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Austin Public Health has experienced

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some federal and city budget cuts

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this year and the failure of

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Proposition Q means some of those

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holds won't be filled.

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A look at the public health

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landscape in Austin.

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And you know the old Fox Central

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Library in downtown Austin?

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It became the Austin History Center

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and has been redone after a

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renovation that was eight years in

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the making. We'll hear about what's

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new in a place showcasing

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The Austin Signal is a production

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of KUT News, hosted by

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Jennifer Stayton.

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Plus we'll hear from the Black

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Austin Matters podcast and their

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guest, Pastor Galen Clark

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of Greater Mount Zion Baptist

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Church.

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All of that is coming up on Austin

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Signal.

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Stay with us.

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Hello everyone and thanks for

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joining us for Austin

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Signal.

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It's Monday, December 15th.

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I'm Jennifer Stayton, very

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happy to be with you.

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Sitting in for Jerry Kehano who's

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enjoying a bit of a holiday

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breather, but don't worry, he'll be

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back with you before the year is

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out.

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The holiday season is staring

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a smack in the face and that means

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hopefully some time off for you,

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a little break and.

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Maybe some gatherings with friends

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and family, and that can mean an

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increased risk of getting or

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spreading illnesses like the flu or

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COVID. And of course, that's not

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even to mention allergies this time

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of year in Central Texas.

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So with all of this swirling, it

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seemed like a good time for us to

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check up on public health in Austin.

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A lot has happened in that arena

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this year.

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And here to do that is KUT's health

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reporter, Olivia Aldrich.

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Hi, Olivia.

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Hi, Jen.

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Thanks so much for coming in.

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So, Olivia, Austin voters rejected

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proposition Q this fall,

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which would have allowed the city of

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Austin to raise property taxes

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above the state mandated ceiling to,

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in addition to some other things,

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plug some holes in Austin's budget.

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How did that defeat impact

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Austin Public Health?

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And its programs.

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So if Prop Q had passed, there would

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have been around $1.3

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million more in Austin Public

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Health's budget.

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There was some rearrangement of

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the budget to fill certain holes,

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but in terms of stuff that we

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saw just totally go, that includes

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$800,000 for HIV

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and STI testing and prevention,

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some funding to help with

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vaccination efforts, and then

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other various one-time funding to

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help, with grants that were lost or

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at risk.

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That HIV funding loss and how it

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could affect vulnerable people is

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something that local activists spoke

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to this month on World AIDS Day

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amid cuts at the federal level for

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this as well. This is Paulette

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Soltani of the group Vocal TX.

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Cuts like this mean fewer tests,

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means fewer outreach workers,

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fewer case managers, more people

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falling through the cracks.

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So Olivia, you mentioned,

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we're hearing about cuts at the

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local level, but you also mentioned

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cuts at federal level.

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So all of this locally is happening

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after federal cuts earlier

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this year to some public health

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initiatives. Remind us how

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awesome public health was impacted

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by those.

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Yeah, you know, this funding they

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missed out on with Prop Q, it's

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not a huge amount compared to the

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agency's total budget, but it's in

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this broader context of a tough year

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for local public health agencies.

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APH lost millions of dollars in

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federal grants this year, which

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resulted in cutting more than two

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dozen full-time staff members.

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There could be more.

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This is stuff like HIV funding.

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There were a number of COVID-era

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grants that were or were

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not renewed.

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So less funding for vaccination

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programs, lost funding for

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a refugee clinic that does a lot of

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tuberculosis prevention and testing.

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That one appears to still sort of be

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in limbo right now because there's

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litigation going on, but

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also some funding used for disease

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surveillance that was cut.

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So detection of potential outbreaks.

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So Olivia, sort of looking at

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all the things that have been

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impacted, you mentioned among other

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things, vaccines, vaccinations,

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refugee health clinics.

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Are there any other ways to

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fund or provide

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those services that have been cut,

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any way to keep those going?

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Tricky because Austin Public Health

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has traditionally relied a lot on

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federal grants.

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Around 50% of their staff are

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supported by grant funding, which is

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different from a lot of city

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departments.

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They did work to address some things

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during this past budget season, and

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throughout the year folks at APH

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told me about, you know, taking

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staff from one program that's

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been cut and plugging them into

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another to problem-solve

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and also save some people's jobs.

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So it depends.

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But the fact is those federal

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funding losses continue to be tough

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to adjust to.

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Austin Public Health gave a

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statement to me after Prop

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Q basically saying this one time

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funding change that Prop Q would

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have provided wouldn't have solved

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the critical issue facing

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the department, which is disruptions

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in federal funding.

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So Olivia.

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Overall, if you sort of were to take

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a step back, how would you say that

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public health in Austin has been

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impacted then by the cuts

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you've been describing?

