At the close of the Social Justice Summit held here at Stony Point Center during our 75th Anniversary Weekend, April 2025, we heard we heard Patricia Osterhoudt of the Ramapough Munsee Nation (Deer Clan) testify about the racism–both intentional and unintentional–and healing she has experienced at her church. And our keynote speaker, Rev. West McNeill shared their closing thoughts on the real possibility of a better world. See below for highlights. Watch the video to hear the rest of Osterhoudt and West’s reflections.
Patricia Osterhoudt, April 5, 2025 – Stony Point Center Social Justice Summit
Patricia Osterhoudt tells the story of a painfully racist past that–over a long period of time–has turned into a restorative, loving relationship between her Presbyterian church and the larger Presbytery of which it is a part. Within her story, she emphasized our common humanity and the contemporary presence of her people:
“We are Ramapo. We are here. We are people just like everybody else. There’s nothing special. If I take my earrings off. If I, you know, wear my hair out, put different clothes on…I’m still going to be the same person I am today. You can’t change me, and I will still be here.”
Rev. West McNeill, April 5, 2025 – Stony Point Center Social Justice Summit
Rev. West McNeill closed with some thoughts about conversations they’d had throughout the summit, as well as a reflection on some of the words of another fallen social justice faith activist—Dietrich Bonhoeffer–who had been killed 80 years ago. In the end, McNeill left us with some inspiring words, to lift us up in our efforts to seek justice for all:
“There is a better world that is possible, and it’s incumbent upon all of us to do what we can to bring it about. And at the core of that is staying connected and bringing more and more and more people into connection with each other.”