Descriptive Summary
Creator(s)
Open for research. Medical, educational, and psychological records of living people are closed.
Access to this collection’s digital content is indicated in the Collection Inventory section of this guide, in the Alternative Formats column. When materials are marked “Digital,” they are immediately accessible. Click on the hyperlink to view the digital content in Pearl.
When materials are marked “Digital*” with an asterisk, they are available upon request. Click on the hyperlink to contact the Reference Desk to request access. Access is provided via a temporary password-protected link.
To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl.
Materials marked “Digital” in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.
Biographical Note / Administrative History
In the mid-1990s, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America (NCC) declared racial justice as its top priority. The Rev. Dr. Mac Charles Jones became the General Secretary Associate for Racial Justice, and he devoted several months to traveling around the southern United States to speak with African American pastors whose churches had been burned by white supremacists. At the May 1996 NCC Executive Board meeting, the board declared church burnings a national disaster and established the Burned Churches Fund. The fund included Jewish, Muslim, and Roman Catholic partners who were committed to raising money to rebuild churches, promoting long-term arson prevention measures, and addressing the hatred behind the racist attacks. Albert Pennybacker, who served as the NCC Associate General Secretary, played a major role in establishing and administering this fund.
In June 1996, the Rev. Charles Mac Jones and pastors from 38 burned churches went to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Clinton and the Secretaries of the Treasury and Justice Departments. Their meetings brought the epidemic of hate-motivated church burnings to nationwide attention and the National Church Arson Task Force was established.
The NCC partnered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Congress of National Black Churches to establish the National Church Rebuilding Initiative. The partnership worked to coordinate federal loans, gathered material donations for rebuilding, assembled a network of volunteers to help rebuild, and assisted churches in attaining new insurance policies or taking on additional security measures. The NCC helped coordinate this effort by establishing the Burned Churches Project Office. Carolyn Scavella served as the Pastors Liaison Officer and worked directly with the pastors of burned churches to help them apply for funding and lead the rebuilding process in their communities. The Burned Churches Project also included an assessment team which traveled around the country to determine eligibility and need for the project.
In July 1997, the NCC Burned Churches Project Office closed, and the rebuilding work was undertaken by the Church World Service Disaster Response Office. Elizabeth Miller worked in the Office of Reconstruction and primarily coordinated construction needs for churches. The Burned Churches Project officially closed in 1999. Throughout its three years, the project raised over $9 million in cash, $2.4 million in material gifts, and $7 million in cash grants for reconstruction; rebuilt 156 churches; and dedicated $1.25 million to racial justice and reconciliation work.
Collection Overview
The Burned Churches Project Records contain financial statements, correspondence, and news clippings documenting the creation and administration of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America (NCC) Burned Churches Fund. The files were created by three NCC staff members who worked on the project: Albert Pennybacker who primarily developed funding and partnerships; Carolyn Scavella who primarily completed assessments and built relationships with pastors; and Elizabeth Miller who primarily coordinated construction logistics.
The Churches and Worshipping Communities series, 1987-1999, consists of files on churches that either reached out to or were contacted by NCC. The information varies from file to file, but many include assessment interviews, news clippings on church arsons, fire investigation reports, and correspondence with pastors. The files are arranged by state and then alphabetically by church name. Also included in this series are blueprints for several churches that were rebuilt, master lists of all churches and pastors who were contacted, church profiles, and burning alerts.
The Funding series, 1995-1999, contains financial records from the Burned Churches Fund, primarily created by Albert Pennybacker. Included in this series is correspondence with potential financial partners, annual budgets and financial reports, minutes from the Grants Committee, and guidelines for Phase II of the project.
The Correspondence series, 1989-1999, contains correspondence with Joan Campbell, Elizabeth Miller, and Carolyn Scavella as they worked on the project. This includes correspondence with churches and volunteers, correspondence with the Burned Churches program committee, and correspondence related to public relations. Also included in this series is correspondence regarding events that were either hosted or attended by NCC staff. These files consist of planning memos, conference programs, and copies of speeches.
The Reports, Publications, and Press series, 1996-1999, contains drafts and published copies of reports, newsletters, and press releases created by either the Burned Churches Project or partner organizations.