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I think there's still so much

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uncertainty and we're still sort

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of waiting to see what the potential

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impacts are going to be.

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So for like, for instance, Austin

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public health leaders have warned

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that reduced funding for their

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immunization unit could result

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in fewer people getting vaccinated

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for serious stuff like measles.

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And that could mean more

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hospitalizations and strain on the

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healthcare system if we see an

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outbreak here in central Texas.

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So Olivia, I want to pivot just a

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little bit in the minute or so we

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have left. There's another public

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health issue on a lot of people's

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minds today.

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It's the deadline for open

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enrollment for health insurance in

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the Obamacare marketplace.

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Remind us what's happening with

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today's enrollment deadline.

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Yes, today is the last day to

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enroll in an Affordable Care Act

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plan via healthcare.gov.

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If you want that coverage to begin

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on January 1st, you can still

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technically go in and enroll through

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January 15th, but if you wait, you

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might have a gap in your coverage.

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And especially if you were enrolled

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in one of those plans this year,

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today's the day to go check the

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portal to avoid being re-enrolled

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automatically because your plan

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may be more expensive this year.

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There have been some significant

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premium increases, so it's smart to

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give that a check.

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There's still some congressional

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potential action on what those

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subsidies may or may not be, kind of

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waiting to hear what's happening

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there. I know you're watching this

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and a lot more.

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KUT's health reporter, Olivia

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Aldridge. Thanks, Olivia.

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Thank you.

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As the capital of Texas,

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Austin's influence has helped shape

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the world beyond its city limits.

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The Austin History Center has been

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the steward of the city story,

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and after years of renovation work,

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officially reopened last week.

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For more, we're talking with

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Executive Director for the Austin

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History Centers Association,

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Adam Powell.

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Adam, thanks so much for talking

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with us on Austin Signal.

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Oh, thank you so much for having me.

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So Adam, first of all, just briefly,

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in case there are people who don't

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know, tell us about the Austin

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History Center.

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What is it and what does it do?

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I'm so glad you asked, you know,

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so the Austin History Center

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Association we're

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the nonprofit that supports the

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Austin history center meaning that

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a lot of the work we do

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is advocacy and for lack of

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a better term, just cheerleading and

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being spokespeople and helping

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get the word out about the Austin

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Histories Center.

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And so the awesome history center is

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truly our city's municipal archives.

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It's part of the city of Austin,

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it's part the public library system

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and it is home to literally

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millions of documents

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and audio recordings,

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video recordings, artifacts,

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maps, architectural archives,

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really, you name it.

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It is the place

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to find documentation about Austin's

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history and what we're happy to

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support.

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So you're saying millions of

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documents, I'm picturing like stacks

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and stacks of boxes of documents.

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Is that really what's in there?

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What's in there?

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You are picturing correctly.

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And it's really relevant to this

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occasion right now.

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The newly renovated space

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that the Austin History Center is in

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is really a generational

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improvement because there's so much

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space that's needed.

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And we know archives don't get

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smaller. They only get bigger.

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Well, and so you mentioned the

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history center is part of the

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awesome public library system.

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Talk about the site of the

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center, where it is and what's

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special about that particular

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building.

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Oh, you've done your research.

288
00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:54,179
Hey, when I was in high school here,

289
00:08:54,180 --> 00:08:55,579
I got sent there a lot to do

290
00:08:55,580 --> 00:08:57,059
research papers at what used to be

291
00:08:57,060 --> 00:08:58,239
the central library.

292
00:08:58,240 --> 00:08:59,279
So yeah, tell us about that

293
00:08:59,280 --> 00:08:59,609
building.

294
00:08:59,610 --> 00:09:00,609
That's what I love to hear.

295
00:09:00,610 --> 00:09:02,169
That's why I love it here.

296
00:09:02,170 --> 00:09:04,049
So really we're nowadays

297
00:09:04,050 --> 00:09:05,429
referring to as a two building

298
00:09:05,430 --> 00:09:06,369
campus.

299
00:09:06,370 --> 00:09:08,589
And both of these buildings are

300
00:09:08,590 --> 00:09:09,989
critically important to the history

301
00:09:09,990 --> 00:09:11,349
of our city and really the history

302
00:09:11,350 --> 00:09:12,969
the library system.

303
00:09:12,970 --> 00:09:14,549
So the Austin History Center was

304
00:09:14,550 --> 00:09:17,029
first established in the early 1980s

305
00:09:17,030 --> 00:09:19,409
in what was Austin's first permanent

306
00:09:19,410 --> 00:09:20,449
public library.

