What In The Hell Is Wrong With This Country?: April 10, 2022 Edition

Image Description: Lead Pastor Rev. John Edgerton speaks to his congregation from the pulpit at the First United Church of Oak Park. Edgerton, a white man, is wearing a Black suit and speckled tie, with a white priest scarf.

In today’s edition of “What In the Hell Is Wrong With This Country?”, we find ourselves in Illinois, where a church and its congregation have decided on a “fast from whiteness” for Lent.

You read that right.

“Fasting from whiteness.”

From the church’s Facebook page:

From Global News:

First United Church of Oak Park, an “open community” church outside Chicago, announced that it would not use any music or materials written or composed by white people in the 40-day religious observance period that leads up to Easter.

“For Lent this year, First United is doing a mix of ‘giving something up’ and ‘taking something on,’” the church wrote on its website.

“In our worship services throughout Lent, we will not be using any music or liturgy written or composed by white people. Our music will be drawn from the African American spirituals tradition, from South African freedom songs, from Native American traditions, and many, many more.”

Lent is often celebrated by people giving up something that is part of their daily life. This year Lent is observed from March 2 to mid-April.

However, the church’s observance is not sitting well with some.

Turning Point USA, an American non-profit that advocates for conservative values, blasted the church, saying it is creating “disunity” and moving “back to segregation times.”

In a short video posted to YouTube, a Turning Point USA representative shows off a sign erected on the church’s front lawn that features a photo of a white canvas being covered with black paint.

Many, including conservative pundits, have mocked the church by calling it “woke,” “racist” or “having a hatred for white people.”

The church, which is a union church of the Presbyterian and United Church of Christ denominations, has responded to the criticism and pushback, saying on its Facebook page that the “Lenten theme has spurred considerable discussion, with some people questioning the message.

“In practice with the Lenten discipline of fasting, our intent was to lay aside our usual frames of reference and open ourselves to hearing the Gospel message through the voices of Black People, Indigenous People, and People of Color. Our worship services in Lent have been diverse and beautiful,” their statement continues.

In a video posted by the church on the first Sunday of Lent, Rev. Lydia Mulkey further explained the fast.

“In this fast from whiteness, of course, I cannot change the colour of my skin or the way that allows me to move through the world but I can change what I listen to, whose voice I prioritize,” Mulkey said.

“And so that is kind of the place for our worship services, through Lent, that we would fast for a time from prioritizing white voices.”

Ooh, chile. Where do you even begin with unpacking this one? Because this ain't for Black folx, Brown folx, Indigenous folx to unpack. That's for damn sure.

This is just foolishness on multiple levels.

I'm sorry, but isn't it chuckle-worthy that a conservative think-tank like Turning Point USA is enraged by this church's performative nonsense? How is this "moving back to segregation times?" That statement doesn't make any sense in the context of all of this. The level of outrage over something so hollow and meaningless is almost laughable.

And let's not forget to talk about the First United Church of Oak Park. I love how they're picking the most passive way to "give up whiteness" for a few weeks and making such a public display of it. And by "love," I mean loathe. These white churchgoers aren't giving up any white privileges or class privileges or examining their whiteness and its impacts in a profound and meaningful way. They're not looking at the historical pain and trauma the church has caused in the name of whiteness, using the tenets of white supremacy to harm Black, Latino, Hispanic, Native, and Indigenous communities. The reverend and his congregation aren't looking to connect with the community around them and build better relationships and bridges. Nope - they're just going to sing some Negro spirituals and butcher some Indigenous hymns that have no cultural significance or connection to whiteness for a few weeks.

Evidently, "giving up whiteness" is as simple as putting on some different pants for church.

UGH.

Nah, this isn't for Black folx, Latinx folx, Hispanic folx, or Indigenous folx to unpack. This is for this white congregation to unpack. This is for white people, religious white people, to unpack. I'm gonna just side-eye them, shake my head, and keep it moving.