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is arranged as follows:
SERIES I: CHURCHES AND WORSHIPPING COMMUNITIES, 1987-1999
SERIES II: FUNDING, 1995-1999
SERIES III: CORRESPONDENCE, 1989-1999
SERIES IV: REPORTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND PRESS, 1996-1999
Alternative Formats
To browse this collection’s digital content visit Pearl.
Materials marked “Digital” in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.
Digital access copies are available for some folders by request (see the Collection Inventory section of this guide).
Administrative Information
Transferred from the National Council of Churches of Christ in 2002 and 2003.
Collection processed and guide prepared in 2021 by Elizabeth Wittrig, Processing Archivist.
Preferred Citation
Burned Churches Project Records, RG 530, Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Catalog Headings
Collection Inventory
Box | Folder | Description | Alternative Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERIES I: CHURCHES AND WORSHIPPING COMMUNITIES, 1987-1999 | |||
| 1 | 1 | Emmanuel Church (Decatur, AL) | |
| 1 | 2 | Little Zion Baptist (Boligee, AL) | Digital* |
| 1 | 3 | Mt. Zion Baptist (Boligee, AL) | Digital* |
| 1 | 4 | Mt. Zion Baptist (Haleburg, AL) | |
| 1 | 5 | Mt. Zoar Baptist (Boligee, AL) | Digital* |
| 1 | 6 | New Liberty Baptist (Tyler, AL) | |
| 1 | 7 | Rising Star Baptist (Greensboro, AL) | |
| 1 | 8 | Central Baptist (Marion Junction, AL) | |
| 1 | 9 | Ebenezer AME (Monticello, AR) | |
| 1 | 10 | Ellis Chapel UMC (Searcy, AR) | |
| 1 | 11 | Freedonia Missionary Baptist (West Helena, AR) | |
| 1 | 12 | Friendship Missionary Baptist (Simsboro, AR) | |
| 1 | 13 | Greater New Zion Baptist (Phoenix, AR) | |
| 1 | 14 | Harmony Baptist (Pollard, AR) | |
| 1 | 15 | Kentucky Missionary Baptist (Benton, AR) | |
| 1 | 16 | Love Rest #11 Church (Gillett, AR) | |
| 1 | 17 | Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist (Turner, AR) | |
| 1 | 18 | New Calvary Church of God in Christ (Camden, AR) | |
| 1 | 19 | New Hope Missionary Baptist (Moro, AR) | |
| 1 | 20 | St. Mark's Missionary Baptist (Chelford, AR) | |
| 1 | 21 | St. Matthew Baptist (Marvel, AR) | |
| 1 | 22 | Rankin Chapel (Gould, AR) | |
| 1 | 23 | Willis Temple Church of God in Christ (Madison, AR) | |
| 1 | 24 | New Creation Lutheran (San Jose, CA) | |
| 1 | 25 | Second New Light Baptist (Bridgeport, CT) | |
| 1 | 26 | Faith Christian Family Center (Tallahassee, FL) | |
| 1 | 27 | Our Lady Queen of Martyrs (Pensacola, FL) | |
| 1 | 28 | St. Jude’s United Holiness (St. Petersburg, FL) | |
| 1 | 29 | Salem AME (Greensboro, FL) | |
| 1 | 30 | Solid Rock Baptist (Miami, FL) | |
| 1 | 31 | Georgia churches | |
| 1 | 32 | Adrian Chapel AME (Adrian, GA) | |
| 1 | 33 | Amazing Grace (Crandall, GA) | |
| 1 | 34 | Corwell UMC (Butler, GA) | |
| 1 | 35 | Elam Baptist (Gray, GA) | |
| 1 | 36 | Full Gospel Tabernacle (Hinesville, GA) | |
| 1 | 37 | Gay's Hill Baptist (Millen, GA) | |
| 1 | 38 | Holy Band of Inspiration (Brunswick, GA) | |
| 1 | 39 | Johnson UMC (Oconee Co., GA) | |
| 1 | 40 | Mt. Calvary Baptist (Dublin, GA) | |
