Souls of White Folks/Soul to Soul

In 2000, the Roper Center released the "Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey," a survey of 41 regions across the US, including the Charlotte region. The results placed Charlotte among the top communities for participation in houses of worship, but at the same time, next to last for interracial trust.

Believing that the strength of Charlotte's faith communities can be used to find a solution to the co-existing problems of distrust, the Knight Foundation made a grant to Mecklenburg Ministries for "Souls of White Folks." This project used a unique approach of focusing on white faith leaders to address the issue of race from a white perspective.

In eight small-group dialogue sessions, participants consider how increased understanding of the dynamics of whiteness can foster spiritual growth and build interracial trust, and how members of the clergy can assist their houses of worship to build this social capital.

From the Souls of White Folks and its projects have come several current projects of Mecklenburg Ministries:

• Clergy lunches
• The all-clergy Habitat Build
• Friday Friends, which has now become a Crossroads project of Mecklenburg Ministries
• The documentaries “Souls of Our Students,” which discusses diversity issues in high school, congregations and our community and “Souls of Our Teachers,” which inspires commitment to our most high need schools.
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In the fall of 2007, Mecklenburg Ministries received a follow-up grant from the Knight Foundation to continue the work of Souls of White Folks. Additional funds were provided by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and the expanded project was named “Soul to Soul.”

Upcoming Soul to Soul Opportunities

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Community/Congregational 6-Week Souls of White Folks Program

Every Thursday, February 2-March 8, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

In 2006, Mecklenburg Ministries first offered the “Souls of White Folks” program for clergy and faith leaders in the Charlotte community to address issues of race, power, privilege and the spiritual impact of these from the perspective of “what it means to be white.” From this program have come community projects such as an interfaith, all-clergy Habitat build, Friday Friends, and the high school curriculum and award-winning DVD, “Souls of our Students.”

“Soul to Soul is full of energy and has provided fresh insights, new friends, and momentum for a 'beloved community.' The importance of this effort is not only for the participants but for all of our congregations and indeed for the Charlotte region." -- Rush Otey, Minister, Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church, Souls of White Folks participant

“The experience of sharing with men and women from other faiths two years ago has enriched my life in so many ways. What means most to me is getting to know seven or eight ‘others’ as my brothers and sisters in the one human family of God.” -- Andrea Inkrott, Sister, Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, Souls of White Folks participant

Pre-registration is required. Register on our website or email Anne VanNewkirk at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Souls of White Folks Leader's Guide and Curriculum

We are pleased to offer for purchase the Souls of White Folks curriculum. This community version of Souls of White Folks, which addresses issues of power privilege and race, is designed for adults but can also be adapted for college and high school students. It is structured as 12 one-hour sessions (see the agenda below) for a small group with a facilitator.

Curriculum Agenda

Curriculum Order Form

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 advisors. 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 interfaith, interracial all-clergy Habitat Build.