The Desegregation of the Methodist Church

Conference Summary

By

Thomas Armstrong

Forty-Five years ago segregationist of the State of Mississippi burned a cross on the campus of Tougaloo College. That cross-burning was in opposition to efforts of college students to integrate services at various white churches in Jackson, Mississippi.

That charred, now sculptured crucifix was given to Rev. Jerrry Forshey by the Rev. Edwin King who was the Chaplin at Tougaloo College at that time. Rev. Forshey who was a friend of Rev. King had provided coordination to the “Pilgrimage to Pittsburgh” in May of 1964 and was a participant in, and supporter of, our efforts. Rev. Forshey passed away in May. In a protest march by hundreds of Methodists during the “Pilgrimage to Pittsburgh” in March of 1964 Tougaloo student Austin C Moore carried that charred cross in opposition to the church’s stand on integration.

On Sunday, October 5, 2008 to the sound of “We Shall Overcome”, that cross was presented to the First United Methodist Church by Rev. Forshey’s widow, Florence Forshey. The First United Methodist Church is located at 77 W. Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602-2801.

The presentation at the conference on Sunday was preceded by a reception on Friday evening and an eight-hour Roundtable discussion on Saturday. Attending the roundtable discussion were many of the ministers “from the North” that traveled to Jackson, Mississippi in 1963 to participate with Tougaloo College students in various white-church visitation protests. Also present at the conference, along with current members of Galloway Methodist Church of Jackson, Mississippi, were Edwin King, former Chaplin at Tougaloo College; Bette Poole, and Thomas Armstrong who were students at Tougaloo College in 1963.

For Ed, Bette, and I, memories were “sparked”. We missed our fellow movement partners, Joyce Ladner, Julie Zaugg, Ida Hannah, Joan Trumpauer, Delores Dunlop, Austin Moore, Patsy Mathews and many others. As some of the ministers stated we experienced “vivid memories of a time and place where fear and fire proved no match for faith”.

You may review an article of this event and a picture of the cross at:

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/1204104,CST-NWS-cross06.article

and

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ku-klux-cross-06-oct06,0,6846942.story

A clear picture of the cross may be seen at: http://home.comcast.net/~tarm102/pgfree2.htm