307
00:09:20,450 --> 00:09:22,549
So if you've been downtown off

308
00:09:22,550 --> 00:09:24,609
9th and Guad next to the Moon Tower,

309
00:09:24,610 --> 00:09:26,389
next to Woldridge Square Park and

310
00:09:26,390 --> 00:09:28,649
the old Travis County courthouse,

311
00:09:28,650 --> 00:09:30,969
You've seen before this beautiful

312
00:09:30,970 --> 00:09:33,049
building that was constructed in

313
00:09:33,050 --> 00:09:34,969
1933 and it was Austin's

314
00:09:34,970 --> 00:09:36,969
actual first permanent central

315
00:09:36,970 --> 00:09:37,929
library.

316
00:09:37,930 --> 00:09:40,759
It remained that way until 1979

317
00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:42,589
when obviously nowadays

318
00:09:42,590 --> 00:09:44,389
the John Henry Falk Library opened

319
00:09:44,390 --> 00:09:46,089
but at the time it was just the new

320
00:09:46,090 --> 00:09:47,969
Austin Central Library.

321
00:09:47,970 --> 00:09:49,789
And that's actually what formed our

322
00:09:49,790 --> 00:09:51,889
association because the mayor and

323
00:09:51,890 --> 00:09:53,509
city council at the time were

324
00:09:53,510 --> 00:09:55,409
considering the idea of tearing

325
00:09:55,410 --> 00:09:57,509
down the original building.

326
00:09:57,510 --> 00:09:59,009
And there was a small group of

327
00:09:59,010 --> 00:10:00,269
Ausnites who came together and said,

328
00:10:00,270 --> 00:10:02,189
hey, we're not okay with that.

329
00:10:02,190 --> 00:10:04,049
We wanna preserve this building, the

330
00:10:04,050 --> 00:10:05,849
history within it, and ultimately

331
00:10:05,850 --> 00:10:07,689
establishes our city's archives,

332
00:10:07,690 --> 00:10:09,149
which is what they did.

333
00:10:09,150 --> 00:10:10,929
And 46 years later, our association

334
00:10:10,930 --> 00:10:12,349
is still doing the same work

335
00:10:12,350 --> 00:10:13,979
advocating for the history center.

336
00:10:13,980 --> 00:10:15,999
So it sounds like that this

337
00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:17,979
renovation work took about

338
00:10:17,980 --> 00:10:20,119
eight years, cost about $14.5

339
00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:21,059
million.

340
00:10:21,060 --> 00:10:23,459
What was done to the facility?

341
00:10:23,460 --> 00:10:25,399
Oh yeah, so the John Henry Falk

342
00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:26,400
Library building,

343
00:10:27,540 --> 00:10:29,019
the way I like to tell folks for

344
00:10:29,020 --> 00:10:31,099
people like yourself who maybe grew

345
00:10:31,100 --> 00:10:32,759
up going to the central library

346
00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,339
there, it looks familiar,

347
00:10:35,340 --> 00:10:38,359
but definitely modernized.

348
00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:39,999
And thankfully the building itself

349
00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:41,819
was set up really

350
00:10:41,820 --> 00:10:43,099
well to house something like an

351
00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:45,059
archive. It was very innovative for

352
00:10:45,060 --> 00:10:47,299
its time and open floor plans.

353
00:10:47,300 --> 00:10:49,519
Libraries have large stacks and

354
00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:51,419
all sorts of things there

355
00:10:51,420 --> 00:10:52,739
to hold the books.

356
00:10:52,740 --> 00:10:54,179
Archives. It's the same situation

357
00:10:54,180 --> 00:10:55,579
with the shelves and the stacks and

358
00:10:55,580 --> 00:10:56,479
the units.

359
00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:57,919
So when you go in, you'll see less

360
00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,379
carpet, you

361
00:11:00,380 --> 00:11:01,959
won't see it.

362
00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,339
You'll feel updated HVAC

363
00:11:04,340 --> 00:11:06,419
and heating and plumbing

364
00:11:06,420 --> 00:11:09,039
and modern bathrooms.

365
00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:10,879
But really, the sole and the core

366
00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:12,419
of the building has been maintained

367
00:11:12,420 --> 00:11:14,479
while making it a frankly

368
00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,549
world-class facility for an archive.

369
00:11:16,550 --> 00:11:18,429
And how was the renovation funded?

370
00:11:19,819 --> 00:11:21,279
Primarily, almost entirely through

371
00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,179
bond monies, mostly 14

372
00:11:23,180 --> 00:11:25,579
and a half million from a 2018 bond.

373
00:11:25,580 --> 00:11:27,819
So Adam, what can the Austin History

374
00:11:27,820 --> 00:11:30,239
Center do and provide now

375
00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,259
that it couldn't do and provide

376
00:11:32,260 --> 00:11:34,569
prior to the renovation?

