In the midst of the civil unrest during the summer of 2020 instigated by the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tamir Rice, and many others, the Cathedral’s former Dean and Rector, the Very Rev. Timothy E. Kimbrough proposed The Isaac Project to the Vestry.
The goals were “to quicken institutional awareness around practices, actions, ministries, and systems that have, either intentionally or implicitly, fostered racism and inhibited the comprehensive pursuit of holiness, righteousness, and the justice of God, by the people, Vestry, and clergy of Christ Church Cathedral.” There were intended to be five phases: Phase One: origins and parochial development; Phase Two: public repentance and renewal; Phase Three: penance; Phase Four: institutional reform; and Phase Five: renewal by the Spirit, refreshment for service.
The name Isaac Project was chosen to bring a human face to our work. On September 1, 1842, Thomas Washington, a wealthy white Nashvillian, presented a man named Isaac for baptism at Christ Church. No birthdate is recorded. No last name is given. Isaac is simply identified in our Baptismal Register as “a slave belonging to Mr. T. Washington.” Thus, the name Isaac Project was born, to give name to the nameless and voice to the voiceless.
Summary of Phases 1 and 2
In early 2021, the Phase One committee was charged by the Vestry to “consider and narrate the history of Christ Church from its founding to the present day, with a keen awareness of how a congregation with an antebellum past may have benefitted from and grown based on prevailing anti-Black, racist sentiments of the society and people they were serving and continue to serve today.”
In early 2021, the Phase One committee was charged by the Vestry to “consider and narrate the history of Christ Church from its founding to the present day, with a keen awareness of how a congregation with an antebellum past may have benefitted from and grown based on prevailing anti-Black, racist sentiments of the society and people they were serving and continue to serve today.”
A year later, in early 2022, the Phase One committee submitted its report and recommendations to the Vestry. The bulk of the findings are documented more thoroughly in the histories prepared in Phase 2. Their recommendations included the additional historical work undertaken in Phase 2 and partnerships with congregations and non-profits in North Nashville, which have been initiated in our Walking Together Partnership with St. Anselm’s.
The Phase One Committee also articulated more fully the need to review the ministries of the Cathedral so that every aspect of Cathedral life “might be directed toward ministering to a multi-cultural congregation.” They gave a nod, as well, to assessing current and proposed actions of the Cathedral community that would offer penance for our history.
Subsequently, in the late spring of 2022, the Phase 2 Committee was formed “to continue historical research into the ways in which Christ Church has benefitted from and been complicit in the prevailing anti-Black racist sentiment of the society and the people it was serving; Work to engage community partners, including other parishes and congregations, in conversation about the work of The Isaac Project; and working toward a public Service of Repentance in response to our research and taking into account feedback from conversation partners.
Over the course of two years, the Phase 2 Committee undertook painstaking research and developed the Phase 2 Histories and the Christ Church history from the perspective of the Isaac Project on Race and Faith, to supplement the traditional history of the Cathedral.
In December 2024, the Cathedral held the beautiful and moving Service of Repentance. This service was drafted and revised by the Phase 2 Committee, which included members of the Beloved Community Commission, and others in the Diocese.
Our new Dean and Rector the Very Rev. Serena Sides celebrated; the Rev. Stephanie Spellers from the Presiding Bishop’s office preached; and the senior warden and junior warden of the Cathedral proclaimed the litany of penance on behalf of themselves and all prior leaders of Christ Church. Please watch the video here and find the worship bulletin from that service here https://www.youtube.com/live/_8KUWeYZyFI.