Majority of White Clergy Interviewed Report Feeling Compelled and Constrained to Address Racial Justice in Their Ministry

Strategy #1: The Shepherding Approach 

The most common approach taken by the White pastors who were addressing racial injustice in their ministry was what we call the shepherding approach, in which slow, careful nudging of congregants toward racial awareness was privileged over direct confrontation. “Shepherding is similar but not the same as being a prophet,” said one pastor. While prophets “speak hard truths,” shepherds follow and help apply those hard truths. Or, as another pastor put it, “I try to find the spot where I challenge people at a rate they can accept.” 

Sometimes this approach looked like conscious-raising activities that engaged the whole congregation (like a sermon or book study), while other times racial injustice was strategically addressed with a small group of congregants—or in one-on-one conversations—first. While many pastors felt this pragmatic approach was necessary, it remained a source of tension, like “tiptoeing around things” or “walking on eggshells” for fear of losing congregants’ attention—or attendance.  

Strategy #2: The Extra-Congregational Approach 

To counterbalance the tension between their call and their context, several pastors engaged in more active racial justice work outside the boundaries of the church and/or separate from their church members (like attending a racial equity training or participating in a protest). One pastor explained his rationale for why he did not engage race directly in his own congregation: “I’m not sure if it’s cowardice or, just, I don’t think it would be fruitful” if the congregation wasn't going to engage in race discussions that were “brutally honest” and involved “self-examination”. So, he moved his racial justice work outside the congregation, noting, “In my own personal way, I’m trying to make a difference.”  

Our data suggests that this approach can buoy pastors who otherwise feel constrained, but it also takes its toll. It often requires pastors to commit their time and energy outside their normal “working hours” and can still leave them feeling like they’re falling short of their values, calling, and pastoral responsibility. “Who am I supposed to be?” asked one pastor during a period of intense discernment that challenged, refined, and ultimately deepened his sense of call. “But,” the pastor added, “that was a very significant journey and had mental health implications.”  

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The tension between what these White clergy feel called to do and what they feel able to do in their congregations when it comes to issues of race appeared to be a source of significant stress. Because of this, our data underscores the importance of denominational leaders providing guidance on how to attend to racial injustice pastorally, even amidst the plethora of anti-racism resources. In our research, clergy serving in rural churches and those who were new to their appointments or early in their careers seemed to face the most constraints and therefore may be the most in need of support.  

“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free,” said civil rights and faith leader Fannie Lou Hamer. Walking a tightrope may not feel like freedom. But perhaps there’s wisdom in slowing down long enough so everybody makes it to the other side.   

*This study draws from a series of in-depth interviews with 50 UMC clergy serving congregations in North Carolina from 2020 to 2023. Forty-two of the participants were White, and of those participants 28, or two-thirds, reported that race and racial justice were salient and actionable issues to them. The other third either did not bring race up in their interviews or indicated it was not a resonant issue for them and/or their congregants.