Spirituals are thought to be the earliest form of religious music that began to develop among Blacks in the United States around 1865. They were a source of sanity, comfort, inspiration and encouragement in those early camp meetings during the “Second Awakening.” The genre began in an oral tradition yet, has reached far beyond its origin into a digital 21st century. This body of sacred folk music referred by some as Negro spirituals are, according to William B. McClain, expressions of “life and death, suffering and sorrow, love and judgment, grace and hope, justice and mercy, redemption and reconciliation.” (McClain, W. (1990). Come Sunday the Liturgy of Zion. Nashville: Abingdon Press.). During a one-day spiritual retreat at Stillpoint, participants will listen, sing, prayer and engage in theological reflection on a selection of traditional and contemporary spirituals. At the end of the day retreat participants will walk about having rehearsed a piece of our common American history, experiencing through this genre what continues to expressions of “lament and protest and praise.”
About the Presenter:
Belva Brown Jordan, ordained with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Rev. Jordan was ordained to a life of “ministry of presence” in 1986. After a few years of serving the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination in its general offices in Indianapolis, Indiana she transitioned into theological higher education in 1992. From Lancaster Theological Seminary to Harvard Divinity School to Phillips Theological Seminary to Claremont School of Theology, Belva has journeyed with students in a variety of faculty and higher education administrative roles. Currently, Rev. Jordan serves as the interim president of Disciples Seminary Foundation, Claremont, California, a position she took on in January 2020.