RACIAL HEALING & PILGRIMAGE:
Equipping the Saints
for Reconciliation
Alabama is home to many sacred and historically significant spaces connected to the rights of Black Americans. As the Episcopal Church, we want to be on the correct side of history in the future, even if we have, at times, failed in the past.
This is why we actively pursue racial healing today—so that every person in our diocese and beyond knows that they are seen, heard, welcomed, and loved by God and by the Episcopal Church. And that we will join all those fighting for justice and equality today.
Stations of the Cross:
Created by Birmingham's first Episcopal deacons, the 90-minute liturgy of reflection, prayer and singing winds through financial and civil rights districts, honoring the poor, unhoused, criminalized and racially oppressed.
How will $1 million be utilized
to address racial healing
and pilgrimage?
The Equipping the Saints capital campaign will make the following possible:
-
Renovations to Good Shepherd in Montgomery: this parish holds a rich history that makes it uniquely suited as the home for racial healing in our diocese. Updating the kitchen, bathrooms, and common spaces will help meet the existing demand from pilgrims and expand its capacity as a space for holy experiences and conversations that lead to racial healing.
-
The diocese, Good Shepherd and St. John’s, Montgomery will join together to support a full-time priest-in-charge. This person will serve both parishes and develop and coordinate our efforts around racial healing and pilgrimage.
-
Collecting oral and written stories about race relations: allowing us to preserve our history, learn from the past, and share different perspectives.
-
Opportunities for training: equipping leaders to support their congregations in addressing racial issues, fostering inclusion, and building relationships among people from diverse backgrounds.
_edited.png){kind=small}
The Sacred Space of Good Shepherd, Montgomery
Pews from the former “slave gallery” at St. John’s were installed at Good Shepherd in 1900 and are still in use today.
An architectural rendering of our God-sized dreams for Good Shepherd:
Phase I includes renovations to the building on the left, including the kitchen and
parish hall, while Phase II adds new space on the right for hospitality and gathering.
By Claire Cotten
For 175 years, the people of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Montgomery have proclaimed by word and example the Good News of God in Christ by welcoming all, marching for equality, and loving their neighbors. Founded in 1849, the church initially held services for enslaved Black people at St. John’s Episcopal Church. After Emancipation, members established the current parish building in 1900, incorporating pews from St. John’s former “slave gallery.”
Located in the Centennial Hill neighborhood, the church is linked to the 1955 Bus Boycott and the Civil Rights Movement. From 1957 to 1961, Rev. Robert Earl DuBose, who served as rector, was also secretary of the Montgomery Improvement Association with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Dr. Ralph Abernathy. In 1960, Rev. DuBose and Rev. Abernathy led a student protest supporting the North Carolina lunch counter boycotts.
Centennial Hill, once central to Montgomery's Black middle class, faced decline in the 1960s due to Interstate-85 construction and city disinvestment. The City of Montgomery has created a master plan for Centennial Hill and is currently applying for $40 million in federal funding to revitalize this historic neighborhood.
In recent years, Montgomery has experienced a resurgence, driven by Civil Rights tourism and economic development. Good Shepherd has become a significant stop for Episcopal visitors, welcoming over 100 visitors in February 2024 alone. Pilgrims visit Montgomery to explore important historical sites and find rest and reflection at Good Shepherd, which opens their doors to these pilgrims and offers them refreshments and space for discussion, prayer, and worship. Here, holy experiences and conversations foster Christian formation and racial healing.
Good Shepherd’s membership has grown from 19 to 27 in the past year, thanks to its hospitality and focus on historical preservation and racial healing. In response to the growing congregation and an increase in visitors on pilgrimage, the church plans to update its facilities, including adding meeting space, renovating the parish hall, improving accessibility, and expanding parking.
This project honors those who advanced civil rights and preserves the church as a place for immersive educational experiences. The Rt. Rev. Glenda Curry and the Diocese of Alabama have prioritized racial healing and pilgrimage, aiming to equip leaders for creating pathways for racial healing. Enhancements to Good Shepherd support this mission, reinforcing the church’s role in racial reconciliation.
The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd is the keeper of a profound history, and this transformative project will cement the church’s legacy. This project fortifies our broader church community through Christian education, pushing us forward on our shared journey towards racial reconciliation. Safeguarding and sharing Good Shepherd’s sacred space, transformational stories, and kind people will be a testament to the unending love of Jesus which conquers all hate.
“I was sent to seminary from St. John’s in Montgomery, and
I was a resident of the
city for eight years.
I am truly excited
about the resurgence
of Montgomery in
general, and the plans
for Centennial Hill in particular.
The people of Good Shepherd have been faithful stewards of their parish and its stories since its beginnings in 1849.
Now, it’s time for us to recognize this parish’s significant role in the history
of our church and our state and support them in their desire to thrive as both a parish and a pilgrimage site for those who desire a greater understanding of race, history, and faith. I am proud of their recent growth, and I know
it will continue.”
– Bishop G
Why does the Diocese want invest
in Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
in Montgomery?
While many of our parishes’ facilities require updates, Good Shepherd’s unique situation makes it a special project that covers historic stewardship, community and economic development, racial healing and pilgrimage, and congregational vitality.
Good Shepherd, one of four historically black parishes in our diocese, is first and foremost a parish, and anyone is welcome to attend worship on Sunday mornings at 9:00am. When standing inside the walls of Good Shepherd, one is surrounded by 175 years of Alabama history. By stewarding this space, we preserve Good Shepherd’s story so that it can be shared with future generations. When we invest in Good Shepherd, we’re also investing in the future of this historic community.
In February 2024 alone, Good Shepherd welcomed over 100 guests from around the country during their visits to Montgomery. The parish provides meals and members often sit in on discussions, sharing their firsthand stories. Even though Good Shepherd welcomes guests with open arms, the facilities are not easily accessible and the kitchen is not in working condition. By remedying those concerns, we will support Good Shepherd’s ministry of hospitality to Christians seeking racial healing.