| 1 | 41 | Mountain View Baptist (Dalton County, GA) | |
| 1 | 42 | New Salem UMC (Commerce, GA) | |
| 1 | 43 | St. Peters Missionary Baptist (Pelham, GA) | |
| 1 | 44 | Salem Missionary Baptist (Barney, GA) | |
| 1 | 45 | Springfield Baptist (Madison, GA) | |
| 1 | 46 | Indiana churches | |
| 1 | 47 | Grace Baptist (Coatesville, IN) | |
| 1 | 48 | Robinson Temple (Indianapolis, IN) | |
| 1 | 49 | Wabash Primitive Baptist (Huntington, IN) | |
| 1 | 50 | Cyprus Grove Baptist (Zachary, IA) | |
| 1 | 51 | Hickory Grove Community (Ottumwa, IA) | |
| 1 | 52 | Sweet Home Baptist (Baker, IA) | |
| 1 | 53 | Providence Church of God in Christ (Providence, KY) | |
| 1 | 54 | Greater Ebenezer Baptist (New Orleans, LA) | |
| 1 | 55 | New Birth Temple (Shreveport, LA) | |
| 1 | 56 | Rose Hill Baptist (Abbeville, LA) | |
| 1 | 57 | Famous Hill Missionary Baptist (Royal Oak, MI) | |
| 1 | 58 | Grace Lutheran (Westbrook, MN) | |
| 1 | 59 | Beacon Baptist (Yazoo City, MS) | |
| 1 | 60 | Central Grove Missionary (Kossuth, MS) | |
| 1 | 61 | Hillcrest Baptist (Yazoo City, MS) | |
| 1 | 62 | Liberty Baptist (Collins, MS) | |
| 1 | 63 | Living Manna (West Point, MS) | |
| 1 | 64 | Mount Pleasant Missionary (Kossuth, MS) | |
| 1 | 65 | St. Paul’s Primitive Baptist (Lauderdale, MS) | |
| 1 | 66 | True Light Missionary Baptist (Ruleville, MS) | |
| 1 | 67 | Grace Chapel Ministries (St. Louis, MO) | |
| 2 | 1 | Believers Miracle Deliverance Ministries (Utica, NY) | |
| 2 | 2 | Grace Temple (Kingston, NY) | |
| 2 | 3 | James United Methodist (Brooklyn, NY) | |
| 2 | 4 | Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist (Queens, NY) [Blueprints in Box 3] | |
| 2 | 5 | Matthews Murkland Presbyterian (Charlotte, NC) | |
| 2 | 6 | Mt. Moriah Baptist (Mebane, NC) | |
| 2 | 7 | New Outreach Christian Center (Charlotte, NC) | |
| 2 | 8 | Olive Grove Baptist (Littleton, NC) | |
| 2 | 9 | Pleasant Ridge United Church of Christ (Greensboro, NC) | |
| 2 | 10 | St. Delight (Greensboro, NC) | |
| 2 | 11 | St. James AME Zion (Maysville, NC) | |
| 2 | 12 | Christ Temple (Mansfeld, OH) | |
| 2 | 13 | First Missionary Baptist (Enid, OK) | |
| 2 | 14 | Immanuel Christian Fellowship (Portland, OR) | |
| 2 | 15 | Butler Chapel AME (Orangeburg, SC) | |
| 2 | 16 | Canaan Baptist (Round O, SC) | |
| 2 | 17 | First Thankful Baptist (Estill, SC) | |
| 2 | 18 | Hammond Grove Baptist (N. Augusta, SC) | |
| 2 | 19 | Jerusalem Branch Baptist (Salley, SC) | |
| 2 | 20 | Macedonia Baptist (Manning, SC) | |
| 2 | 21 | Mt. Hill Missionary Baptist (Aiken, SC) | |
| 2 | 22 | Mt. Zion AME (Greeleyville, SC) | |
| 2 | 23 | Rock Hill Baptist (Aiken, SC) | |
| 2 | 24 | Rosemary Baptist (Williston, SC) | |
| 2 | 25 | St. John Baptist (Dixiana, SC) | |
| 2 | 26 | St. Stephan’s Baptist (St. Stephans, SC) | |
| 2 | 27 | Second Mount Calvary Baptist (SC) | |
| 2 | 28 | South Richmond Bible Way (Columbia, SC) | |
| 2 | 29 | Spring Hill AME (Dillon, SC) | |
| 2 | 30 | Summer Grove Missionary Baptist (Williston, SC) | |
| 2 | 31 | Tucker Chapel Baptist (Carlisle, SC) | |
| 2 | 32 | Benevolent Lodge (Clarksville, TN) | |
| 2 | 33 | Boones Temple Pentecostal (Speedwell, TN) | |
