William Yoo

Teacher, Historian, and Public Theologian. Author of Reckoning with History: Settler Colonialism, Slavery, and the Making of American Christianity (Jan 2025).

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Received the print issue devoted to reparations in my mailbox today. Grateful for the powerful articles from Jermaine Ross-Allam, Gregg Brekke, Dartinia Hull, Paul Roberts, and Larissa Kwong Abazia. Honored to be writing alongside them!

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Looking forward to this! Thanks so much to Dr. David Chao, the Center for Asian American Christianity, and Princeton Seminary for the invite. As a native New Yorker, it will be good to be back in the northeast for a minute.

[Center for Asian American Christianity @ PTS @PTSCAAC]

Join us on Monday, April 17th at 3pm ET on campus or online for Dr. @williamyoo (@CTSeminary )'s lecture offering a pathway toward racial justice that accounts for historic sins and addresses ongoing challenges in theological education and the PCUSA. https://t.co/O1Q5xXoiy2

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

This is a reflection about reparations that both challenges and invites theological schools, including the seminary where I teach, to reckon with their own histories, act justly, and repair relations with the descendants of the people they directly harmed.

[Wabash Center @WabashTeaches]

William Yoo of @CTSeminary asks tough questions about what institutions that have benefited from trafficking in enslaved persons owe--how much and to whom? With the help of a historical lens, Yoo asks, "What does justice look?" https://t.co/AzV44DJP7G
@AARweb
@ASChurchHistory

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

This was such a rich and invigorating dialogue. Thanks so much to Simon and Lee for the invite. I couldn't ask for better conversation partners!

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Thanks, Dr. Kaylor (@BrianKaylor), for inviting me to talk with you about telling a more honest story of the Christian past. I found our conversation is like the best histories: Faithful, not fatalistic, in the pursuit of fullness and truth about our churches and nation.

[Word&Way @WordandWay]

For the latest episode of our Dangerous Dogma podcast, @BrianKaylor interviewed @williamyoo of @CTSeminary about his book "What Kind of Christianity: A History of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism in the @Presbyterian Church" from @wjkbooks. https://t.co/D4ZenE8H2y

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

@noblevessel Thanks! Great connecting with you today. I learned a lot, too, and feel energized from our conversation.

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Loved being a part of the team for this issue! Wrote about the problems with how I learned the three histories that shaped me: Asian American history, church history, and U.S. history. And shared my dreams as an author, teacher, and parent.

[Wabash Center @WabashTeaches]

👀 It's here! The Wabash Center has just released the most recent issue of its Journal on Teaching entitled Changing Scholarship. It's a feast: poetry, scholarship, art, personal narrative--all of it scholarly. Check it out today! https://t.co/xxEprN0LeT
@SBLsite
@AARweb

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Grateful for this thoughtful and thorough review. After writing much of the book during the isolation of the pandemic, I've loved talking with some readers. It is also meaningful to read and engage reviews, especially when the writing is this good.

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Ready for the homestretch at my seminary and The Sound of Music at Decatur High School. I am a proud theater parent! My ninth grader is working hard on the lighting team of the stage crew. My job has been waiting in the parking lot and listening to funny stories on the way home.

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Giving thanks for a good and busy month. Shouts to Kristen from the Presbyterian Historical Society for an excellent recap of my book talk! Much love to everyone who showed up and check out Kristen's story: https://t.co/rOjm6OD5AZ

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

I also went to the Montreat Conference Center (@Montreat) for my first meeting as a member of its board of directors. It was invigorating to be with a group of people who care deeply about hospitality and grapple honestly about racism, inclusion, justice, and the Reformed faith.

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Let's go! Humbled and honored to talk about my book. I am also eager to share some powerful images from the Presbyterian Historical Society (@PresbyHistory) and Columbia Seminary (@CTSarchives) digital collections at the event.

[Presby Historic Soc. @PresbyHistory]

A book that quotes Katie Geneva Cannon in its intro paragraph? Automatic. Must. Read.

Join PHS & @CTSeminary on 11/10 for a book talk with @williamyoo about his new book "What Kind of Christianity..." Visit the event page for info on the livestream >> https://t.co/HDqYqFGszR

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

When I began this book project, I did not know how it would unfold. All I knew was that I yearned to illumine the past with honesty, depth, and clarity. My thanks to Bob, David, Julie, Natalie, José, Michele, and so many others from @wjkbooks for their support along the way.

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Grateful to @dlewicki for the nod. And yes, I would love to hang out with @ndpchurch and talk about the book!

[David Lewicki @dlewicki]

.@williamyoo getting right to the point in his new book:
Q: “What kind of Christianity allowed white Christians to deny basic human rights to Blacks?”
A: “The @Presbyterian kind.”

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

So, I thought long and hard about why I don't like (and sometimes even loathe) faculty meetings, and here is what I came up with for @WabashTeaches

[Wabash Center @WabashTeaches]

😫😖🤯🤐 Faculty meetings!!! William Yoo, @CTSeminary, feels there might be hope. Read his blog here...
https://t.co/UUzPk1nTSF
@SBLsite
@AARweb
@CTStheology
@theCTSA
@ASChurchHistory
@reaapprre
@etsjets

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Cool story about my colleague @MarkatCTS and some Columbia students about their travels to the Presbyterian Ministry at the UN in NYC and the Office of Public Witness in DC to engage issues of faith, activism, and environmental justice. Excited to learn more from them on campus!

[PC(USA) News @PresbyNews]

After a two-year hiatus, a collaboration between the PC(USA) and @CTSeminary recently resumed with students traveling to the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations and the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness. Learn more here: https://t.co/tjSClHMru3 #PCUSA

[Wabash Center @WabashTeaches]

Today's blog post in our Teaching For Social Justice and Civic Engagement series is by William Yoo (@CTSeminary), titled "Lies My Seminary Professor Told Me: What Happens When We Miss the Point on Slavery."

https://t.co/inXnfUwvIg

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Took a fun selfie break @CTSeminary with some cool students and librarians this afternoon!

[William Yoo @williamyoo]

Seeking justice for DREAMers with friends from @CTSeminary

[Presbyterian Outlook @presoutlook]

Outlook feature – Pastoral pipeline: Is the #PCUSA facing a pastor shortage as more ministers retire? by @LScanlon https://t.co/awg5Ze4EWd