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Pastor's Book Corner
"To sing about freedom and to pray for its coming is not enough. Freedom must be actualized in history by oppressed peoples who accept the intellectual challenge to analyze the world for the purpose of changing it." James Hal Cone
Welcome to the Pastor's Book Corner, a sacred space where the wisdom of literature meets the guidance of faith. I am deeply committed to nurturing our congregation's spiritual and intellectual growth. Drawing upon the rich heritage of African American spirituality and scholarship, the Pastor's Book Corner features a carefully curated selection of books that speak to the heart and soul of our community. From spiritual classics to contemporary works, each book is chosen to inspire, enlighten, and empower us on our faith journey.
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We engage with various topics, including theology, science, social justice, personal development, and more. Through our discussions and reflections, we seek to deepen our understanding of God's word, strengthen our connection to our heritage, and equip ourselves to live out our faith in a complex and ever-changing world.
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But the Pastor's Book Corner is more than just a collection of books; it is a dynamic forum for dialogue, fellowship, and growth. Here, we come together as a community to share our insights, ask questions, and support one another on our spiritual journeys. Whether you're a seasoned reader or just beginning to explore the world of literature, I invite you to join us in the Pastor's Book Corner. Let us open our hearts and minds to the transformative power of words as we seek to grow in faith, love, and understanding. Welcome, and may this virtual sanctuary be a source of inspiration and blessing to us all.
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Featured Authors
Champions of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Authors
Wil Gafney
Hebrew bible and Womanist Scholarship
Tamura Lomax
Race, Gender, and Sexuality
Christena Cleveland
Sociol Psychology
Yolanda Pierce
African American Religions
Featured Books
Good Reads, Good Ideas, and Good Stuff
​#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
53rd NAACP Image Awards Winner
You are seen, you are loved, and you are heard!
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Before Tabitha Brown was one of the most popular personalities in the world, sharing her delicious vegan home cooking and compassionate wisdom with millions of followers across social media, she was an aspiring actress who in 2016 began struggling with undiagnosed chronic autoimmune pain. Her condition made her believe she wouldn’t live to see forty--until she started listening to what her soul and her body truly needed. Now, in this life-changing book, Tabitha shares the wisdom she gained from her own journey, showing readers how to make a life for themselves that is rooted in nonjudgmental kindness and love, both for themselves and for others.
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Tabitha grounds her lessons in stories about her own life, career, faith, and family in this funny, down-to-earth book, built around the catchphrases that her fans know and love, including:
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Hello There!: Why hope, joy, and clarity are so very needed
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That’s Your Business: Defining yourself, and being okay with that
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Have the Most Amazing Day . . . : Choosing joy and living with intention
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But Don’t Go Messin’ Up No One Else’s: Learning to walk in kindness even when the world doesn’t feel kind
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Like So, Like That: Living life without measurement
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Very Good: Living in peace and creating good from the bad
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Rich with personal stories and inspirational quotes, and sprinkled with a few easy vegan recipes, Feeding the Soul is a book to share--and to return to when you want to feel seen, loved, and heard.
​From one of America’s most inspiring political leaders, a book about the core truths that unite us, and the shared values that will see us into the future.
Known for bringing a voice to the voiceless, Senator Kamala Harris is committed to speaking the truth. The daughter of immigrants, she was raised in a community that cared deeply about social justice and, growing up, Harris herself never hid her passion for doing what is right.
Throughout her career, from starting out as a prosecutor right up to her position as California’s Attorney General, and now as a US Senator, her hallmarks have been applying a holistic, data-driven approach to the thorniest issues, whether it’s taking on the big banks or rejecting stale ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric as presenting a series of false choices. Neither ‘tough’ nor ‘soft’ but smart on crime became her mantra. Being smart means learning the truths that can make us better as a community, and supporting those truths with all our might.
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The renowned author of Between the World and Me journeys to three resonant sites of conflict to explore how the stories we tell—and the ones we don’t—shape our realities.
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“Ta-Nehisi Coates always writes with a purpose. . . . These pilgrimages, for him, help ground his powerful writing about race.”—Associated Press
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“Coates exhorts readers, including students, parents, educators, and journalists, to challenge conventional narratives that can be used to justify ethnic cleansing or camouflage racist policing. Brilliant and timely.”—Booklist (starred review)
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Ta-Nehisi Coates originally set out to write a book about writing, in the tradition of Orwell’s classic “Politics and the English Language,”but found himself grappling with deeper questions about how our stories—our reporting and imaginative narratives and mythmaking—expose and distort our realities.
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In the first of the book’s three intertwining essays, Coates, on his first trip to Africa, finds himself in two places at once: in Dakar, a modern city in Senegal, and in a mythic kingdom in his mind. Then he takes listeners along with him to Columbia, South Carolina, where he reports on his own book’s banning, but also explores the larger backlash to the nation’s recent reckoning with history and the deeply rooted American mythology so visible in that city—a capital of the Confederacy with statues of segregationists looming over its public squares. Finally, in the book’s longest section, Coates travels to Palestine, where he sees with devastating clarity how easily we are misled by nationalist narratives, and the tragedy that lies in the clash between the stories we tell and the reality of life on the ground.
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Written at a dramatic moment in American and global life, this work from one of the country’s most important writers is about the urgent need to untangle ourselves from the destructive myths that shape our world—and our own souls—and embrace the liberating power of even the most difficult truths.
Funny, You Should Ask
What Makes A Good Study Bible?
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I am often asked what makes a good study bible. Preferences are subjective, but I put a high value on the following :
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Clarity and Accessibility: A good study Bible should make the text accessible to many readers. It should provide clear explanations, context, and definitions for unfamiliar terms or concepts.
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Cultural and Historical Context: Understanding biblical passages' cultural and historical context is crucial. A study Bible should provide background information about the text's time, place, and people involved.
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Diverse Perspectives: I emphasize the importance of diverse voices in biblical interpretation. A good Bible should include commentary from scholars from different backgrounds, genders, and perspectives.
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Ethical and Social Justice Lens: I often approach the Bible through an ethical and social justice lens. A study of the Bible should address issues of justice, equality, and compassion, helping readers apply biblical teachings to contemporary situations.
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Engaging Questions: A study Bible should encourage readers to ask questions and engage critically with the text. It should prompt reflection and discussion rather than providing dogmatic answers.
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Inclusive Language: I advocate for gender-inclusive language in biblical translations. A good study Bible should use language that reflects the diversity of humanity and avoids reinforcing harmful stereotypes.
