ACU Today - Spring 2000 "The Right Thing to Do"

'The Right Thing to Do'

By MICHELLE MORRIS

n November 1999, Judge Andrew Hairston of Atlanta, Ga., gave ACU president Dr. Royce Money ('64) an encouraging hug as he left the stage at Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas.

Money had just apologized to several hundred people in the primarily African-American audience for past discrimination in ACU's admissions policies.

The audience members - some of whom were crying, clapping loudly or shouting "Amen!" - were giving Money a standing ovation. The apology was part of a landmark occasion for SWCC, a celebration of its 50th year of existence.

The world was quite different nearly five decades before, when Hairston wanted to attend college. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from SWCC in 1955 because he could not gain admittance to ACU. Hairston has served as judge of the City Court of Atlanta since 1982 and as minister of Simpson Street Church of Christ for 38 years. He recently was named chair of the Board of Directors at SWCC.

Although Money's apology could not change history for Hairston or the others who tried in vain to attend ACU before 1962, the event was significant to many of them.

"I appreciate Dr. Money and ACU taking the lead on this, even if it's somewhat late," Hairston said. "The apology and reconciliation efforts are things that others couldn't bring themselves to do."

Money said, "We are here today to confess the sins of racism and discrimination and to issue a formal apology to all of you and to ask for your forgiveness." Later in his response, SWCC president Dr. Jack Evans said the key word was "forgiveness."

The apology made by Money at SWCC was the first of two made during the year. A videotape from Southwestern was played during the opening session of ACU's Lectureship in February, an event that drew a Sunday night crowd of nearly 4,000 people.

"This may be the first time this has happened among all schools, even state-supported ones," said Walter Price, assistant professor of speech at SWCC who attended the Founder's Day event where the apology was offered. "We heard a real sincere positiveness. Dr. Money saying those words will go a long way with members of Churches of Christ across the country."

The apology was one outcome of the "One in Christ" reconciliation conference held at ACU in late October. About 30 leaders from predominantly African-American Churches of Christ met with ACU faculty and administrators to "re-establish lines of communication among various churches and between the churches and ACU," Money said.

"The issue of race relations among Christians had been on many of our hearts, and we felt it was time to break the silence, to work on healing past hurts, and to discover how we could move forward together," Money explained.

The participants quickly agreed that the reconciliation conference was long overdue and that the divine instruction to be "one in Christ" was not being fulfilled within the fellowship of the Churches of Christ as it should be, he said.

In a statement that later came from conference participants, they wrote, "While the more blatant forms of racism that used to divide us are not as evident as in previous decades, the participants agreed that a subtle and potentially more dangerous racism is still evident and is fracturing the body of Christ. This attitude is sinful and must be confronted and corrected wherever it is found among God's people."

Immediately after the October conference, Money said, "Everybody walks away from a meeting like that changed."

In addition to the apology, conference attendees encouraged ACU and SWCC to work more closely together; they agreed to work individually and through their congregations for further racial reconciliation; and they formed a steering committee to oversee public statements and to plan future meetings.

Hairston said the Abilene meeting marked progress from a 1968 meeting in Atlanta, the last time members of the Churches of Christ had met formally to discuss race relations. Although Money said the conference was focused on ACU's relationship with African-American Churches of Christ, Hairston saw broader implications.

"The future is yet to be determined," Hairston said, after several months of reflection on the issue. "We really listened to each other and talked openly in October. And Dr. Money had the fortitude to follow through. I think we are definitely better off after that meeting than before, but it's just the beginning. That kind of honesty and open dialog must continue."

THE TEXT OF THE APOLOGY STATEMENT

"Abilene Christian University has been a Christian institution of higher education for more than 90 years. Its doors were not open to African-American students for well over half that time. We are here today to confess the sins of racism and discrimination and to issue a formal apology to all of you and to ask for your forgiveness. We understand from the Lord that part of repentance involves the resolve to go in a different direction in the future than we have in the past. But before we focus on the future, we need to confess the sins of racism and discrimination of the past against our African-American brothers and sisters in Christ.

"As we look to the future, we pledge to walk together with you as those in the body of Christ should always do. As Paul says in I Corinthians 12, we pray that 'there should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other.' ACU is dedicated to building up all of the kingdom of God through service and leadership. May God help us in word and in deed to be truly 'one in Christ.'"

