Worship and Work: How the Church Can Move Toward Ending Poverty and Racism
Worship and Work: How the Church Can Move Toward Ending Poverty and Racism
In our polarized nation we have witnessed both a renewed commitment among some Christians to pursue economic and racial justice as well as intense arguments about race, politics, and faith. This Lunch and Learn begins with a brief historical presentation from William Yoo and then continues with a panel discussion engaging how churches today can speak the truth in love, cultivate hope in worship, empower people of all ages, and incrementally work toward making a real difference in ending poverty and racism. Matt Conner will moderate a panel, with William Yoo, Julia Watkins, Justin Perry, Greg Jarrell, and Steve Cheyney, with time for questions and insights from attendees.
A complimentary lunch will be provided by the Presbytery of Charlotte’s Anti-Racism Committee. To assist with planning, please REGISTER HERE in advance if possible.
Please join us:
Saturday, November 15, 2025
12-2pm
Newell Presbyterian Church
1500 Rocky River Road W.
Charlotte, NC 28213
For more information, please contact Rev. Matt Conner: npc.mattconner@gmail.com
About Our Panelists:
Dr. William Yoo serves as Professor of American Religious and Cultural History at Columbia Theological Seminary, where he has taught since 2014. His scholarship explores the intersections of race, religion, and history in the United States, with particular attention to the transnational dimensions of American Protestant missions, Korean American religious communities, and the legacy of slavery and anti-Black racism in Presbyterianism. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Dr. Yoo is committed to writing, teaching, and preaching with honesty and theological depth, believing that faithful engagement with history strengthens the church’s witness to God’s love, justice, and grace. His most recent book is Reckoning with History: Settler Colonialism, Slavery, and the Making of American Christianity. He lives in Decatur, Georgia, with his wife, Sarah, and their two teenage children.
Rev. Julia Watkins is the Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life at Davidson College, a role she has held since 2023. She leads Davidson’s multifaith chaplaincy team in fostering a diverse, respectful, and pluralistic environment where all students, faculty, and staff can explore, express, and practice their particular traditions, beliefs, and worldviews. A Davidson alum, Julia graduated with a degree in Psychology and Arab Studies before earning her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Her previous ministry roles at Covenant Presbyterian Church (Charlotte) and Westminster Presbyterian Church (Greenville, SC) focused on local justice initiatives and community building. Committed to broader justice work, Julia also serves on the board of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, which advocates for LGBTQIA+ inclusion within the PC(USA). A native of Atlanta, she finds joy in cooking, gardening, and the great outdoors.
Justin Perry, LCSW, is a Charlotte-based therapist, advocate, and community leader whose work bridges mental health and social justice. A proud native of Charlotte, Justin draws on his own journey through depression and recovery to help others find healing and liberation without shame. His practice emphasizes authenticity, empowerment, and fighting stigma surrounding mental health. Before becoming a clinician, Justin planned a career in civil rights law, but his personal experience with therapy inspired him to pursue social work at the UNC School of Social Work. Since then, he has dedicated his career to advocacy, community engagement, and public speaking on issues of equity and access. Combining clinical expertise with a passion for justice, Justin helps clients navigate life’s challenges while fostering resilience, purpose, and hope.
Rev. Greg Jarrell is an author and community organizer in Charlotte, NC. His recent book Our Trespasses: White Churches and the Taking of American Neighborhoods, examines the influence of white churches and Christians in planning, executing, and profiting from the federal Urban Renewal projects of the 1950s and 60s, in Charlotte and beyond. Greg is Senior Campaign Organizer for The Redress Movement, a national nonprofit organizing local communities for housing justice. Greg is based in west Charlotte’s Enderly Park neighborhood, where he has lived and worked on equitable housing issues since 2005. He is one of the co-founders of QC Family Tree, a cultural organizing group in his neighborhood, and a founding organizer of Charlotte’s West Side Community Land Trust. He and his spouse Helms are both ordained ministers, and are parents to two teens.
Dr. Stephen Cheyney serves as University Minister and faculty member in American Studies at UNC Charlotte. His teaching and research explore how religion, politics, and identity intersect in the United States, with a special focus on Christian Nationalism. He has developed innovative courses on religion and politics, conspiracy theories, and the narratives that shape American democracy and belonging. As University Minister, Dr. Cheyney leads Niner United, a 501(c)(3) campus ministry that fosters inclusive faith development and leadership through programs such as the Lilly Endowment-funded Faith and Leadership Experience. Drawing on his background in pastoral care and institutional psychology, he supports the spiritual and ethical life of students, faculty, and staff. He has led student expeditions to 19 countries and 38 states and holds degrees from Western Carolina University, Duke University, and Emory University.
Rev. Matt Conner has served at Newell Presbyterian Church since 2017. A native of Gastonia, North Carolina, he is a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied Economics and Religious Studies. Before his first full-time call to Newell, Matt’s ministry experiences included prison and hospital chaplaincy, campus ministry, and an internship at Decatur Presbyterian Church. Matt is passionate about community development, the outdoors, and the intersection of faith and everyday life. He and his wife, Sarah—his high school sweetheart—live in Charlotte with their two sons, Eli and Amos, and their dogs, Bo and Willow. When not engaged in ministry, Matt enjoys traveling, Southern food, and cheering for the Carolina Panthers and UNC Tar Heels.
Justin Perry, LCSW, is a Charlotte-based therapist, advocate, and community leader whose work bridges mental health and social justice. A proud native of Charlotte, Justin draws on his own journey through depression and recovery to help others find healing and liberation without shame. His practice emphasizes authenticity, empowerment, and fighting stigma surrounding mental health. Before becoming a clinician, Justin planned a career in civil rights law, but his personal experience with therapy inspired him to pursue social work at the UNC School of Social Work. Since then, he has dedicated his career to advocacy, community engagement, and public speaking on issues of equity and access. Combining clinical expertise with a passion for justice, Justin helps clients navigate life’s challenges while fostering resilience, purpose, and hope.
Rev. Julia Watkins is the Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life at Davidson College, a role she has held since 2023. She leads Davidson’s multifaith chaplaincy team in fostering a diverse, respectful, and pluralistic environment where all students, faculty, and staff can explore, express, and practice their particular traditions, beliefs, and worldviews. A Davidson alum, Julia graduated with a degree in Psychology and Arab Studies before earning her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Her previous ministry roles at Covenant Presbyterian Church (Charlotte) and Westminster Presbyterian Church (Greenville, SC) focused on local justice initiatives and community building. Committed to broader justice work, Julia also serves on the board of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, which advocates for LGBTQIA+ inclusion within the PC(USA). A native of Atlanta, she finds joy in cooking, gardening, and the great outdoors.
Dr. Stephen Cheyney