| 2 | 34 | Cannan AME (Columbia, TN) | |
| 2 | 35 | Friendship Missionary Baptist (Columbia, TN) | |
| 2 | 36 | God’s Chapel (Niota, TN) | |
| 2 | 37 | Greater Gospel Truth (Memphis, TN) | |
| 2 | 38 | Greater Missionary Baptist (Clarksville, TN) | |
| 2 | 39 | Greater United Chrisitan Center (Memphis, TN) | |
| 2 | 40 | Inner City Church (Knoxville, TN) | |
| 2 | 41 | Jellico First Baptist (Jellico, TN) | |
| 2 | 42 | Johnson Grove Baptist (Denmark, TN) | |
| 2 | 43 | Macedonia Missionary Baptist (Fruitvale, TN) | |
| 2 | 44 | New Beginnings COGIC (LaGrange, TN) | |
| 2 | 45 | St. John Missionary Baptist (Clarksville, TN) | |
| 2 | 46 | Salem Baptist (Fruitland, TN) | |
| 2 | 47 | Union Missionary Baptist (Memphis, TN) | |
| 2 | 48 | Church of the Living God (Dallas, TX) | |
| 2 | 49 | Compassionate Community (Dallas, TX) | |
| 2 | 50 | Cyprus Trails United Methodist (Houston, TX) | |
| 2 | 51 | Freedom Fellowship (Texarkana, TX) | |
| 2 | 52 | Friendship #1 Missionary Baptist (Marshall, TX) | |
| 2 | 53 | Gainesville Church of God (Waskom, TX) | |
| 2 | 54 | Garden of Gethsemane (Houston, TX) | |
| 2 | 55 | Goodhope Missionary Baptist (Houston, TX) | |
| 2 | 56 | Greater Gospel Temple (Dallas, TX) | |
| 2 | 57 | Holy Cross (Dallas, TX) | |
| 2 | 58 | St. Thomas the Apostle (Houston, TX) | |
| 2 | 59 | Victory Baptist (Denison, TX) | |
| 2 | 60 | First Church of Centralia (Richmond, VA) | |
| 2 | 61 | Glorious Church of God in Christ (Richmond, VA) | |
| 2 | 62 | Greater Mt. Zion Tabernacle (Portsmouth, VA) | |
| 2 | 63 | Mt. Zion Baptist (Charles City, VA) | |
| 2 | 64 | Full Gospel Pentecostal Community Temple (Seattle, WA) | |
| 2 | 65 | New Hope Baptist (Seattle, WA) photo documentation | Digital |
| 2 | 65 | New Hope Baptist (Seattle, WA) files | Digital* |
| 2 | 66 | Pleasant Hill Baptist (Puyallup, WA) | |
| 3 | 1 | Blueprints - First Baptist Church of Brentwood (Brentwood, NY), 1998-1999 | |
| 3 | 2 | Blueprints - Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist (Queens, NY), 1999 | |
| 3 | 3 | Blueprints - Rice Chapel AME Zion (Buffalo, SC) | |
| 3 | 4 | Blueprints - Macedonia Baptist (Lancaster, TX) | |
| 3 | 5 | Blueprints - Macedonia Church (Ferris, TX), 1998 | |
| 3 | 6 | Blueprints - unlabeled | |
| 4 | 1 | Assessment interviews for churches - Center for Democratic Renewal Black Church Questionnaire, 1996 | |
| 4 | 2 | Assessment interviews for churches - forms and information sheets (blank), 1996-1998 | |
| 4 | 3-4 | Assessment interviews for churches, 1996-1999 | |
| 4 | 5 | Construction forms and guidelines (blank), 1987, 1998-1999 | |
| 4 | 6 | Burning alerts, 1996-1999 | |
| 4 | 7 | News clippings, 1996-1999 | |
| 4 | 8 | Church profiles by the Congress of National Black Churches, 1998 | |
| 4 | 9 | Listings of churches and pastors, 1996-1997 | |
| 4 | 10 | Listings of churches and pastors, 1999 | |
| SERIES II: FUNDING, 1995-1999 | |||
| 4 | 11 | Budgets and reports, 1996-1999 | |
| 4 | 12 | Correspondence re: audit by Pappas Consulting Group, 1999 | |
| 4 | 13 | Correspondence re: finances and rebuilding costs, 1996-1999 | |
| 4 | 14 | Correspondence re: Horizon Development and funding, 1997-1999 | |
