Michael W. Waters - Stakes Is High: Race, Faith, and Hope for America

I just finished reading Stakes Is High. My hope and prayer is that this narrative of violence against black and brown people in the United States finds its way into homes, churches, schools, and offices of public servants across this nation. I will recommend it to the faculty, staff, and students of the institution that I lead, Duke Divinity School. Michael Waters straightforward account of brutality begins with slavery and leads us forward to our own day in which killings are repeated endlessly on social media. Waters speaks with prophetic authority, calling all of us to the way of justice and peace.

Elaine A. Heath, Dean, Duke Divinity School

Timely and important. Too often these words are used for books simply well written; not so here. Stakes Is High is the rare book that brings a keen theological eye to contemporary events. In the midst of what has been one of the most important movements for human dignity, Black Lives Matter, in recent decades, hearing the voice of emerging Christian leadership dedicated to both chronicling the moment and changing the world is vital! The book is a resource for practitioners of public ministry and those of us dedicated to their preparation.

Stephen G. Ray Jr., Fisher Professor of Theology,
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Through raw emotion and critical analysis, Stakes Is High grapples with the race matters plaguing America. Shifting us away from sound bites, Waters takes us on a journey that is deeply historical, theological, cultural, and personal. In the end, we are challenged to view the complexities of the black experience in ways that are both familiar and fresh.

Rahiel Tesfamariam, Founder/Publisher of Urban Cusp

Captivating and persuasive, Stakes Is High offers a poignant reflection on the social, political, and theological situations of Black people in America. With great skill, Waters reveals the contradictions in the American system of justice as well as the progress people of faith have made with prophetic resistance. This critical time in the Black freedom struggle requires revolutionary movements that dismantle systems of oppression and empower the next generation of change makers Waters offers a personal account of leading in such a movement.

Stephen A. Green, National Director, NAACP Youth
and College Division

Waters challenges us to consider the question How often must we drink from this bitter well? of racism in America. His use of historical narratives juxtaposed with contemporary illustrations gives the reader a sense of this long arc of injustice. Waters mixes the names of familiar and lesser known people who have found themselves on the underside of this arc and challenges us to think critically and creatively about next steps toward liberty and justice for all.

Leah Gunning Francis, Christian Theological Seminary, author
of Ferguson and Faith

No one will remain unaffected as Michael Waters masterfully tells the stories of the struggle and gives powerful evidence for the hope that things are about to change.

Joerg Rieger, Vanderbilt University, author of
Unified We Are a Force

Michael Waters personifies the truthful image of a powerful, young, Black pastor/preacher/lecturer, raw cultural writer, boots on the ground, social justice advocate, and true lover of hip-hop music. Stakes Is High is powerful and thought-provoking.

Sharon Risher, Chaplain, gun law reform advocate,
daughter of Emanuel 9 martyr

In Stakes Is High Dr. Waters shares some of his most thought-provoking writings on race relations in the United States. Part theology/part commentary this book has a wide reach and relevance from seminaries to academic classrooms to book clubs. Dr. Waters will challenge you, inspire you, and make you question your own thoughts about the state of the nation.

John Thomas III, Editor, The Christian Recorder and
General Officer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

For my mother, the Reverend B. Williams Waters,
who taught me to love God, to love all Gods people, and in defiance of the deep-seated racism in our society,
to love myself.
I love you!

And to the martyrs of the Mother Emanuel A.M.E.
Church massacre in Charleston, South Carolina:
May you continue to rest in the presence of God;
and on that great and holy day,

may we take flight together as with the wings of eagles.
We will never forget you!

Copyright 2017 by Michael Waters.

All rights reserved. For permission to reuse content, please contact Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, www.copyright.com .

Bible quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Quotations marked MSG are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright (c) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Bible quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version.

Cover art: Photo by Richard Hill. Copyright 2016. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Cover design: Jesse Turri

ChalicePress.com

Print: 9780827235403 EPUB: 9780827235410
EPDF: 9780827235427

Series Foreword

Cultivating Faithful, Wise, and Courageous Leaders for the Church and Academy

Welcome to a conversation at the intersection of young adults, faith, and leadership. The Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) is a leadership incubator that inspires diverse young people to make a difference in the world through Christian communities. This series, published in partnership with Chalice Press, reimagines Christian leadership and creates innovative approaches to ministry and scholarship from diverse contexts.

These books are written by and for a growing network of:

Partners seeking to cultivate the Christian leaders, pastors, and theological educators needed to renew and respond to a changing church.

Young leaders exploring alternative paths to ministry and following traditional ways of serving the common good both inside and beyond the walls of the church and theological academy.

Christian leaders developing new ways to awaken the search for meaning and purpose in young adults who are inspired to shape the future.

Members of faith communities creating innovative solutions to address the needs of their congregations, institutions, and the broader community.

This series offers an opportunity to discover what FTE is learning, widen the circle of conversation, and share ideas FTE believes are necessary for faith communities to shape a more hopeful future. Authors expressed ideas and opinions in this series are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of FTE.

Thank you for joining us!

Dori Baker, Series Editor

Stephen Lewis, FTE President

Foreword

If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other peoples sins, if you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. Ill give you a full life in the emptiest of places. Isaiah 58:912 (MSG)