377
00:11:34,570 --> 00:11:36,509
That is a really great question.

378
00:11:37,710 --> 00:11:39,489
So first and foremost, what I tell

379
00:11:39,490 --> 00:11:41,609
folks again, is archives don't get

380
00:11:41,610 --> 00:11:42,829
smaller, right?

381
00:11:42,830 --> 00:11:45,209
They just continue to expand.

382
00:11:45,210 --> 00:11:47,509
And in the 1933

383
00:11:47,510 --> 00:11:49,789
Austin Library Building

384
00:11:49,790 --> 00:11:51,129
that the Austin History Center was

385
00:11:51,130 --> 00:11:53,249
in, there just wasn't room.

386
00:11:53,250 --> 00:11:54,689
I mean, you would go into the

387
00:11:54,690 --> 00:11:56,769
basement or the second floor or

388
00:11:56,770 --> 00:11:58,489
anywhere in that building, floor to

389
00:11:58,490 --> 00:12:00,809
ceiling, boxes, archives,

390
00:12:00,810 --> 00:12:01,989
artifacts, just having to be where

391
00:12:01,990 --> 00:12:04,049
they could fit. And so.

392
00:12:04,050 --> 00:12:05,329
It was at a point where there was

393
00:12:05,330 --> 00:12:07,269
actually a moratorium on

394
00:12:07,270 --> 00:12:09,269
collecting new collections into

395
00:12:09,270 --> 00:12:10,329
the archives.

396
00:12:10,330 --> 00:12:12,489
And that is a kind of existential

397
00:12:12,490 --> 00:12:14,309
problem for preserving our city's

398
00:12:14,310 --> 00:12:16,589
history. So first and foremost,

399
00:12:16,590 --> 00:12:18,869
what it does is just ensure

400
00:12:18,870 --> 00:12:20,829
that for the next really 50

401
00:12:20,830 --> 00:12:22,729
years, the archives are in a

402
00:12:22,730 --> 00:12:24,589
position to continue to grow, to

403
00:12:24,590 --> 00:12:26,209
continue, to thrive and collect

404
00:12:26,210 --> 00:12:27,449
everything they need to from the

405
00:12:27,450 --> 00:12:28,289
community.

406
00:12:28,290 --> 00:12:30,229
The other thing that it does, is it

407
00:12:30,230 --> 00:12:31,849
increases the accessibility to

408
00:12:31,850 --> 00:12:33,889
Austin's history, So the first

409
00:12:33,890 --> 00:12:35,769
floor is now entirely

410
00:12:35,770 --> 00:12:38,049
dedicated to exhibit space.

411
00:12:38,050 --> 00:12:39,969
And that is so

412
00:12:39,970 --> 00:12:41,089
different from the old Austin

413
00:12:41,090 --> 00:12:42,969
History Center where they put

414
00:12:42,970 --> 00:12:44,689
exhibits where they can, but the

415
00:12:44,690 --> 00:12:46,209
staff was really limited.

416
00:12:46,210 --> 00:12:48,029
And now the first-floor, if you

417
00:12:48,030 --> 00:12:50,009
walk in today, you see a deep

418
00:12:50,010 --> 00:12:51,989
dive on the archival process

419
00:12:51,990 --> 00:12:53,829
with these wonderful artifacts from

420
00:12:53,830 --> 00:12:54,949
Austin History.

421
00:12:54,950 --> 00:12:56,169
And it's something that, as long as

422
00:12:56,170 --> 00:12:57,729
the History Center's open, you can

423
00:12:57,730 --> 00:12:58,689
come off the street and just check

424
00:12:58,690 --> 00:12:59,279
it out.

425
00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:01,019
So you've said archives don't get

426
00:13:01,020 --> 00:13:02,199
smaller, they get bigger.

427
00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:03,539
But I always think of things going

428
00:13:03,540 --> 00:13:05,379
forward as everything's digital.

429
00:13:05,380 --> 00:13:06,719
Like scans of photos, scans of

430
00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:08,599
things. So how are archives getting

431
00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:10,639
bigger if it seems like our

432
00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:12,619
main storage vehicle these days

433
00:13:12,620 --> 00:13:14,129
is digital?

434
00:13:14,130 --> 00:13:16,149
See, this is a

435
00:13:16,150 --> 00:13:17,809
common misconception about archives,

436
00:13:17,810 --> 00:13:18,749
I would say.

437
00:13:18,750 --> 00:13:20,589
So absolutely, yes, there's so much

438
00:13:20,590 --> 00:13:22,549
digitization that happens, and then

439
00:13:22,550 --> 00:13:24,109
maybe even more than that, what's

440
00:13:24,110 --> 00:13:26,449
called digitally native documents.

