Coffee with Paula Owens Parker

The Rev. Dr. Paula Owens Parker is a Presbyterian minister and
senior program developer of Roots Matter. Though Roots
Matter’s approach to generational healing is rooted in the
traumatic experience of chattel slavery and the African American
spirituality created out of that experience, it has a deep and
powerful connection with other groups and cultures who have
experienced historical trauma.


Roots Matter: Healing History, Honoring Heritage, and Renewing
Hope was published in July 2016.


Dr. Parker received her Doctor of Ministry from San
Francisco Theological Seminary (San Anselmo,
CA.). She is a professor of Spiritual Formation at
Union Presbyterian Seminary (Richmond, VA.), is a retreat leader,
spiritual director, and healing prayer minister. She's received
many awards including the 2013 Union Presbyterian Seminary Black
Alumni/ae Trailblazer Award. Dr. Parker takes her coffee
with 100% pure, light amber maple syrup.


Dr. Parker is the founder and former executive director of The
Daughters of Zelophehad, Inc., an ecumenical Christian
transitional housing program for women in crisis and their
children. The Daughters of Zelophehad name came from Numbers
27:1-11 when Moses was dividing up the promised land. Moses
protected the rights of these women when there was no male heir.
Dr. Parker is also a co-founder of SOZO School of Christian
Healing Prayer at Richmond Hill, an urban ecumenical retreat
center, and co-founder of Seven Sisters Sharing Seven Sayings, a
Good Friday service that is held each year in the Richmond
metropolitan area. SOZO means to save or to heal in Greek.


Both scholars and ministers in their own rights, Paula Parker and
Katie Cannon are collaborating on the development of a Center
of Womanist Leadership. United Faith Leaders and The
Coffeepot Fellowship look forward to that exciting project which
Dr. Parker discusses in this episode.


In conclusion, as you consider these two quotes from our
interview, we urge the reading of Dr. Parker's book, Roots
Matter: Healing History, Honoring Heritage, and Renewing Hope,
for people of all backgrounds.


"The decision you make today effects seven generations." -Sioux
proverb


"Trauma is trauma. It happens in all families, in all ways."
-Rev. Dr. Paula Owens Parker
Links:

Sponsor: United Faith Leaders


Roots Matter: Healing History, Honoring Heritage, and Renewing
Hope (Wipf & Stock, 2016) by Paula Owens Parker


Roots Matter LLC


Roots Matter on Facebook


Katie Geneva Cannon


Simple Green Smoothie - Thrive


Richmond Hill Retreat Center


The Coffeepot Fellowship on Facebook