‘White Blessing’: Mega-Church Pastor Apologises For Phrase Blunder
Written by Heartsong Live on 19th June 2020
The senior pastor of the Atlanta-based Passion City Church, Louie Giglio took to social media on Tuesday to publicly apologise for using the phrase ‘white blessing’ in the church’s Sunday service online broadcast. He explained that it was in a bid to try and get his “white brothers and sisters to see that White Privilege is real”
The Sunday online broadcast comprised of an interview with guests- Christian Hip-hop artist Lecrae and Dan Cathy CEO of Chick-Fil-A- and hosted by Giglio himself.
The topic of discussion was on the issue of race in the face of the social unrest America is facing in the light of the recent killings of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks
The Passion Conference founder sparked outrage after making comments which suggested “white privilege” should be re-dubbed “white blessing”.
He said that white Americans understood “the curse that was slavery” but they “miss the blessing of slavery that it actually built up the framework for the world that white people live in”.
“…What do you want to call it? And I think maybe a great thing for me is to call it white blessing, that I’m living in the blessing of the curse that happened generationally, that allowed me to grow up in Atlanta,” he said.
In response to the criticisms, Giglio published a video message on social media where he stated that he was “deeply sorry” for his “horrible choice of words”
“I just want to come directly to you today and sincerely apologize for the use of the phrase on Sunday ‘white blessing.’ And I extend that apology today to every single person who is listening to me right now but most importantly I extend that apology to my black brothers and sisters. I, like many, am so burdened by what is happening in our nation right now,”
“I’m heartbroken about where we are as a nation and one of the things I am most heartbroken about is trying to help myself by continuing to learn and to help my white brothers and sisters understand that white privilege is real.
“And in trying to get that sentiment across on Sunday I used the phrase ‘white blessing’ for which I am deeply sorry. Horrible choice of words. Does not reflect my heart,” He said
Lecrae has also been criticised for nodding while Giglio spoke about ‘White blessing’ and saying nothing to the contrary
In a video message of his own, he said: “First of all, I want you to know I wasn’t OK with it. Even as I sat there, I was very uncomfortable and was processing what to say.”
Lecrae, however, said he raised his concerns with Giglio after the cameras stopped rolling
Theologian, Kyle J Howard said that while he believed Giglio was “genuine” and “truly desiring ethnic harmony and justice”, there should have been less talking and more listening.
“I truly wish white pastors would realize they aren’t equipped to be leading these conversations,” he wrote.
