by Rev. Carolyn C. Blair and Rev. Dr. F.R. Blair
We are #TEAMBLAIR and humbly submit this writing as a reflection of our faith, strength, and tenacity. Our journey to Iowa and into the Southeast Iowa UCC Conference began in December 2022, when Rev. Carolyn C. Blair accepted the call to pastor Zion United Church of Christ, Burlington, IA. In February of 2023, Rev. Dr. F.R. Blair accepted the pastoral call at First United Church of Christ (the church at the Top of Snake Alley), Burlington, IA. Rev. Carolyn C. was serving as Sabbatical Pastor for several UCC churches, and Rev. Blair was pastoring the Congregational Church of North NY UCC, Metro UCC Association NYC. Together, we co-pastor The Ubuntu Project for Inclusivity (a church-without-walls ministry of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM)). The Ubuntu Project Ministry for Inclusivity serves families with children with special needs and at-risk children. We bring firsthand knowledge of the exclusion and alienation these families experience, not only from communal activities but also from church activities. This ministry, called “Ubuntu,” rooted in an ancient African word meaning ‘humanity to others’ and the phrase we love, “I am what I am because of who we all are,” hopes to further sensitize congregations and the surrounding community to the needs of others and promote a more vibrant, inclusive worship celebration.
We believe that we embody the phrase “we celebrate the ‘Black History 365’ movement,” which emphasizes that Black/African history, culture, and achievements are integral to daily life, not just for the 28/29 days of February. This movement advocates for ongoing recognition of Black contributions and supports Black awareness, faith, and education throughout the year. It is about celebrating, living, and honoring Black history and achievements every day, not to the exclusion of other cultures, but to the inclusion of those monumental achievements of Black people that American and world history have attempted to erase. We embrace research showing that Christianity was present in Africa 1000 years before the first European colonialists arrived on African shores, a whole millennium before any European nation docked its ships. Christianity had been flourishing in Africa. The gospel of Jesus Christ was already spreading out of Jerusalem into Africa by African theologians and missionaries, who then spread the gospel east to Asia, to the west (Europe), and then to the south inward to Africa. Christianity has often been taught without reflecting its early African origins, which makes celebrating Black History very important to all of us, not only as a nation but also as the universal church, to recognize the contributions African Americans have made to our understanding of our faith. Black History Month is essential because each of us has a voice and a significant spiritual experience that needs to be heard and uplifted within our congregations.
As liberation theologians, we draw on the experiences of others to ensure our ministries are as colorful and inclusive as possible. Recognizing the beauty of God’s awesomeness in our unique ways. As we say, we were both moved by the Sermon on the Mount, which had no restrictions. All were welcomed, reflecting the basis of Jesus Christ’s unconditional, radically inclusive love in his ministry, which leads us to talk about our personal journeys as pastoral leaders in Iowa within the United Church of Christ.
ZION UCC, Burlington, IA, is an open and affirming (ONA)/welcoming, inclusive, supportive, and engaging (WISE) church, while First UCC views itself as a “traditional conservative congregation.” Both churches are traditional White congregations. However, we incorporate our heritage from our Pentecostal/Baptist upbringing into our services, as we profess that we are uniquely made yet one in the spirit and a piece of God’s beautiful puzzle that fits together.
As pastors in the UCC, we have been instrumental in creating a more substantial UCC presence in North Hill, a section of Burlington that embodies the tenets of the UCC, mainly that “GOD IS STILL SPEAKING!”
We serve as chaplains for the Burlington Police Department. We serve as Lt. Governors of District I-I Kiwanis International. We serve as national and international consultants to several denominations, churches, nonprofits, and businesses. We join our churches in partnership through our social justice ministries to raise awareness and identify resources for mental health and wellness through The ZION Mental Health and Wellness Ministry, The Zion First Mental Health and Wellness Fair, and The Power of PRAYZ. Rev. Blair is the NAACP Burlington Chapter President and serves on the Renewable Energy and Sustainability Advisory Commission for Burlington, IA. Rev. Carolyn serves as the Prayer Leader for TFAM’s Midwest Region. She also serves on the UCC Mental Health Network Board of Directors and the Board of Directors for the Downtown Burlington Partnership. In her spare time, she was the assistant musical director for Little Shop of Horrors at the Players Workshop and performed in theatrical productions. Believe it or not, this is only a snapshot of the mighty things God is doing through us in this short time in the Midwest, and we pray that God continues to give us guidance and strength to continue to do God’s will, God’s way.
Is God Still Speaking? Yes, one hundred years of naming and recognizing Black History Month: The Revs. Blairs are Black History. We are the prayers, dreams, and visions of our ancestors. We are the living witnesses to declare the existence of those watered-down or erased Black stories. We proclaim, “Yes, GOD IS STILL SPEAKING,” and God, in God’s infinite wisdom, called two kids from the housing projects of New York City to defy the obstacles of all of the ills and isms of society, not only in America but in the church.
We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors in faith. We are both called to pastor, we are living our call, and we believe as Luke 4:18 (Voice) says,
The Eternal One is on me. He sent me to tell those who are held captive that they can now be set free, and to tell the blind that they can now see. He sent me to liberate those oppressed. Why? Because the Eternal designated me to be His representative to the poor, to preach good news to them.
Now let the church say AMEN!