Join us for the launch and chat with Central member Oscar McCloud on the launch of his new book
- Date & Time
- June 14, 2026 from 12PM to 3PM EDT
- Location
-
Central Presbyterian Church
201 Washington St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
You are invited to join us as we celebrate the launch of Oscar McCloud’s memoir, I Dared to Hope.
Published in conjunction of McCloud’s ninetieth birthday in April, the book explores McCloud’s early childhood in eastern Georgia as the son of a sharecropper, to his involvement in the Civil Rights movement, and leadership within the Presbyterian Church.
Attendees are invited for a BBQ lunch in Tull Hall, followed by a conversation in the sanctuary with Oscar and his co-writer, Martin Lehfeldt. Central members Jeff Hilimire and Andrew Vogel will be in attendance as part of Ripples Media publishing.
A ticket to the event includes lunch and a signed paperback copy of the book.
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About the Book
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.