| 4 | 15 | Correspondence re: Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1997-1998 | Digital* |
| 4 | 16 | Correspondence re: partnerships and partners packet, 1996-1999 | |
| 4 | 17 | Correspondence re: partnerships with Rainbow PUSH, 1996-1998 | Digital* |
| 4 | 18 | Correspondence re: Rojas, Don, 1996 | |
| 5 | 1 | Fundraising, 1995-1996 [includes initial project proposal] | |
| 5 | 2 | Fundraising, 1996 [includes Program Committee correspondence] | |
| 5 | 3 | Fundraising, 1998 | |
| 5 | 4-6 | Grants Committee meetings, 1996 July-October | |
| 5 | 7 | Grants Committee meeting, NCC special session, 1996 November | |
| 5 | 8 | Grants Committee, official letter sent to churches, 1996 | |
| 5 | 9 | National Rebuilding Initiative, working group meeting, 1996 November 26 | |
| 5 | 10 | Grants Committee meeting, 1996 December | |
| 5 | 11 | Grants Committee and Program Committee meeting, 1997 March-April | |
| 5 | 12 | Grants Committee meeting, 1997 November | |
| 5 | 13-14 | Grants Committee meeting, 1998 July | |
| 5 | 15 | Grants Committee meeting, 1998 October | |
| 5 | 16 | Grants Committee - lists of churches proposed and approved, 1996-1999 | |
| 6 | 1 | Grants Committee - financial summaries for churches, 1996-1997 | |
| 6 | 2 | Grants Committee - proposal transmittal sheets, 1996-1997 | |
| 6 | 3 | Grants - foundation contributions, 1996-1997 | |
| 6 | 4 | Grants - foundations, Levi Strauss, 1996 | |
| 6 | 5 | Grants - "Dealing with Racism's Violence Through Spiritual Growth," 1997 | |
| 6 | 6 | Burned Churches Fund Phase II - guidelines, budgets, correspondence, 1997 July | |
| 6 | 7 | Burned Churches Fund Phase II - criteria for inclusion, 1997 December | |
| 6 | 8 | Burned Churches Fund Phase II - letter to pastors, 1998 April | |
| SERIES III: CORRESPONDENCE, 1989-1999 | |||
| 6 | 9 | Campbell, Joan Brown, 1996 | |
| 6 | 10 | Miller, Elizabeth, 1998-1999 | |
| 6 | 11 | Miller, Elizabeth - American Bible Society, 1998-1999 | Digital* |
| 6 | 12 | Miller, Elizabeth re: project close-out issues, 1998-1999 | |
| 6 | 13 | Scavella, Carolyn - letters to/from churches, 1996-1999 | Digital* |
| 6 | 14 | Scavella, Carolyn - letters to/from churches, 1996-1999 | Digital* |
| 6 | 15 | Scavella, Carolyn - Black Church Liaison Committee, 1996-1998 | Digital* |
| 6 | 16 | Scavella, Carolyn re: Henry Lyons press release, 1997 | |
| 6 | 17 | Scavella, Carolyn re: Elizabeth Miller, 1996-1997 | |
| 6 | 18 | Scavella, Carolyn re: supplies (hymnals, robes, pews), 1996-1998 | |
| 7 | 1 | Communications meeting, 1997 April | |
| 7 | 2 | Executive Steering Committee of Volunteer Organizations, 1996 [includes conference call minutes] | |
| 7 | 3 | Heads of Communions, 1994-1996 | |
| 7 | 4 | Housing and Urban Development (HUD) relationship, 1996 | |
| 7 | 5 | Human Rights Commission City of Columbus, 1989, 1997-1999 | |
| 7 | 6 | Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) attack letter and response, 1996-1997 | |
| 7 | 7 | Modular structures, 1997-1999 | |
| 7 | 8 | Program Committee, 1996-1997 | |
| Correspondence re: events | |||
| 7 | 9 | Rally at Abyssinian Baptist Church, 1996 July | |
