Overview

From a sharecropper's shack on a Georgia plantation, through the heart of the civil rights movement, to the halls of the worldwide Protestant church - one man's nine-decade pilgrimage guided by an unshakeable faith in what could be. I Dared to Hope recounts the extraordinary life journey of Oscar McCloud, who rose from the poverty of a sharecropping family in eastern Georgia in the 1930s and 1940s to positions of high-ranking leadership roles in the Presbyterian Church. McCloud outlines his extraordinary life experiences, from attending a one-room schoolhouse for primary school in the rural South, to becoming one of the first Black students to graduate from Warren Wilson College (N.C.), to a renowned pastoral career, culminating in his position as associate pastor at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. Through his memoir, McCloud exhibits the ability to envision a better life and new opportunities for service. McCloud's story is a testament to the transformative power of faith, education, and relentless dedication to justice.

Full Product Details

9781971718194

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Reviews

""Oscar offers a firsthand account of the Civil Rights Movement while navigating the intersection of racial justice and global, ecumenical service."" - Rev. Andrew Young, former U.N. Ambassador and mayor of Atlanta ""Oscar's emphasis on education highlights the role education can play in preparing one for greater societal engagement. Education brings opportunities. Despite the fact that Mr. McCloud held one of the most powerful positions in the Protestant world, one will not find grandiose claims of achievement in this memoir. This is a reflection of the kind of life experiences Mr. McCloud had growing up in a close-knit family, attending schools that required self discipline and hard work, as well as being open to new opportunities as they arose."" - Willis Logan, former Director of the Africa Office of the National Council of Churches U.S.A ""Oscar writes honestly about both the opportunities and burdens that the Church placed in the path of African Americans who struggled with and within the Church to embody the fullness of God's liberating love. When opportunities arose, he did not simply dare to hope; he courageously seized the moment. His improbable journey from sharecropper's son to denominational and ecumenical leader not only inspires admiration. It is also a story that should encourage others to recognize and seize unexpected God-given moments of opportunity."" Dr. Jane Fahey, former interim Executive Presbyter of the Greater Atlanta Presbytery, former Pastor of Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, retired attorney, and former Clerk to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor ""Infused with the power of the Holy Spirit, Oscar radiates unrelenting hope. He views the world through the lens of possibility, focusing on a future unshackled by the prejudices, scores, and mistakes of the past. McCloud's understated manner, dry humor, and willingness to extend mutual friendship opened the doors of many strangers and continues to do so to this day. Oscar McCloud is a remarkably well-rounded, fully measured man. Take the time to get to know him."" -Halsey Knapp, Senior Partner at Krevolin & Horst LLC ""Oscar's story is dramatic evidence that hope and faith can overcome even the most dire and unpromising circumstances. It is also a reminder that providing an opportunity to a young person can flower into an incredible result that benefits all of us. And I must admit I started reading and could not stop."" -Tom Holcomb, retired attorney and partner at McLain & Merritt, Atlanta Legal Aid volunteer

Author Information

The Rev. J. Oscar McCloud is Associate Pastor emeritus at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, where he served as an administrative pastor from 1995 to 2005. Oscar was first ordained into Christian ministry in 1961 and received a call as pastor of Davie Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he served for three years. Later, from 1964 to 1971, he was on staff at the United Presbyterian Church, working with civil rights groups across the Southeast. Over his career, Oscar has traveled extensively on behalf of the Presbyterian Church, including trips to Europe, Africa, Asia, as well as Central and South America. He was active in the anti-apartheid movement in the US and Southern Africa. I Dared to Hope is Oscar's first book, with its launch in April 2026 coinciding with his ninetieth birthday.

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