Notes from the Old Noank Jail                 by Lacy and Ed Johnson

                          Noank has a New Minister

On Sunday, November 26, Noank Baptist Church (Noank, CT) will formally install its 27th settled pastor.  From its beginnings as an offshoot of the now defunct Fort Hill Baptist Church, through the splitting of the church into two congregations during the Civil War,. to the founding of several organizations that serve the community’s needs through the present, Noank Baptist has always been a little bit different. Just like Noank.

Noank’s newest pastor has broken 180 years of tradition- he was raised in the deep south and received his masters of divinity degree from a Southern Baptist seminary. As a church that prides itself on being welcoming and affirming and centered on social justice, how could they justify such a move- especially now?  Well, Junior’s own words might provide the best answer:

“I never felt that the theology I was steeped in lined up with my experience of humanity. At some point, I started allowing myself space to question which led me to mentors who introduced me to people from places in life and love that had been ‘untouchable’ based on my Southern Baptist roots. It sparked a glow in my soul I knew was real. I loved my new LGBTQ+ and BIPOC friends- how could I not stand up for their rights? How could I not be there for them in their times of need? The answer was….I couldn’t.”

He continues… “After a few years of heavy conversations at home, I began looking for a church that aligned with my deeper calling. I searched online using terms like ‘social justice’ and ‘inclusive’ and ‘affirming.’ I found Noank, and, after reviewing their profile and falling in love, I applied. I didn’t apply anywhere else, but I was hardly expecting anything to come of it.”

But the Church search task force found him to be quite a great fit- why should they judge Junior based on his roots? After lots of discussions and a few visits, everyone agreed that this was the answer to their respective prayers.

As Stan Mitchell, the founder of Nashville’s progressive Gracepointe Church, pointed out,”With the first name of  ‘Junior’ AND a Southern accent, he will surely trigger every bit of Southern bias there. I trust his good mind and heart will be another lesson for folk on just how untrustworthy our biases are.” Amen to that one.

Reverend Junior White and his wife of 17 years, Monica, grew up in Alabama- he earned his bachelor’s from Southeastern Bible College and masters of divinity from Southeastern Bible Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He has taken chaplaincy classes at four institutions in recent years. At the time of his hiring, Junior was the full-time minister at Ballard’s Bridge Baptist Church in Tyner, NC, and a part-time chaplain for the Eastern Carolina University Hospital System.

So far, Rev White has hosted several new events to engage more of the local community- “Pastor in the Park” featured free Kona Ice cones, sports, games, and music in September, and the “Monster Parade” at the end of October featured costumed local children marching around the village and then watching a Halloween movie on a Latham Lane lawn.

So, please join Noank Baptist Church on the Sunday after Thanksgiving for this momentous occasion at 10am. If you can’t make it, feel free to attend the potluck lunch downstairs anyway. All are truly welcome- even those with Southern accents and names like “Junior.”