In 1836, as construction of its new building began, the First Presbyterian Church (Nassau Presbyterian Church) in Princeton dismissed African American members to form a separate congregation, The First Presbyterian Church of Colour of Princeton, the forerunner of the current Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, which was officially established in 1840. Not in Our Town’s August Continuing Conversation on Race and White Privilege will screen “Telling Our Stories, . . . a new documentary film that tells of the history and relationship of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church (WSPC) and Nassau Presbyterian Church. It is the story of how two congregations are working to be honest about our past and move forward together standing on our faith and building relationships one by one.” The screening will be followed by a panel, moderated by Pam Wakefield, Nassau Presbyterian Church, and including Tracy Eskridge-Joseph (WSPC ), Barbara Flythe (WSPC ), and Dr. Katherine Sakenfeld (Nassau),
Everyone is welcome to attend in person, though the event will also be live streamed. Click here to register to attend virtually. The program will be preceded by a social gathering at 6:30 pm in the 2nd floor News Room for in-person attendees. Refreshments will be served.
Panelist bios:
Barbara Flythe is a 30 -year member of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church and a long-time social justice activist. She is a retired public school educator and diversity consultant whose career was committed to the needs of marginalized children and families in public school settings]. Barbara was a founding board member of Not in Our Town Princeton.
Tracy Eskridge-Joseph is an attorney who has practiced law in both New York and New Jersey for over two decades. She is a member of the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church where she has served as a Deacon, a ruling Elder, Clerk of Session and on various church committees. She is also a Commissioner to the Presbytery of the Coastlands and serves on the Trustee Board. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, listening to music, participating in sports and social justice work.
Kathie Sakenfeld is Eisenberger Professor Emerita of Old Testament Literature at Princeton Theological Seminary, where she served on the faculty for 43 years, focusing on biblical interpretation in support of women’s leadership. Her grandfather marched with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and her mother was the first to welcome Black church women to her White church lunch table in the 1950s segregated rural South. Kathie seeks to continue their legacy through participation in the Nassau/Witherspoon Street Partners in Faith project.
Pam Wakefield, moderator, Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church/Nassau Presbyterian Church Joint Mission Collaboration Committee.