Date of Award

3-14-2025

Document Type

Project Portfolio

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Department

Seminary

First Advisor

Linda Sommerville, DMin

Second Advisor

Jason Wellman, DMin

Third Advisor

Ken Van Vliet, DMin

Abstract

NPO Statement: Christians of color struggle with forgiveness amid ongoing racial trauma, while White Christians often avoid engagement due to fear, hindering racial reconciliation efforts.

My doctoral project began as an exploration of healing and reconciliation within Christian communities but became a personal journey of confronting racial trauma. Initially, I did not see racial trauma as central to my work. However, at my first retreat at Cannon Beach, I was forced to reckon with the impact of microaggressions and systemic racism on my sense of self. Years in predominantly white spaces had left me with internalized messages that my voice, presence, and leadership were less valuable. Through this experience, I came to understand that racial trauma—both intergenerational and personal—affects us deeply, even in our bodies. Confronting racial trauma is essential to meaningfully engaging in racial reconciliation and justice. This realization led me to integrate embodied practices, storytelling, and radical hospitality into my project to foster healing and belonging.

I serve as the Assistant Pastor at Anchor Church in North Buffalo, overseeing spiritual formation and pastoral care. I am also a hospital chaplain at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, providing spiritual care to patients and families.

The Good Neighbors Racial Healing Journey is a ten-month curriculum designed to bring together Christians from diverse racial backgrounds (White and BIPOC) to heal from racial trauma and engage in racial justice within the Church. It is the primary ministry of the Good Neighbors Racial Healing Initiative, a holistic approach to racial healing through trauma recovery, community gardening, and racial justice advocacy. The Journey serves as the foundation, with the other components to be developed after graduation to foster reconciliation and systemic change in Christian communities.

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