Justice Ministries
St. Bartholomew's Justice Ministries provide ways for parishioners to live into the promise in our Baptismal Covenant to: "strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being." (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305).
We do this through adult formation, advocacy, and reparative justice efforts.
If you have questions about our Justice Ministries, please contact Leslie McGilberry, the Assistant to the Rector for Justice Ministries.
Formation
The Episcopal Church has a long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice, known as Becoming Beloved Community. St. Bs joins these efforts through:
Adult Formation – our latest Sunday morning series, held in the fall of 2024, The Nashville You Need to Know, hosted prominent guest speakers, including Mayor Freddie O’Connell, to discuss issues facing our vulnerable Nashville neighbors, including affordable housing, transportation, criminal justice and education.
Justice Conversations – recent evening conversations have included "The History of Voting Rights in America", "Residential Segregation in Today's Nashville" and guests from The Tennessee Innocence Project and Rebuilding Together Nashville.
Sacred Ground – more than 60 parishioners have completed Sacred Ground, the Episcopal Church’s eleven-week film-and-dialogue course on race and faith.
Field Trips – groups have made pilgrimages to Montgomery’s Legacy Museum and the Belle Meade Historic Site and walks and marches that commemorate Nashville’s Civil Rights history
Advocacy
One of the most active, stable, and recognized advocacy organizations in Nashville is Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH), an interracial and interdenominational coalition of religious organizations and community groups that works to amplify the power of ordinary people.
Through our membership in NOAH, St. B’s parishioners are welcome to participate in the work of its task forces: Affordable Housing, Transformational Justice, Economic Equity & Transportation, and Education.
Reparative Justice
We seek to repair and restore communities that struggle to flourish due to systemic racism through tangible action. To be continued….
