On May 12 - 13, 2026, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School joined together with The Center for the Study of African American Religious Life at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture and Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church to present the 2026 Historically Speaking Series — a powerful collaborative initiative centered on preserving, examining, and celebrating the enduring legacy of the Black church. Bringing together scholars, clergy, community leaders, archivists, and members of the public, the series created meaningful space for dialogue, education, reflection, and hands-on engagement around the intersections of race, religion, memory, justice, and public life. Designed to honor sacred traditions while equipping a new generation to preserve them, the series explored how faith communities carry forward stories, artifacts, histories, and practices that shape both local communities and the broader American experience. The series opened on May 12th at Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church in Rochester, NY with Holding Sacred Things: Preserving the Legacy of the Black Church , an interactive workshop gathering focused on practical approaches to preserving the stories and treasures of Black religious communities. Following a public reception, participants engaged in a hands-on preservation workshop exploring how congregations and community members can safeguard historical records, artifacts, photographs, and oral traditions for future generations. One of the most engaging components of the workshop centered on oral history collection, where attendees received practical training on documenting stories and memories using accessible, everyday tools such as cell phones. The workshop emphasized that preservation work does not solely belong to museums or archives, but can begin within congregations, families, and communities themselves. The following evening, on May 13th, the series continued at the downtown campus of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School with This Far by Faith: Race, Religion, and Rochester Then & Now . The evening began with an exhibition and reception examining the events surrounding the March 1969 Lock Out led by the Black Student Caucus at Colgate Rochester Divinity School — a watershed moment in the institution’s history and in the broader story of theological education in America. Through archival photographs, newspaper coverage, correspondence, and historical materials, attendees were invited to engage the courage, advocacy, and demands for racial justice that shaped the movement and left a lasting impact on the seminary and its mission. Following the exhibition, participants gathered for a public panel conversation focused on the relationship between religion, civic leadership, community formation, and the preservation of Black religious traditions in Rochester and beyond. The discussion explored the ways faith institutions have historically shaped neighborhoods, movements, public policy, and social engagement, while also examining the importance of preserving oral histories, sacred artifacts, congregational memory, and models of community care for future generations. The conversation featured opening remarks from Malik D. Evans, Mayor of the City of Rochester; Erika D. Gault, Ph.D., CRCDS ’06, Director and Lilly Endowment Curator of African American Religious Life at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture; Angela D. Sims, Ph.D., President and John Price Crozer Professor of Social Ethics at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School; Conā S. M. Marshall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of American Religions at the University of Rochester; and Simeon Banister, President and CEO of the Rochester Area Community Foundation. Together, panelists reflected on the ongoing intersections of race, religion, memory, leadership, and public life while emphasizing the critical importance of preserving the stories and sacred traditions that continue to shape communities today. The 2026 Historically Speaking Series ultimately demonstrated the power of partnership and collaboration across institutions, congregations, museums, and communities. By bringing together voices from faith communities, higher education, civic leadership, and the nonprofit sector, the initiative offered a meaningful reminder that the stories, memories, and witness of Black religious life continue to shape both Rochester and the broader public square.
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