Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith

Tarry here and watch with me . . . (Matt 26.38, KJV)In the Black Pentecostal church, tarrying is a spiritual practice in which believers wait to experience the manifestation of God’s presence. In both the vibrancy of music and singing, and in the hushed silence of the congregation, Black people of all ages anticipate an encounter with God that will be experienced in tangible ways, not only as an idea. Waiting for a holistic encounter with God is at the core Black spiritualities. Whether in traditional African faiths which recognise the spiritual in all of life; in the prayerful resistance of enslaved Africans; or in the radical inclusion of the Azusa Street revival – Black faith teaches us to endure, to hope and to bring about transformation. Tarry Awhile draws on these rich traditions of Black faith, to offer reflections for all people in our contemporary moment. It centres the stories of overlooked people and communities, offering a path forward for all people who hope to encounter God in the midst of wearying times. It provides fresh reflections on familiar biblical passages and characters to equip those who seek to resist the patterns of the world that promote exploitation, exclusions and oppressive hierarchies. It is a call to better understand the tarrying we are called to, and the God who calls us.

Dr Selina Stone is Postdoctoral Research Associate in Theological Education at Durham University with Common Awards. Her research, writing and speaking address a range of themes including theological ethics (particularly power and justice), spirituality and church history. Dr Stone is the author of The Spirit and the Body: Towards a Womanist Pentecostal Social Justice Ethic (Brill/Schöningh, October 2023) and a wide range of journal articles, book chapters and reviews. She is also the host of Sunday School for Misfits, a podcast that examines faith, theology and the church through the lens of Black millennial experiences.