Presented by:

Reverend Quincy James Rineheart, M.Div., S.T.M.

Scholar-In-Residence, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

 

 

Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute of the

Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. Project

 

 

Dr. Iva E. Carruthers, General Secretary

 

 

July 30, 2018

 

 

 

Our Story

 

 

Background

 

The Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute is an outgrowth of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference. The purpose for the Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute is to provide an opportunity for persons to be engaged in the political, social and religious world. Historically, LGBTQ organizations have been agencies organized to counter heteronormative discourses, built to provide trainings against the religious and political evil forces which seeks to antagonize LGBTQ people who decide to live their lives OUT LOUD.

 

The Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute is an organization named in honor of two historical figures who were both radical revolutionaries, politically astute, moral cosmopolitans, strategic organizers, and social agents who helped to raise the moral conscious of America and who were strong advocates for holistic transformation both globally and individually.

 

The establishment of this organization is vital to the foundation that was laid by Pauli Murray and Bayard Rustin to dismantle heterosexism, homophobia, and white supremacy.  With the recent Supreme Court decision, which argued for persons being able to discriminate against same-gendered loving people on the basis of their religious rights, shows the absence of liberation and love in our world. The intersubjectivity of African American experience – a notion of a collective self, a collective we, has been the hallmark of our experience.

 

The Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute’s goal is to expose persons to the radical nature of Pauli Murray and Bayard Rustin, and to also create sacred spaces for healing and wholeness within congregations, develop educational workshops around building inclusive ministries, thriving economically, and developing a mentorship program for homeless LGBTQ Youth in Chicago.  

 

 

 

 

 

MRSJI’S MISSION, VISION & VALUE STATEMENT

 

The mission of the Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference is an ecumenical, interfaith, political and historical organization committed to social justice uplift through mentoring, educating and cultivating leaders to effect social change for the good of all humanity. Our philosophy is that providing innovative programs that confront and challenge systematic and cultural biases, structural and institutional oppressions, while promoting community engagement, ensures intellectual development and holistic growth. 

 

The Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute of SDPC is to (1) introduce the life and work of Pauli Murray and Bayard Rustin, two pioneering, audacious freedom fighters whose work transformed the world, to church leaders, seminarians and to the broader community, (2) show the theological and political connections of their work to the current social and economic disparities in our civic communities and social institutions, (3) help churches develop a culture and ministries that are inclusive of persons who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer (LGBTQ) within their congregations, and (4) build a financial base to support the Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute.

 

The Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute ensures to develop workshops, tool-kits, a curriculum and host retreats that will help galvanize activists, lay persons and faith leaders to build the beloved world community.      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute has five overarching goals:

 

  • To introduce as models the life and legacy of Pauli Murray and Bayard Rustin through the contributions both have made to the theological and political landscape of society through their activism, speeches and published works.

 

  • To educate clergy leaders & congregations, activists and political leaders through curriculum development and trainings which will encompass a curriculum guide, workshops, implementation of strategies along with tool-kits that will aid in the establishment of building ministries and organizations that are inclusive for all persons.   

 

  • To mentor and train church leaders in developing and cultivating sacred spaces within their congregations for persons who identify as members of the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer, Intersex or Ally) community in helping to build the beloved world community and kin-dom for the good of humanity.

 

  • To partner with congregations and other grassroots organizations to provide pedagogical and theological trainings that will help galvanize faith leaders and congregations in the areas of activism in praxis that will ensure communal and holistic growth, both theological, personal and organizational.

 

  • To collaborate with Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus, other seminaries and LGBTIQ student organizations on college campuses to further educate advocacy and community models of inclusion.