441
00:13:26,450 --> 00:13:28,389
So for example, the Austin History

442
00:13:28,390 --> 00:13:30,049
Center maintains every board and

443
00:13:30,050 --> 00:13:31,749
commission meeting in the city of

444
00:13:31,750 --> 00:13:33,669
Austin, point blank, all

445
00:13:33,670 --> 00:13:35,629
of them. And all of those

446
00:13:35,630 --> 00:13:37,549
meetings nowadays, the videos

447
00:13:37,550 --> 00:13:39,329
or the Zoom recordings or what have

448
00:13:39,330 --> 00:13:41,289
you, they never exist as

449
00:13:41,290 --> 00:13:42,069
physical documents.

450
00:13:42,070 --> 00:13:43,629
So part of that...

451
00:13:43,630 --> 00:13:45,609
Is then the data storage

452
00:13:45,610 --> 00:13:47,669
needs and the infrastructure

453
00:13:47,670 --> 00:13:49,789
around that needs to expand,

454
00:13:49,790 --> 00:13:51,369
which does have its physical

455
00:13:51,370 --> 00:13:52,349
implications.

456
00:13:52,350 --> 00:13:54,229
The other thing is, as the

457
00:13:54,230 --> 00:13:56,169
city's municipal archive, there are

458
00:13:56,170 --> 00:13:57,689
document retention policies within

459
00:13:57,690 --> 00:13:58,549
the city.

460
00:13:58,550 --> 00:14:00,389
So there are so many physical

461
00:14:00,390 --> 00:14:02,329
documents that are legally

462
00:14:02,330 --> 00:14:04,249
required to be maintained in

463
00:14:04,250 --> 00:14:06,089
physical form, maybe for three

464
00:14:06,090 --> 00:14:08,169
years, five years, maybe forever.

465
00:14:08,170 --> 00:14:10,149
So, you know, as a municipal

466
00:14:10,150 --> 00:14:12,149
archive as the cities archive, Those

467
00:14:12,150 --> 00:14:13,479
documents aren't going anywhere.

468
00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:15,259
They gotta be at the History Center

469
00:14:15,260 --> 00:14:17,299
and the the fantastic staff

470
00:14:17,300 --> 00:14:18,519
of archivists and collections

471
00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:20,419
managers are prepared

472
00:14:20,420 --> 00:14:22,159
for that now to expand in the new

473
00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:22,949
facility.

474
00:14:22,950 --> 00:14:24,269
So, and I'm finally just sort of

475
00:14:24,270 --> 00:14:25,669
stepping back from the renovation

476
00:14:25,670 --> 00:14:27,289
and the physical space and all the

477
00:14:27,290 --> 00:14:29,129
work that happened in the reopening.

478
00:14:29,130 --> 00:14:30,989
Why is it important for a city

479
00:14:30,990 --> 00:14:32,829
to have a history center?

480
00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:35,819
It is, I would say,

481
00:14:35,820 --> 00:14:37,919
one of the most essential,

482
00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:40,039
critical services that

483
00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:41,799
the city of Austin provides.

484
00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:43,999
Because there are very,

485
00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,339
very, very few things that

486
00:14:46,340 --> 00:14:47,799
you can build towards that will

487
00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:48,799
outlive you.

488
00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:50,679
There are very very few things

489
00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:52,719
that, you know, will be useful

490
00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:53,959
in perpetuity.

491
00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:55,619
And the work that the Austin History

492
00:14:55,620 --> 00:14:57,979
Center staff does to preserve

493
00:14:57,980 --> 00:15:00,079
the documents and artifacts

494
00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:01,939
and video and audio

495
00:15:01,940 --> 00:15:03,789
recordings that make up Austin's.

496
00:15:03,790 --> 00:15:05,629
History, make up Austin's

497
00:15:05,630 --> 00:15:07,569
story, is work that's going to

498
00:15:07,570 --> 00:15:09,389
matter in 100 years, in

499
00:15:09,390 --> 00:15:11,289
200 years, and 300 years long

500
00:15:11,290 --> 00:15:12,789
after we're gone.

501
00:15:12,790 --> 00:15:14,689
And so the new facility,

502
00:15:14,690 --> 00:15:16,489
yes, the exhibits, yes the expanded

503
00:15:16,490 --> 00:15:18,349
collections capacity, that's

504
00:15:18,350 --> 00:15:19,549
all wonderful.

505
00:15:19,550 --> 00:15:21,369
But the work is

506
00:15:21,370 --> 00:15:23,049
something that will outlive every

507
00:15:23,050 --> 00:15:24,829
single person listening to this

508
00:15:24,830 --> 00:15:26,749
right now. And to me, that is

509
00:15:26,750 --> 00:15:28,869
the the core of why our association

510
00:15:28,870 --> 00:15:30,189
is proud to do the work that we're

511
00:15:30,190 --> 00:15:31,059
doing.

