Sankofa is an African word derived from the Twi language of the Akan people of Ghana. The term is characterized by a bird whose head and beak are pointed back at its tail. It symbolizes the African principle that to move forward, you must first look back. The Sankofa Project is designed to take African American congregations through a learning journey in which they look back at the heritage of the African American church to inform how they might revitalize and flourish amid a rapidly changing context and mission field.
Overall Design
The Sankofa Project looks at three different movements of African American church history: (1) the invisible church that planted and grew in the midst of slavery (2) the visible institutional black church that emerged in reconstruction and (3) the church of justice and liberation that emerged in the civil rights movement. Historic African American churches and denominations can struggle as they find themselves in generational shifts, gentrification, growing multiculturalism, and emerging questions on the church’s role in justice in light of movements such as black lives matter and mass incarceration.
The Sankofa Project will explore specific dynamics within the cities where these congregations are located and help congregants learn from the African American church tradition and how it is both a refuge of empowerment and a force of social transformation. Congregations will leave this journey better understanding (or needing to refine) their mission and values and how they are fueled by their rich faith tradition.