'The Right Thing to Do' An Angry Peace 1 - 2 - 3 Institutional Progress has been Slow but Steady

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Last Update: July 11, 2000
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		'The Right Thing to Do' By MICHELLE MORRIS n November 1999, Judge Andrew Hairston of Atlanta, Ga., gave ACU president Dr. Royce Money ('64) an encouraging hug as he left the stage at Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas. Money had just apologized to several hundred people in the primarily African-American audience for past discrimination in ACU's admissions policies. The audience members - some of whom were crying, clapping loudly or shouting "Amen!" - were giving Money a standing ovation. The apology was part of a landmark occasion for SWCC, a celebration of its 50th year of existence. The world was quite different nearly five decades before, when Hairston wanted to attend college. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from SWCC in 1955 because he could not gain admittance to ACU. Hairston has served as judge of the City Court of Atlanta since 1982 and as minister of Simpson Street Church of Christ for 38 years. He recently was named chair of the Board of Directors at SWCC. Although Money's apology could not change history for Hairston or the others who tried in vain to attend ACU before 1962, the event was significant to many of them. "I appreciate Dr. Money and ACU taking the lead on this, even if it's somewhat late," Hairston said. "The apology and reconciliation efforts are things that others couldn't bring themselves to do." Money said, "We are here today to confess the sins of racism and discrimination and to issue a formal apology to all of you and to ask for your forgiveness." Later in his response, SWCC president Dr. Jack Evans said the key word was "forgiveness." The apology made by Money at SWCC was the first of two made during the year. A videotape from Southwestern was played during the opening session of ACU's Lectureship in February, an event that drew a Sunday night crowd of nearly 4,000 people. "This may be the first time this has happened among all schools, even state-supported ones," said Walter Price, assistant professor of speech at SWCC who attended the Founder's Day event where the apology was offered. "We heard a real sincere positiveness. Dr. Money saying those words will go a long way with members of Churches of Christ across the country." The apology was one outcome of the "One in Christ" reconciliation conference held at ACU in late October. About 30 leaders from predominantly African-American Churches of Christ met with ACU faculty and administrators to "re-establish lines of communication among various churches and between the churches and ACU," Money said. "The issue of race relations among Christians had been on many of our hearts, and we felt it was time to break the silence, to work on healing past hurts, and to discover how we could move forward together," Money explained. The participants quickly agreed that the reconciliation conference was long overdue and that the divine instruction to be "one in Christ" was not being fulfilled within the fellowship of the Churches of Christ as it should be, he said. In a statement that later came from conference participants, they wrote, "While the more blatant forms of racism that used to divide us are not as evident as in previous decades, the participants agreed that a subtle and potentially more dangerous racism is still evident and is fracturing the body of Christ. This attitude is sinful and must be confronted and corrected wherever it is found among God's people." Immediately after the October conference, Money said, "Everybody walks away from a meeting like that changed." In addition to the apology, conference attendees encouraged ACU and SWCC to work more closely together; they agreed to work individually and through their congregations for further racial reconciliation; and they formed a steering committee to oversee public statements and to plan future meetings. Hairston said the Abilene meeting marked progress from a 1968 meeting in Atlanta, the last time members of the Churches of Christ had met formally to discuss race relations. Although Money said the conference was focused on ACU's relationship with African-American Churches of Christ, Hairston saw broader implications. "The future is yet to be determined," Hairston said, after several months of reflection on the issue. "We really listened to each other and talked openly in October. And Dr. Money had the fortitude to follow through. I think we are definitely better off after that meeting than before, but it's just the beginning. That kind of honesty and open dialog must continue." THE TEXT OF THE APOLOGY STATEMENT "Abilene Christian University has been a Christian institution of higher education for more than 90 years. Its doors were not open to African-American students for well over half that time. We are here today to confess the sins of racism and discrimination and to issue a formal apology to all of you and to ask for your forgiveness. We understand from the Lord that part of repentance involves the resolve to go in a different direction in the future than we have in the past. But before we focus on the future, we need to confess the sins of racism and discrimination of the past against our African-American brothers and sisters in Christ. "As we look to the future, we pledge to walk together with you as those in the body of Christ should always do. As Paul says in I Corinthians 12, we pray that 'there should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other.' ACU is dedicated to building up all of the kingdom of God through service and leadership. May God help us in word and in deed to be truly 'one in Christ.'" 'The Right Thing to Do' An Angry Peace 1 - 2 - 3 Institutional Progress has been Slow but Steady

		News \| Sports \| Hilltop View \| Second Glance Back Issues \| Feedback \| Alumni Bookcase \| Tipsheet \| Our Staff .
		Last Update: July 11, 2000 Page maintained by Jeremy Parish, parishj@acu.edu Questions to Ron Hadfield, hadfieldr@acu.edu http://www.acu.edu/acu-today/spring2000/cover01.html