Moving Forward in Truth

An article series exploring the history of race in the Diocese of Texas, written by storyteller Kathy H. Culmer, D.Min.

Episcopal Diocese of Texas Episcopal Diocese of Texas

Her Story – Our Story

We are reminded by Francene’s testimony that If the Episcopal Church truly wishes to live up to its signage, “The Episcopal Church Welcomes you,” and does not want to stand accused and bear the tarnish of false advertising, then its members must be mindful of the things we do, the things we say, the things we do not do and do not say that can cause any of God’s children to feel unsafe, rejected, or not welcome. We must be willing to do some root work - the painful, the painstaking and sometimes excruciating work - of digging below the gumline to clean out the built-up gunk that can cause decay above the surface. We must be made aware of “things done and left undone” that may bruise and scar the dignity of others - that already have – causing them to seek refuge and a nesting place in the world instead of looking to the church to find it. This we do, not only for the sake of adding to the rolls of our churches, but for the sake of adding to God’s Kingdom.

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About the Author

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Kathy Hood Culmer is an author, storyteller, speaker and teacher. A graduate of Spelman College, the University of South Florida, and United Theological Seminary, Kathy holds a B.A. in English, an M.A. in English, and a D. Min. in Biblical Storytelling. She has taught on the secondary and college levels in a variety of subject areas ranging from English to Speech Communications, to Broadcast Journalism, to Religious Education. As a professional storyteller, she has been a teller and workshop presenter in churches, schools, libraries, at festivals, retreats, on college campuses, in business settings, and a variety of other venues. Kathy has performed at the Exchange Place at the National Storytelling Festival, Georgia State University, Duke University's Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture, the Texas Storytelling Festival, and was the Featured Storyteller at the Network of Biblical Storytellers 2008 Festival Gathering.

She was a part of a 2008 Biblical Storytelling Mission Trip to The Gambia in West Africa. Her life's work is to provide words of encouragement, truth, and inspiration to others through telling, writing, and speaking. She is the editor of a collection of personal narratives called Yes, Jesus Loves Me: 31 Love Stories and is also author of "Big Wheel Cookies: Two For A Penny," published in The Rolling Stone and Other Read Aloud Stories and "Feasts a Plenty," published in Holiday Stories All Year Round.

“I want to tell good stories and I want to tell them well. No, even better than that! Although I research and prepare for the best possible outcome, I have learned to tell stories with the least bit of anticipated outcome. The stories, if they are good stories, and if they are well told, reach people in ways that are beyond me to predict. Perhaps, that is part of the power of the experience. The story reaches inside and calls the hearer by name and says, 'This is what I have for you.” - Kathy

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