Our Hearts Were Strangely Lukewarm: The History of Anti-Black Racism in The Church

How did the U.S. Christian movement founded by John Wesley stray from his strong abolitionist teachings to largely embracing anti-Black racism for more than two centuries? And why did so many of white Methodism’s highest decision-makers throughout history balk at declaring racism as antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

This three-session, self-directed course—based on the book, Our Hearts Were Strangely Lukewarm: The American Methodist Church and The Struggle with White Supremacy by the Rev. Dr. John Elford—offers a no-holds-barred look at the denomination’s checkered history of systemic and institutional racism targeting African American people.

Designed for General Conference delegates and reserves, but open to all, this course challenges white Christians to face the past and chart a more faith-filled, anti-racist future so that United Methodists may become co-workers with Jesus Christ to transform the world.

In this course you will:

• Learn about early American Methodism’s struggle to reconcile God’s message of love for all people with the practice of enslaving Africans to build colonizer wealth.
• Examine how Methodist General Conferences historically failed to take unflinching, unequivocable public stands and deliberate actions to counter white racism and white supremacy.
• Witness the work of generations of anti-slavery Methodists who challenged the church throughout history to embrace the sacred worth of people of all races.
• Follow the self-determination movements among Black Methodists, who created their own denominations and church groups to champion abolitionist, anti-Jim Crow, freedom and liberation movements.
• Examine ongoing challenges that racism and white supremacy present to the United Methodist Church and the world.