SPARTANBURG, SC (courtesy smcsc.edu) — Spartanburg Methodist College is pleased to host a talk by Rev. Rob Lee on repairing racial discord in the U.S. The talk takes place Oct. 11, at 7:00 p.m. in Camak Auditorium on the SMC campus. It is open to the public and is free of charge. A short Q&A session will follow Rev. Lee’s talk.
Rev. Rob Lee, an indirect descendant of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, stepped into the national spotlight during last month’s 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, when he denounced his namesake’s complicated links to the contemporary white supremacy movement. Rev. Lee’s appearance at the VMAs, in which he introduced Heather Heyer’s mother, spurred a backlash at his own church in North Carolina, prompting his resignation as pastor.
“Rev. Lee is one of the most visible voices in the discourse around white supremacy and how people of faith, particularly the white church, should respond,” SMC Chaplain Timothy Drum said. Rev. Drum invited Rev. Lee to speak at SMC after hearing about the controversy sparked by the VMAs.
“Rev. Lee’s talk is not intended to stoke division, but rather to promote a unity based on mutual respect and peace,” Rev. Drum said. “I believe it is vital that we discuss the hard issues that face our nation.”
Rev. Drum hopes that these kinds of discussions are the first step towards racial reconciliation. “Words have great power – both to harm or to help,” he said. “Rev. Lee brings a message of unity and community. It is my hope that people will hear his message and be inspired to create beloved community in their own homes, churches and workplaces.”