| 7 | 10 | Washington Delegation, 1996 June | |
| 7 | 11 | Joint event with Liberty Hill, 1996 August | |
| 7 | 12 | Church Rebuilding Conference (Birmingham), 1996 September | |
| 7 | 13 | Emergency Conference on Racism, 1996 October and November | |
| 7 | 14 | Rev. Mac Charles Jones memorial service, 1997 March | |
| 7 | 15 | Testimony for House of Representatives by Joan Campbell, 1997 March | |
| 7 | 16-17 | Washington Delegation one year anniversary, 1997 June | |
| 7 | 18 | Testimony for Senate Committee on Banking, 1997 July | |
| 7 | 19 | North Carolina churches, 1998-1999 | |
| 7 | 20 | Congress of National Black Churches - Rebuilding and Arson Prevention Seminar, 1998 May | |
| 7 | 21 | National Church Burning Status Conference, 1998 December | |
| 7 | 22 | Pastoral retreat at Christian Theological Seminary, 1999 | |
| 8 | 1 | National Rebuilding Initiative Briefing - presentation by Elizabeth Miller, 1999 June | |
| SERIES IV: REPORTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND PRESS, 1996-1999 | |||
| 8 | 2 | Burned Churches Project (BCP) - year-end reports, 1997-1998 November | |
| 8 | 3 | BCP - two year report, 1996-1998 | |
| 8 | 4 | BCP - "Black and Multi-racial Churches Fire-Bombed: A Vice of Racism, Collusion, and Complicity," 1996 May | |
| 8 | 5 | BCP - "Black and Multi-racial Churches Fire-Bombed: A Vice of Racism, Collusion, and Complicity," drafts and originals of the news clippings/photographs used, 1996 May | |
| 8 | 6 | BCP - "A Time to Heal" (published), 1997 | |
| 8 | 7 | BCP - "A Time to Heal" (drafts), 1997 | |
| 8 | 8 | BCP - "Rebuilding: this report outlines the most effective process of rebuilding churches," 1997 January | |
| 8 | 9 | BCP - Disaster Response: proposal for natural disaster mitigation, 1998 | |
| 8 | 10 | BCP - Office of Reconstruction Services proposal and report, 1998 | |
| 8 | 11 | BCP - info packets, Q&As, and mailing updates, 1996-1999 | |
| 8 | 12 | BCP - "Out of the Ashes" publishing agreements, 1997-1998 | |
| 8 | 13 | BCP - "Fire This Time" book project, 1997 | |
| 8 | 14 | BCP - NCC news releases, 1996 | |
| 8 | 15 | BCP - newsletters, Church Rebuilding Update and Out of the Ashes vol. 1 no. 1, 1996-1997 | |
| 8 | 16 | BCP - press releases and news clippings, 1996-1997 | |
| 8 | 17 | BCP - press releases, Christian Century article and response , 1996 October | |
| 8 | 18 | BCP - press releases, Wall St. Journal meeting and article, 1997 June | |
| 8 | 19 | "Bridge-building: Racial Justice and Immigration" proposal, 1996 | |
| 8 | 20 | Center for Democratic Renewal - "Black Church Burnings in the South Report of Six-Month Investigation," 1996 | |
| 8 | 21 | The Investigative Group, undated | |
| 8 | 22 | National Arson Task Force - arson resources, 1996-1998 | |
| 8 | 22 | "Attacks on African American Churches: What Congregations & Activists Can Do" handbook, circa 1997 | Digital |
| 8 | 23 | National Coalition for Burned Churches - reports and newsletters, 1997 | |
| 8 | 24 | U.S. Department of Justice - Church Burning Response Team Second Year Report, 1998 | |
| 8 | 25 | U.S. Department of Justice - reports and surveys of church burnings, 1996-1998 |