512
00:15:31,060 --> 00:15:32,399
We've been speaking with Adam

513
00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:34,279
Powell, executive director of the

514
00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,419
Austin History Center Association.

515
00:15:36,420 --> 00:15:37,959
Adam, thanks so much for coming in

516
00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:39,599
and talking with us on Austin Signal

517
00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:40,139
today.

518
00:15:40,140 --> 00:15:41,179
Thank you so much for having me.

519
00:15:46,820 --> 00:15:48,759
And coming up, a special

520
00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,279
excerpt from the KUT podcast,

521
00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:52,719
Black Austin Matters.

522
00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:54,799
We've got more Austin Signal right

523
00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,079
after this.

524
00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:57,200
Stay with us.

525
00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:00,739
This is Austin Signal.

526
00:16:00,740 --> 00:16:02,719
I'm Jennifer Stayton.

527
00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:04,619
Lisa B. Thompson and Richard

528
00:16:04,620 --> 00:16:07,179
J. Reddick host the KUT KUTX

529
00:16:07,180 --> 00:16:09,039
Studios Black Austin matters

530
00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,059
podcast that highlights the

531
00:16:11,060 --> 00:16:12,959
black community and black culture

532
00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:14,489
in central Texas.

533
00:16:14,490 --> 00:16:16,429
In this excerpt, Lisa and Richard

534
00:16:16,430 --> 00:16:18,269
talk with a lead pastor at

535
00:16:18,270 --> 00:16:20,309
Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church,

536
00:16:20,310 --> 00:16:21,229
Galen Clark.

537
00:16:21,230 --> 00:16:22,949
We join them as Lisa B.

538
00:16:22,950 --> 00:16:24,929
Thompson asks, why are there so

539
00:16:24,930 --> 00:16:26,809
many denominations of

540
00:16:26,810 --> 00:16:27,810
Christianity?

541
00:16:28,890 --> 00:16:30,149
I'm trying to get you to help me

542
00:16:30,150 --> 00:16:31,149
understand.

543
00:16:31,150 --> 00:16:32,669
We need a diagram.

544
00:16:32,670 --> 00:16:34,589
You help me to understand.

545
00:16:34,590 --> 00:16:36,449
Go ahead, go ahead, help me.

546
00:16:36,450 --> 00:16:38,629
I'm kidding. Sir, I have no, I,

547
00:16:38,630 --> 00:16:39,409
but, yeah. The tables have been

548
00:16:39,410 --> 00:16:40,410
turned.

549
00:16:40,890 --> 00:16:41,749
Jokes, jokes.

550
00:16:41,750 --> 00:16:42,929
First and foremost, most

551
00:16:42,930 --> 00:16:45,089
denominations are attempts to

552
00:16:45,090 --> 00:16:46,869
reach different cultures or

553
00:16:46,870 --> 00:16:48,829
subcultures of

554
00:16:48,830 --> 00:16:50,889
a

555
00:16:50,890 --> 00:16:51,789
group of people.

556
00:16:51,790 --> 00:16:53,589
That's all it really is.

557
00:16:53,590 --> 00:16:55,089
A lot of times we make a bigger deal

558
00:16:55,090 --> 00:16:57,779
out of denominations, in my opinion.

559
00:16:57,780 --> 00:16:59,459
Than is warranted.

560
00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:02,839
For instance, a good example,

561
00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:04,699
you were just talking about

562
00:17:04,700 --> 00:17:07,139
people who graduate

563
00:17:07,140 --> 00:17:09,098
and having graduations

564
00:17:09,099 --> 00:17:11,559
for various communities

565
00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:13,939
at the University of Texas.

566
00:17:13,940 --> 00:17:15,699
Well, why are those graduations

567
00:17:15,700 --> 00:17:18,039
important? Why can't everybody just

568
00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:20,159
go to the big graduation and be

569
00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:20,999
satisfied with that?

570
00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,818
Well, they do that because

571
00:17:22,819 --> 00:17:25,118
there's something empowering

572
00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:26,119
about

573
00:17:27,109 --> 00:17:28,969
being able to celebrate the way

574
00:17:28,970 --> 00:17:31,029
you celebrate in your

575
00:17:31,030 --> 00:17:32,030
culture.

576
00:17:33,010 --> 00:17:35,429
Okay, this is all the denominations

577
00:17:35,430 --> 00:17:37,309
really are primarily.

