Outward Commitments: Imagining a Black Public Theology

Abstract

Serving as the University Chaplain at a major research university has taught me a lot. Our school seems to have a reputation among many as being a “secular school.” I often find myself correcting faculty members or other administrators around their word choice, as I tend to consider secular in this context to refer to a spaces that is devoid of religion. I know secular schools. Some of these institutions are not only without a chaplain, but they also do not have a religious studies department and do not recognize religious student groups on their campuses. I see that kind of a place as being closer to being secular (not to mention discriminatory or at least ill guided.)