Former co-moderators will discuss white supremacy during advocacy webinar

Cintrón-Olivieri and Anderson will be guests on the second episode of ‘Where Do We Go from Here?’

by Rich Copley | Presbyterian News Service

The Rev. Denise Anderson, co-moderator of the 222nd General Assembly, and Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, co-moderator of the 223rd GA, will be the guests Thursday on the PC(USA) advocacy webinar, “Where Do We Go from Here?” (Photos Michael Whitman and Rich Copley)

LEXINGTON, Kentucky — Two former co-moderators of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly will join the Office of Public Witness/Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations for a discussion about white supremacy and the intersection of racism and gender inequality.

Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, co-moderator of the 223^rd GA, and the Rev. Denise Anderson, co-moderator of the 222^nd GA and now Coordinator of the Presbyterian Office of Racial & Intercultural Justice, will be featured on the second episode of “Where Do We Go from Here?” at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Jan. 28. Viewers can register through Zoom or watch on the Office of Public Witness Facebook page.

The first episode on Jan. 14 featured the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), discussing the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, who were seeking to overturn the results of the November presidential election, which Trump lost.

In that inaugural episode, Nelson; PC(USA) Associate Director of Advocacy, the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins; and OPW/PMUN Representative for Domestic Poverty Issues the Rev. Christian N. Brooks discussed the role of white supremacy in the Capitol attack and the election.

“Our clergy do not challenge white supremacy in our local congregations,” Hawkins said, reflecting on a history of white supremacy in the church and the use of Christian symbols by some of the attackers. “People get upset: ‘You’re bringing politics into the life of the church.’ But we have to preach the Good News of the Gospel, which brings us together and helps us to overcome all of the baggage that we bring to church from our lives.”

“Where Do We Go from Here?” aims to explore the issues brought on by the new administration of President Joe Biden and the aftermath of the Capitol attack in greater depth, from a faith perspective.

During Thursday’s episode, Cintrón-Olivieri and Anderson will be joined by Hawkins and Sue Rheem, Presbyterian Representative to the United Nations, for the discussion.

The Office of Public Witness/Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations is one of the Compassion, Peace & Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.