SACRED SPACES Presentation

July 10, 2021

Middle Peninsula African-American Genealogical and Historical Society (MPAAGHS) invites you to a virtual meeting on Saturday, July 10, at 11:00 AM (Eastern Time). The meeting will feature a talk by the Reverend Dr. J. Elisha Burke entitled, ‘SACRED SPACES: Preservation of African American Churches, Cemeteries, Historic Structures, Associated Land and Landmarks.’

SACRED SPACES is an initiative of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia. Organized in 1899 and headquartered in Richmond, the Baptist General Convention of Virginia (BGCVA) is a state-wide organization with a membership of 1,075 African-American churches and 29 associations. The SACRED SPACES project will document and archive the history of BGCVA, its associations and individual churches, and their contributions to their communities as well to other significant occurrences (education, desegregation, Civil Rights, etc.) The project will create a digital archive for historical documents, oral histories, books and media documenting 120-plus years of history. This archive will also include data and documents (special occasions, association meetings, etc.) received from member churches and associations over the years.

Dr. J. Elisha Burke is Director of Health, Social Justice and Men's Ministry at the Baptist General Convention of Virginia (BGCVA) and is the director of the SACRED SPACES project. A graduate of Elizabeth City State University, he holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. Dr. Burke is the author of Faith Beyond the Pews: An Experience in Social Action Ministry.

If you are not on our email list and would like to receive an invitation for this virtual meeting or to get further information about MPAAGHS, call 804.758.5163.