestion is rejected by individual churches, I think we could at the very least, ask that by December 2021, all of our churches have at least one image of Brown Jesus and one image of Black Mary prominently displayed in their church for members and visitors to see. And maybe by 2022, we can have all our educational curriculum reflect Brown images of Bible characters. And if there are churches that need funding to meet this new initiative, we take that in to account and help them. And we can let all our clergy know that church leadership at all levels support them as they lead their congregations in implementing this change.
image: “Santa Biblia” by Rev. Alex da Silva Souto, Manágua, Nicaragua
I would be remiss if I didn't point out that a clergy friend of mine broke down how our denomination, through its clergy pay structure, perpetuates systemic racism. Clergy called to ministry in underserved communities, primarily Black and Brown communities, are often underpaid, understaffed, but overworked. Also, it cannot go unsaid - in light of the Trump administration removing legal protections for trans persons - that our denomination still bears the stains of The Traditional Plan and decades of saying that our LGBTQIA2S+ siblings are “incompatible with Christian teaching.” We have a ways to go and updating our images of Christ does not relieve us of all the anti-oppression work we still must do. But changing the way we see Jesus, Mary, and historically Brown Biblical characters can be a great start in changing how those who sit in our pews see their Black and Brown siblings in Christ. If people - especially the White people whose job it is to dismantle racism - see a Black woman, holding a little Brown baby that will change the world, maybe they will see the love of Christ reflected in people who don't look like them.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you!
Adrian J. Hill
Northern Illinois Lay Delegate, GC2020/2021
image: “Cristo Operário” by Rev. Alex da Silva Souto, Santo André, Brasil.