578
00:17:37,310 --> 00:17:39,389
Now there are some differences and I

579
00:17:39,390 --> 00:17:41,129
can talk to you about that, but

580
00:17:41,130 --> 00:17:44,909
primarily Episcopalians,

581
00:17:44,910 --> 00:17:46,749
they tend to be more liturgical

582
00:17:46,750 --> 00:17:47,750
than Baptists.

583
00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:50,159
That's all. Yes.

584
00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,379
I mean, Catholics

585
00:17:52,380 --> 00:17:54,479
are definitely more

586
00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:56,999
liturgical than Episcopalians

587
00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,059
even, although one

588
00:17:59,060 --> 00:18:00,799
is a more Protestant end of that

589
00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:01,800
spectrum. That's right.

590
00:18:02,980 --> 00:18:04,679
You know, and in Baptist churches,

591
00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:06,399
we like to be loud.

592
00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,359
A little bit. You know?

593
00:18:08,360 --> 00:18:09,619
Presbyterians, they don't like all

594
00:18:09,620 --> 00:18:10,459
that noise.

595
00:18:10,460 --> 00:18:11,539
They don't all like all of that

596
00:18:11,540 --> 00:18:12,779
noise, no.

597
00:18:12,780 --> 00:18:14,719
Now, here's the deal,

598
00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:15,799
here is the deal.

599
00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:17,899
What is wrong with

600
00:18:17,900 --> 00:18:18,900
somebody

601
00:18:20,380 --> 00:18:22,799
not being as loud as other people.

602
00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:24,139
Right. Tell me what's wrong with

603
00:18:24,140 --> 00:18:25,159
that. I love that.

604
00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:26,159
Absolutely nothing.

605
00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:27,239
Let them be quiet.

606
00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:28,819
Here's the problem.

607
00:18:28,820 --> 00:18:30,739
The problem becomes is that

608
00:18:30,740 --> 00:18:32,679
my humanness and pride tells

609
00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:33,680
me.

610
00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:37,859
The people who are not loud like me,

611
00:18:37,860 --> 00:18:39,839
they don't really know Jesus the

612
00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:40,840
way I do.

613
00:18:41,780 --> 00:18:43,499
And then the people who who are

614
00:18:43,500 --> 00:18:45,379
quiet and they're

615
00:18:45,380 --> 00:18:47,279
more button up

616
00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,239
doing service, they

617
00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:50,819
feel like all that stuff that those

618
00:18:50,820 --> 00:18:52,119
Baptists do down there, that's just

619
00:18:52,120 --> 00:18:53,979
a bunch of foolishness.

620
00:18:53,980 --> 00:18:55,879
Like it's anti-intellectual, you

621
00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:56,880
know?

622
00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:59,959
And the truth is,

623
00:19:01,500 --> 00:19:03,059
God is not up there saying.

624
00:19:05,730 --> 00:19:07,249
I really like the method is better.

625
00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:11,739
Jesus doesn't care about all of

626
00:19:11,740 --> 00:19:12,599
that.

627
00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,799
He cares about followers.

628
00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:16,799
You know, he came to do something

629
00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:18,839
so much bigger than try

630
00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:20,899
to figure out like

631
00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:23,140
what specific

632
00:19:24,340 --> 00:19:26,199
segment of Christianity you're

633
00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:27,599
gonna be a part of.

634
00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:28,600
In fact,

635
00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:31,859
what's interesting is that

636
00:19:31,860 --> 00:19:33,759
Jesus felt not only called

637
00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,039
to his own people, but

638
00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,769
he calls his people to go to.

639
00:19:38,770 --> 00:19:40,609
Spaces where his own people

640
00:19:40,610 --> 00:19:41,809
are not.

641
00:19:41,810 --> 00:19:43,769
The only reason why Christianity has

642
00:19:43,770 --> 00:19:45,949
survived is because

643
00:19:45,950 --> 00:19:48,149
Jesus called

644
00:19:48,150 --> 00:19:50,369
us to go to the

645
00:19:50,370 --> 00:19:52,069
nations. And the nations, those are

646
00:19:52,070 --> 00:19:54,669
not political, territorial,

647
00:19:54,670 --> 00:20:00,489
governmental groups,

648
00:20:01,670 --> 00:20:03,549
nations. No, that word

649
00:20:03,550 --> 00:20:05,329
nations has to do with people

650
00:20:05,330 --> 00:20:06,330
groups.

651
00:20:07,090 --> 00:20:08,090
Cultures.

652
00:20:10,410 --> 00:20:12,949
Spaces where like people

653
00:20:12,950 --> 00:20:15,189
do

654
00:20:15,190 --> 00:20:17,269
life in a certain way,

655
00:20:17,270 --> 00:20:18,149
right?

656
00:20:18,150 --> 00:20:20,069
And so they went to

657
00:20:20,070 --> 00:20:21,069
varied cultures.

