Wilshire has been selected to participate in In Deed and Truth: Interrogating the Legacies of the White Church in America (IDAT), a program aimed at fostering reconciliation and healing by examining the history of racism in Southern churches.
Launched in 2023 by the St. Charles Center for Faith + Action (stcharlesave.center) and E Pluribus Unum (unumfund.org), this initiative brings together predominantly white churches over 50 years old to reflect on their racial legacies and discern new paths forward. The mission of this effort is aligned with E Pluribus Unum’s goal of building a more just and inclusive South and the St. Charles Center’s commitment to convening diverse voices for justice.
Wilshire’s five-member cohort — Abbey Adcox, Juliana Moore, Louis Moore, Shelby Patterson and Margaret Rice — will engage in this vital work over the next 12 months.
Inspired by 1 John 3:18, “Let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth,” the program includes monthly virtual workshops with faith leaders and subject matter experts. These sessions will guide the team as they:
■ Research Wilshire’s history regarding race and racism.
■ Explore theological foundations for truth-telling, lament, and reconciliation.
■ Develop strategies to involve the congregation in meaningful, collaborative transformation.
The cohort is identifying specific ways to explore Wilshire’s history from the perspective of race relations, both negative and positive. The cohort will gain information from the History Committee, talk with longtime members and review documents in our church and local news media archives. The cohort will then present findings to the church and involve the Wilshire community in honest conversations about where we have been, where we are now and where we need to change to bring meaningful reconciliation and better alignment with God’s will regarding racial inclusiveness and equity. From these conversations, the cohort will develop a plan that will move the church toward fulfilling these goals.
The program will culminate in November with a gathering in New Orleans, where churches will share their journeys and celebrate progress toward healing and justice.
Wilshire is honored to take part in this significant and sacred work.