Engaging diverse communities in collaborative racial and social justice work.
Religious Affairs
Welcome! We, the Religious Affairs Committee, are passionate about forming and strengthening connections in order to build community and promote solidarity, especially among local faith communities. Join us in our advocacy and experience the “power of together”!
Meetings
2nd Thursday of the month, 9 AM- 10 AM. Our meetings are currently held at Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church. Please join us. ALL ARE WELCOME.
Virtual Option: https://zoom.us/j/99733542781?pwd=Q09SaHRzdHVnaVRPa0lSM1N6YmlnQT09
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The committee is interested in building connections with predominantly Black churches in the area. Please let us know if you would like to host one of our meetings.
Members
Rev. Mike Sanborn (Co-Chair), Calvary United Methodist Church
Dr. Dilip Nair (Co-Chair), Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
Ms. Debbie Travis (Branch President, ex-officio), Asbury United Methodist Church
Ms. Shirley Akers (Branch Secretary, ex-officio), Greater Mt. Zion UHC
Rev. Dr. Linda Dickerson, Northside Presbyterian Church
Rev. Jessie Eaves, Greater Mt. Zion UHC
Ms. Diane Hearn, Blacksburg Christian Fellowship
Mr. Reed Kennedy, Church on Main
Rev.Tommy McDearis, Church on Main
Ms. Eulalia Mills, Greater Mt. Zion UHC
Rev. Pam Philips, Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Dr. Rebecca Scheckler, Blacksburg Jewish Community Center
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Goal 1
To partner with local predominantly Black faith communities to increase their racial justice advocacy through engagement with the NAACP branch.
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Update on Goal 1 (as of June 2025):
Our main goal for 2025 is to grow vital connections with local predominantly Black churches so that Black communities, in solidarity, can thrive. As we have worked on this goal, we have come to realize the following:
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The task comes with significant challenges which will take more than a year to understand and overcome.
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The process MUST involve Black members of faith communities.
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Therefore our main work for the last several months has been to shift the meetings into Black spaces and gather as many Black people from different generations at the table. We have been addressing the topic “Bridging the Generational Gap in the Black Church” as a focus for our work.
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Related Resource
Pew Research Center. February 16, 2021. “Faith Among Black Americans.”
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/02/16/faith-among-black-americans/