Cyneatha Millsaps is lead pastor of Community Mennonite Church in the Chicago suburb of Markham, Illinois, and multicultural liaison/consultant for Illinois Mennonite Conference. She鈥檚 a community activist and advocate for women鈥檚 and children鈥檚 needs. She鈥檚 an author, writing quarterly for The Mennonite. She鈥檚 an educator and trainer in the areas of domestic violence, dating violence, multiculturalism and diversity.
鈥淪he鈥檚 lots of things to lots of people,鈥� as 草莓社区 (EMU) instructor and Restorative Justice Coordinator said, introducing Millsaps to his 鈥淓thics in the Way of Jesus鈥� class this past week.
Millsaps brought those varied experiences and gifts to EMU in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Sept. 19-23, serving as visiting pastor and leading important conversations around the topics of racism and unjust structures. Venues included chapel services, classes, meetings with administrators and student groups, and a late-evening 鈥淨uestions After Dark鈥� residence hall discussion.
During “Questions After Dark,” students were encouraged to write questions on slips of paper, which were then answered by Millsaps. 鈥淭he first question drawn during our time asked her to tell a story that was dear to her heart,鈥� said Scott Eyre, residence director. 鈥淭he story was raw and personal and I think it created an intimacy and honesty right away 鈥� students were captivated by her personality and honesty.鈥�
Reflecting on her time on campus, Millsaps said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 been more than interesting to be in this space, to see the love and commitment of a university that is stretching itself, pushing itself, farther and farther.鈥�
Millsaps, an alumna of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, continued to push EMU, too. In a chapel address Friday morning, Millsaps challenged the very title: 鈥淕rounded in Christ Amid Systemic Racism.鈥�
鈥淐hristianity amid systemic racism is an oxymoron,鈥� Millsaps told a large crowd in Lehman Auditorium. She recounted some of the acts of racism that have occurred in the nation鈥檚 history and then observed, 鈥淎ll the history of things that have happened in the U.S. happened under the watch of Christianity.鈥�
In her presentation to Swartz鈥檚 class, she told more personal stories of ways that racism had affected family members and others close to her. In one incident, her son was arrested after being involved in a bank robbery, during which another young man she knew well was killed.
鈥淚t was the hardest thing I ever had to go through,鈥� Millsaps said. 鈥淚t changed my entire life. Who I believed God to be was challenged.鈥�
She criticized a justice system 鈥渄esigned to grab them all and wrap them all up in one little package鈥� and one that only works if 鈥測ou鈥檙e white and have money.鈥� A good attorney was able to provide fair representation for her son, she said, but many others go through the system without that advantage. She encouraged students to consider entering the field of law and providing counsel for those who can鈥檛 afford it.
Millsaps also noted issues such as unfair jury selection practices, the number of children in Black communities who grow up without fathers, the punitive nature of justice in the United States and other factors.
鈥淚t is amazing, the things that happen and why they happen,鈥� she said. 鈥淯ntil you are on the margins, you don鈥檛 really understand what I鈥檓 speaking about.鈥�
In another class, 鈥檚 鈥淐ovenant and Community: Introduction to the Bible,鈥� Millsaps touched on Anabaptist values and spoke about the role the Bible plays in her life, and about people of faith who have made a difference in her life.
鈥淚 sensed that students appreciated her honesty and strong convictions,鈥� Schrock-Hurst said. 鈥淎t a university that lacks diverse faculty, it was a gift to have Cyneatha in the classroom.鈥�
At the Friday chapel, Campus Pastor praised Millsaps鈥� 鈥渨ealth of experience鈥� and thanked her 鈥渇or being present and listening and receiving and giving鈥� during the week.
鈥淲e will be sending you with our prayers,鈥� he said.