Souls of White Folks: a project designed to increase understanding of issues of race, power and privilege from the perspective of what it means to be white.

History:

This project was created in response to the Social Capital Survey Report of 2001 which showed that the Charlotte region, compared to other regions, ranked very high in involvement in houses of faith, but next to the bottom in inter-racial trust. The John S and James L Knight Foundation asked Mecklenburg Ministries to use the strength of the first to help change the second, specifically by engaging white clergy.

In 2006, Mecklenburg Ministries brought together 43 leaders in their respective faith communities to participate in eight weekly two-hour dialogue sessions. Participants read both historical and contemporary texts, shared personal stories and experiences, and met with an advisory group of black clergy.

Perhaps the most significant outcome of the project has been the involvement in projects and continuing relationships with other participants, both those of the dialogue sessions and with the black clergy advisor's. Projects have included cross-congregational book studies, replication of “Souls” with congregational members, “Friday Friends” and a documentary video on discrimination for use in CMS. Additionally, participants, white and black, have met in “clergy lunches” and participated in an inter-faith, inter-racial all-clergy Habitat Build.

Current status:

Mecklenburg Ministries has received further funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation for the continuation of Souls of White Folks and its expansion into Soul to Soul The components of this include Souls of White Folks with clergy and spiritual leaders (next session starting in Feb, 09), a congregational/community version of Souls of White Folks (training session now in process) and a mixed race, intensive retreat for the participants of Souls of White Folks and Black spiritual leaders. Participants will receive seed money to develop projects in the community.

Projects which Meck Min has continued include:

• Monthly clergy lunches
• The all clergy Habitat Build
• Friday Friends which has now become a Crossroads project of Mecklenburg Ministries
• The video “Souls of Our Students” to discuss diversity issues in high school, congregations and our community.