Summer Interns Reflect on their Time at Pullen

We were fortunate to welcome and host three interns from Yale University’s Divinity School again this year. Lizzie Chiarovano, Alexa Rollow, and Beverly Love spent the month of June with us, spending time with Pullenites of all ages, attending rallies, and helping out with numerous projects—and they each had a chance to preach on a Sunday! Check out their responses when Nancy asked them about how their time was going:

What would be your headlines for the first week at Pullen?

#BlackHistoryMatters

In Resurrecting Wounds, Shelly Rambo writes about the problem of excarnation, which occurs when people ignore the suffering and embodied experience of others in favor of a narrative or trope that they find more expedient. The oral and visual histories shared through the work of the Jackson Center in Chapel Hill and by Louis Brandon of the Beloved Community Center in Greensboro invite us to slow down and engage with the lived experience of systematically oppressed peoples so that we can challenge the excarnational narratives that contribute to their suffering, many of which were sadly on display at the NCGA and must be challenged.

Deep Listening. Courageous Conversations. Probative Questions

I saw these words on a sign at the Beloved Community Center yesterday, and they encapsulate for me the paths of restorative justice and spiritual accompaniment. Additionally, they seem to describe much of the interactions I am witnessing at Pullen, from discussions of various ministries such as Ron Poythruss' prison chaplaincy, to conversations recounted by Libbly and Alden at the Host Center, as well as Pullen's intra-congregational conversations, including the discussions with Chancellor Woodson and around the Apartheid-Free pledge. This mode of engagement is prefaced on an incarnational seeing of the whole person with whom we are engaging, as well as the the sacred humanity and dignity of the community at large.

-Beverly Love

Everyone Gets Fed at Our Table

It is always an honor to be the hands and feet of ministry in a tangible way, such as in our volunteering with Round Table. However, what I enjoyed most was not the cooking or the passing out of food, but getting to interact with the individuals who came through and hearing their stories. It was refreshing to hear these neighbors of Pullen, such as Deanna, talking about their own journeys to find joy and peace in the midst of their suffering – a great reminder of how we are all connected and can learn from each other.

Idealism Dies When the General Assembly Votes

The Wednesday we spent at the NC General Assembly was equally very informative and rough on the soul. From the meetings we attended to the votes we witnessed, there seemed to be an acceptance that certain North Carolina residents, such as Native Americans or previously incarcerated individuals, were disposable if they did not aid certain representatives’ agendas. Witnessing governmental action is essential for increasing public accountability, but it was painful to watch how the value and dignity of human beings were disregarded.

-Lizzie Chiarovano

Host Program Houses Students

The Host Program resists housing insecurity amongst Raleigh student populations as it offers Host homes for short term stays and other resourcing options for students navigating the confusing and stressful world of leases, landlords, and seemingly ever-increasing rent prices. Their work draws attention to student populations most at risk for housing insecurity as well as the need for housing and other living expense funds to supplement tuition scholarships.

Central Prison Chaplain Offers Spiritual Care to Inmates

In a world of mass incarceration and systemic oppression, Ron Poythress brings light to an otherwise distressing environment: Central Prison. Poythress affirms the dignity of the incarcerated folks he works with through small acts of resistance: using inmates’ names rather than cell numbers, offering them space for emotional processing, and stepping out of the room for religious meetings outside his own tradition. 

-Alexa Rollow

Reflect on your experiences and conversations thus far and why you think a Center for Public Theology and Public Policy is important in today’s society, especially the religious and political climate of today.

In our first two weeks alone, we’ve seen through our work at Pullen how divisive the legislator can be. We’ve also witnessed crises faced by people in the community. From housing and food insecurity to potentially losing childcare access, the people’s needs can feel overwhelming despite the work currently being done in Raleigh. Without the support of local legislators, justice work will remain an uphill battle for Pullen and its partners. The Center for Public Theology and Public Policy necessarily harmonizes justice work from communities of faith with policy work. Charity alone can only alleviate symptoms of structural problems, but policy changes can begin to legally revolutionize the structures causing the community’s pain. While religion is co-opted by any number of politicians to garner their constituents’ support, the Center draws on formally trained theologians and religious leaders to guide its activism responsibly. 

-Alexa Rollow

It often seems like the problems people have with Christianity are less about the faith’s theological underpinnings, and more to do with the failures of its adherents. It is often the abrasive or exclusive acts of Christians that push people out of the church. Nonetheless, religion is not leaving the public eye anytime soon. We do not even have to delve far into Southern politics to discover the subversion of Jesus’ teachings, used to implement amoral agendas. It seems like there is important work to be done to heal societal wounds from the weaponization of religion and help people uncover what the faith is about in its purest intentions. To me, the work of a Center for Public Theology and Public Policy is vital because I see the value in the Christian faith to promote justice and strengthen community.

