Learning the Neighborhood Vernacular

In this episode we interview Pastor Thurman Williams, who is the lead pastor of New City Fellowship: West End in St. Louis, MO. Growing up as a son of a Methodist pastor in the suburbs of Baltimore, he felt the call to explore leading ministry in urban Baltimore. Through his experiences in Baltimore, he was called to co-pastor a church in St. Louis to work towards racial integration within the church that is situated on the "Delmar Divide," a street of historic racial divide in the city. He has since led a church plant in the West End neighborhood comprised mostly by the African-American community north of this divide.

Thurman shares humbly about his own journey to overcome aspects of "Messiah" complex and learn the importance of listening to the story of the ways God is already at work in the neighborhood. He has come to recognize that often the neighborhood is the best teacher for him and the church as they seek to be ministers of the gospel. In particular, he notes the importance of recognizing the community vernacular in approach to ministry. For example, they discovered that for those living in the West End walkability to the church was crucial for attendance and identification with the church. Members wanted a church in the West End that felt like the West End neighborhood. This reality shows just how importance place is to identity and mission.

While this episode does not dive deeply into issues of racial injustice, there are references to historical divisions along racial lines in our cities. The built environment has played a distinct role in dividing communities, particularly along racial lines, and these divisions continue to be perpetuated with how our cities are designed and maintained. We share some resources here that expose these realities so that you can be better educated and call for reform in your spheres of influence. The built environment is not neutral and learning to read the community vernacular is a step in recognizing its power and calling for neighborhood infrastructure that promotes the flourishing of all.

Access more Show Notes with pictures and resources related to this episode.

More information about this podcast and helpful church and urbanism resources can be found on The Embedded Church website.

Related Resources

Let Justice Roll Down by John Perkins

The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby

The Trouble I've Seen by Drew Hart

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein

How the Government Segregated America's Cities by Design

Crossing a St Louis Street that Divides Communities, a short BBC film on Delmar Boulevard

Zoning Matters: How Land Use Policies Shape Our Lives, a short video by How Housing Matters

Find these Key Terms on The Embedded Church website:

Belonging

Local Culture

Walkability

Show Credits

Hosted and Produced by Eric O. Jacobsen and Sara Joy Proppe

Edited by Adam Higgins |