Tulsa lunch for pastors March 29 focuses on ‘Unity’ amid Race Massacre Centennial

TULSA—A special Tulsa Unity Pastors’ Luncheon March 29 will serve as an opportunity to promote healing and remembrance in accordance to the centennial anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

The noontime luncheon on Monday, March 29 at Tulsa, First, 420 S. Detroit Ave., is organized by Mark Dance, east central regional ministry partner for Oklahoma Baptists, along with Deron Spoo, pastor of Tulsa, First; Eric Costanzo, pastor of Tulsa, South Tulsa; and other leaders.

Many events will occur in the coming months that will serve as occasions to properly recall the tragic event in north Tulsa, May 31-June 1, 1921, which cost hundreds of lives and destroyed a once-thriving Greenwood District. The March 29 luncheon is one of these opportunities.

Open to all senior pastors in the Tulsa metro area, the free luncheon is sponsored by Oklahoma Baptists. Programming featured during the luncheon will highlight ministry opportunities for pastors amid the centennial event.

Phil Armstrong, project director of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, will be guest speaker at the luncheon.

Dance said the luncheon will be “helpful for Tulsa pastors to hear how we can coalesce around the ‘Unity Faith Day’” on the Sunday of the centennial weekend, May 30.

“I live in Tulsa and believe that Jesus has only one Church here,” Dance said. “We are honored to gather our pastors to help Tulsans learn from this historic centennial, as well as model our unity in Christ.”

Walter Wilson, who serves as African American ministry partner for Oklahoma Baptists, encouraged pastors to take part in the event, calling it an “important ministry opportunity.”

The luncheon, which is designed for pastors, is a result from a community grassroots initiative in north Tulsa called “Faith Still Standing,” which highlights the churches that were impacted by the horrific events of 1921.

Pastor Dale Rolland of Tulsa, Concord Community, plans to attend the event. “As we go to commemorate this important centennial, it’s important to emphasize the faith component in all this,” he said.

Registration for the luncheon is limited to 150 pastors, in order to observe social distancing and protocols. To register, email Kdie Nix at knix@oklahomabaptists.org or visit oklahomabaptists.org/1921.