Segregation in the New South

I find it humorous yet disturbing that the paper-recycling bins at my workplace are labeled "white paper only" and "color paper only." While The United Methodist Publishing House goes out of its way to support diversity and inclusivity, we did inherit this building (through denominational mergers) from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. On The United Methodist family tree the MEC South might be described as the racist uncle. The church split from the Methodist Episcopal Church in support of a bishop who, through marriage, became a slave owner. In less than 30 years the vast majority of African Americans in the MEC South left to join the church's northern branch; to join the African Methodist Episcopal Church or the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Zion; or to found the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (later the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church).

Granted, I've oversimplified a bit. By the time the MEC South joined with other Methodist denominations to form The Methodist Church in 1939, it had turned from many of its past sins. And as much as we pride ourselves on being progressive when it comes to matters of race, other Methodist denominations have been guilty of excluding people based on race or ethnicity or looking away from problems like slavery and segregation.

Yet, I've found that The United Methodist Church is good about acknowledging and repenting of mistakes it has made in the past, and the church has certainly made a commitment to diversity that is reflected by the denominational slogan "open hearts, open minds, open doors," and a UM T-shirt message, "I believe when you truly embrace diversity, you embrace God." It would be nice to think that our biggest problem with diversity now is the recycling bins, but that would be shortsighted.

I should get back to the project I'm doing on church history; but that should give you something to think about when you recycle.