After the fire came a sound of sheer silence. 

When the civil rights movement shook the United States, Churches of Christ largely remained silent. Only a few brave voices dared to speak out. Historian Wes Crawford, drawing inspiration from the prophet Elijah's discovery of God's presence in the "sheer silence," invites readers to explore this era and the largely overlooked stories of a handful of ministers who risked everything to challenge racism within the church. 

Crawford's groundbreaking work begins with twentieth-century church leaders who openly supported White supremacy or turned a blind eye. Under their watchful guidance, they carefully managed the cultural engagement of Churches of Christ through colleges, journals, and lectureship gatherings. He then highlights the lesser-known heroes, like Carl Spain, John Allen Chalk, Walter Burch, Dwain Evans, and Bud Stumbaugh, who spoke out against the establishment at high personal and professional costs. Their sacrifices and bravery offer lessons that resonate to this day. 

Wes Crawford is an Associate Professor of Church History at ACU, where he also directs the Center for Restoration Studies and serves as the Vice Provost. He spent twenty years as a preaching minister in Texas, splitting time between the Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock and Glenwood Church of Christ in Tyler. His research centers on American religion and the intersection of race and religion, which is the theme of his book Shattering the Illusion. Wes and his wife, Kim, have been married for over twenty years and have four children. 

 "Courage in the Sheer Silence is a tour de force, an eye-opening journey into the powers that maintain racial inequality and injustice and the deep costs paid by those who choose to resist. This book reveals in stunning detail how the evil principality of racial injustice is no respecter of race. White leaders who speak against it will be silenced, shunned, pushed out, and defrocked. Wes Crawford gives voice to those forgotten for doing what is right, and in so doing, he gives us direction and courage to do what is right today." 

-Dr. Michael O. Emerson, Chavanne Fellow in Religion and Public Policy, the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, and coauthor of Divided by Faith and The Religion of Whiteness 

"Unacknowledged racism has a tendency to fester, and this remarkable book, Courage in the Sheer Silence, brings us face-to-face with racism, both overt and silent, within the Churches of Christ. With astute analysis building on prodigious research, Wes Crawford weaves the major events of the civil rights movement with the churches' responses - or the lack thereof. Consistent with the Christian theme of redemption, the author also introduces us to the 'small company of crusaders' who courageously confronted the issue." 

-Randall Balmer, John Phillips Professor in Religion, Dartmouth College, and author of Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right 

"Along with a heritage of support for the legalized subjugation of African Americans, the Churches of Christ consistently endorsed a racial status quo that perpetrated the lie of Black inferiority. Notwithstanding the presence of Black Christians within this majority White ecclesia, nothing resembling equality governed their status. Wes Crawford, a talented scholar of Church of Christ history and the author of compelling publications about African Americans and the Church of Christ, explores a cadre of dissenters who challenged their denomination to renounce their collusion in the sin of racism. Crawford's book is an objective but passionately written chapter in American religious history." 

-Dennis C. Dickerson, PhD, Reverand James Lawson Chair of History, Emeritus, Vanderbilt University 

"We need capable historians such as Dr. Wes Crawford to draw back the curtains of our past in Churches of Christ and reveal the events of the time in order to refine our present course. The theme of race relations in the church has too long been ignored. Wes shows not only how twentieth-century events shed light on that period time, but also how they impact our present view of this important spiritual issue. Our American culture and past can be a profound retardant to our spiritual growth. A must-read!" 

-Dr. Royce Money, President Emeritus, Abilene Christian University 

"In Courage in the Sheer Silence, Wes Crawford delivers a profound exploration of truth that shatters Christians' historically quiet complicity in the face of racism. This book is not just timely; it is essential. With eye-opening research and a powerful, unwavering voice, Crawford provides a guiding light in the profound darkness of our times, Courage in the Sheer Silence is a must-read - a profoundly brave work that reminds us that silence can be broken, and healing, though long overdue, can still find a way." 

-Jerry Taylor, Founder, Emancipation Fellowship Ministries; Associate Professor of Bible and Ministry, Abilene Christian University; Director, Carl Spain Center of Race Studies and Spiritual Action 

ISBN 9781684260133

Pages 208

Dimensions (inches) 6 x 9

Weight (pounds) .5