When we were in Winston-Salem, NC we met two powerful men that have become pillars of the community: Larry Little and Rev. John Mendez. Larry Little had been a member of the Black Panther Party and involved in countless local social justice movements and public service programs. It was striking when Larry talked about his faith. He talked about how his mother instilled the values of Christianity in him, and that even though Larry himself prefers to identify as spiritual over religious, holding onto the Christian faith gave him the strength to continue his work. Larry said that in the pursuit of social justice it is necessary for people to have an outlet to keep them sane, which can be religion. Rev. Mendez talked about he came to the church because he wanted to be like pastors in his life that were out in the community, caring for all people. He then modeled his own ministry to prioritize community. For both Larry Little and Rev. John Mendez, faith was the key to holding the community together. Public theology and public policy are community actions, rooted in bringing people together for the betterment of all. Christianity has been used in ugly ways, but if religion is going to take a role in public discourse, I would rather it be a form of Christianity centered around social justice.

-Lizzie Chiarovano

As a middle class, middle-aged, white woman with considerable privilege, I believe the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy plays a vital role in educating people like me, who grew up with different narratives and a lack of knowledge of the extent of the systemic oppression facing the poor and marginalized, particularly communities of color. The Center amplifies voices that were often ignored during my education and which, if I had not moved to New York and become acquainted with more justice-oriented people of faith, I might never have heard. The conversations we have had with justice leaders and organizers -- especially Louis Brandon in Greensboro and Larry Little and Rev. Mendez in Winston-Salem -- have brought home to me just how important these voices are. The dominant narratives in our culture, and too often within the faith community, actively invisibilze the poor and oppressed, the "least of these." The Center (and the meetings we have had on this trip) moves the perspectives of the disinherited to the forefront, centering them theologically, just as Jesus did. Moreover, the Center combines theology with ethical action that works to undo the harms of the Christian Nationalist/Capitalist complex that is further disinheriting wide swaths of both humanity and the environment.

-Beverly Love

You have been going hard for almost two weeks now. How are you managing your self-care? In what ways are you finding rest and renewal?

After our work at Pullen, I often find myself taking evening walks through our neighborhood. As an introvert, I find my energy runs low at the end of our days spent meeting new people. My daily walks allow me space alone to decompress from the day before making dinner and heading to bed early. In addition to my walks, connecting with friends in Durham has allowed me to recharge socially once or twice a week. Getting to see friends from college and Yale makes me feel more connected to the Triangle area, gives me something outside of work to look forward to, and lets me explore more of Durham and Raleigh than I would have on my own. 

-Alexa Rollow

My theme for the summer was always going to be self-reflection. At the same time I am trying to remain fully present in the activities of the internship and pausing to determine how said activities are impacting me, I am also using the time of the summer to discern what I want my next steps in life to be. As such, an essential aspect of self-care for me right now includes reflection. It is important I take pauses to just think about what I am doing, as well as talking to my loved ones about how I’m feeling in this moment. Doing this organizes my thoughts and allows me to have fresh mindsets when I approach new days. Other self-care activities for me include reading, writing, and relaxing with the other interns. Self-care and renewal do not have to be about hiding away in a room, but directing your energy into activities that bring peace or joy. We play a lot of card games together.

-Lizzie Chiarovano

For me, self-care is often synonymous with rest. I am actually rather introverted and struggle with anxiety, and if I am not intentional about finding pockets for solitude, rest, and recharging, I can find myself easily overwhelmed. I often take naps, and I meditate several times a week -- especially if I cannot fit in a nap. I also try to nourish myself with good food -- vegetables and fresh fruits -- while also making space for more enjoyable treats (waffles and bacon!). Exercise and sunshine are important as well. Walking in the neighborhood reminds me of my connection both to the earth and the community, and I am also reminded that I am nurtured by the sun and the trees. Taking a moment to observe a tree, to be inspired by its unceasing movement towards light, its expansive unfurling of branches invites my body and soul (inseparably knit together) to rise upward and expand in response. I am also a firm believer in the occasional dance party. :)

Additionally, it has been wonderful to share a space with Lizzie and Alexa, and the fellowship has also been rejuvenating. Often we will debrief and process our days together, which has been incredibly helpful. Our exchange of ideas further enriches our already multi-layered experiences (at least for me). Other nights, we will put on some music, share stories and a meal, and play games. Being held in community is incredibly supportive and restorative, and I am grateful to have these wonderful companions.

-Beverly Love