Growing Pains: How Racial Struggles Changed a Church and School (Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America

by Christopher H. Meehan

This book tells the painful story of integrating Timothy Christian School in suburban Chicago during the turbulent 1960s and the subsequent creation of Chicago West Side Christian School, a “beacon of reconciliation.”

230 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2017

Reviews

[Emily Klooster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well researched, well written, but in the end I felt it wasn’t much of a story. It felt anticlimactic, and centered white CRC pastors over the Lawndale parents. I could tell the author was trying to give credit where it was due, including to the parents, but few names were given (or folks quoted) that weren’t white/CRC. The writer put a bow on the ending, and reiterated it was these fill-in-the-blank pastors who fought the good fight within the CRC. He’s not wrong and I certainly admire those men - a couple of whom I know personally - but I wish there had been more (or at least a few?) interviews with the Lawndale parents in question, and more in-depth interviews with the Lawndale children. I do appreciate the example of the “Christian school doing it right in Lawndale” near the end. He also did a good job of revealing the racism at Timothy without oversimplifying the situation.

[Chadd · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an attempt to nuance the issue, occasionally it feels like the author is excusing the racism of some parties involved.

Overall, a good book on the controversy. I wish it wasn't broken up into such short chapters though.

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It made me sad.

[Anna Gamble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative book for those looking to learn more about the fight to integrate the Timothy Christian School and the actions of the Christian Reformed Church.