Seeing the Future of African American Church Rainbow Part 2: 

Writing A Testament of Hope (Thompson Scholars 2024)

April 16-18, 2024

Course Description: The future of the African American Church is as an affirming, welcoming, inclusive church. For that church to become that which we imagine, we have to write a text that guides the growth of the church into its future. 

Thompson Scholars will build upon work begun at the 2023 gathering of Thompson Scholars. We will begin work on “The Third Testament,” what Bishop Yvette Flunder calls a “Testament of Hope” for the church. This will be a working group of writers who will contribute to a collection of resources that will become this body of work. This work group will convene in a virtual seminar April 16-18, 2024. 

Application for Thompson Scholars 2024 involves completion of a pre-selection process, including submission of a 600-word abstract addressing one of the eleven topics outlined during the 2023 gathering of Scholars and listed below. 2024 Scholars will be invited to participate after they have submitted their abstract and the abstract has been reviewed. Review and approval will be conducted by the editorial team. Authors of accepted abstracts who participate in the seminar will receive a $100 honorarium. Prior Thompson Scholars are encouraged to apply. The seminar is guided by this timetable: 

• Abstracts due for review February 15, 2024 
• Acceptances and invitations to confirm participation issued by March 1, 2024 
• Registration to be completed by April 1, 2024 
• Final book chapter to be submitted by April of 2025 

Applications will be evaluated on their responses to the application questions and assessment of their abstract.  The “Testament of Hope?” will invite a queering of these topics: 

1. Liturgy and preaching – How to preach and worship as an affirming, welcoming, and inclusive church. 
2. A Black/Womanist LGBTQ Theology – Interacting with and responding to Black theology and Womanist theology from an LGBTQ+ perspective. 
3. Evangelism and Church Growth – The future growth of the church informed by LGBTQ+ perspectives. 
4. The Bible and Bible Hermeneutics – The queering of biblical method, exegesis, and hermeneutics. 
5. Human Sexuality (Gender/Trans-Experience) – Reflections on human sexuality to include gender, gender identity, fluidity and the trans-experience. 
6. Relationships (Intimacy/Marriage) – The importance of fostering healthy, dynamic, covenant LGBTQ+ intimate relationships. 
7. Pastoral Care and Leadership – Models for leading, developing, and caring for affirming, welcoming, and inclusive congregations. 
8. Children & Youth – The heart of God as it relates to children, youth, and developing and raising children. 
9. Care for Earth – What is our responsibility to connect to the earth? 
10. Social Justice – What is our connection and responsibility to Jesus and justice? 
11. Loving and Caring for Our Trans Siblings – How are inclusive churches intentional about the care and inclusion of our trans siblings?