658
00:20:21,070 --> 00:20:23,649
So God honors culture.

659
00:20:23,650 --> 00:20:25,609
He honors difference.

660
00:20:25,610 --> 00:20:27,329
He honors uniqueness.

661
00:20:27,330 --> 00:20:29,329
And for us to,

662
00:20:29,330 --> 00:20:31,789
you know, divide

663
00:20:31,790 --> 00:20:33,649
His people

664
00:20:33,650 --> 00:20:35,849
who are beloved by Him into

665
00:20:35,850 --> 00:20:38,539
all these quadrants.

666
00:20:38,540 --> 00:20:40,659
And being some,

667
00:20:40,660 --> 00:20:42,319
not all, and I think we're much

668
00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:44,200
better at this as a church,

669
00:20:45,580 --> 00:20:46,940
as the Bixy Church,

670
00:20:48,100 --> 00:20:50,439
at making sure that

671
00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:51,579
we don't do that.

672
00:20:51,580 --> 00:20:54,019
But it's disheartening.

673
00:20:54,020 --> 00:20:55,979
But you know, the reality about all

674
00:20:55,980 --> 00:20:58,919
of that is, is that

675
00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:00,819
it actually, to me,

676
00:21:00,820 --> 00:21:02,359
is kind of a beautiful thing.

677
00:21:03,919 --> 00:21:06,079
Because, think about it.

678
00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:07,899
God says your difference

679
00:21:07,900 --> 00:21:08,900
is okay.

680
00:21:11,060 --> 00:21:12,879
I don't want you to be, you don't

681
00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:16,279
have to be like that

682
00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:17,280
group.

683
00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:19,319
You have to love that group, but you

684
00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:20,999
don't have to, your uniqueness is

685
00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:22,219
beautiful.

686
00:21:22,220 --> 00:21:24,419
Unity is not uniformity and

687
00:21:24,420 --> 00:21:25,839
this is a good thing.

688
00:21:28,770 --> 00:21:30,109
You know, we used to sing this song,

689
00:21:30,110 --> 00:21:32,089
you'll appreciate this because

690
00:21:32,090 --> 00:21:33,499
you're a church baby.

691
00:21:33,500 --> 00:21:34,500
Oh, no.

692
00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:36,659
Red, yellow, black, and white.

693
00:21:36,660 --> 00:21:37,839
They're all precious.

694
00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:39,000
In his sight.

695
00:21:40,580 --> 00:21:41,580
And they still are.

696
00:21:43,460 --> 00:21:44,659
That was Lisa B.

697
00:21:44,660 --> 00:21:45,999
Thompson and Richard J.

698
00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:47,699
Reddick, hosts of Black Austin

699
00:21:47,700 --> 00:21:49,859
Matters, talking with lead pastor

700
00:21:49,860 --> 00:21:51,399
at Greater Mount Zion Baptist

701
00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:52,839
Church, Galen Clark.

702
00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:54,459
You can find out more about Black

703
00:21:54,460 --> 00:21:57,019
Austin Matters at kut.org,

704
00:21:57,020 --> 00:21:57,919
and we'll have a link to their

705
00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,299
podcast in today's podcast,

706
00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:01,300
Show Notes.

707
00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:04,559
And thanks to KUT's Olivia Aldridge

708
00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:06,579
and Miles Bloxson for their help

709
00:22:06,580 --> 00:22:08,519
with today's episode.

710
00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:10,239
Rayna Sevilla is our technical

711
00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:11,139
director.

712
00:22:11,140 --> 00:22:12,659
Kristin Cabrera is our managing

713
00:22:12,660 --> 00:22:13,659
producer.

714
00:22:13,660 --> 00:22:15,559
Thanks to her for herding the

715
00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,579
cats. We've got more about the show

716
00:22:17,580 --> 00:22:19,639
in our podcast, shownotes

717
00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:22,059
at kut.org slash

718
00:22:22,060 --> 00:22:22,979
signal.

719
00:22:22,980 --> 00:22:24,619
Let us know what you think about the

720
00:22:24,620 --> 00:22:26,139
shows. Send us an email to

721
00:22:26,140 --> 00:22:28,559
austinsignal at k-u-t

722
00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:29,999
dot org.

723
00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:31,699
I'm Jennifer Stayton, happy to be

724
00:22:31,700 --> 00:22:34,279
sitting in today for Jerry Quijano.

725
00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:35,919
Austin Signal is back tomorrow.

726
00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:37,699
And we'll be here all during the

727
00:22:37,700 --> 00:22:39,779
holidays with some special shows

728
00:22:39,780 --> 00:22:40,659
too.

729
00:22:40,660 --> 00:22:42,719
Be sure to check those out and

730
00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:43,720
have a great day.