emerging mosaic

I have watched, read and listened to all the talk about Michael Richards racial meltdown last week. Now I’m ready to wade into the hype. I have to say of the bat, I was never a fan of Seinfield; (it always amazed me that as with Friends all these people could be so active in NYC and not come into contact any black folks.) So I don’t have any love lost for Kramer.

So even as my state of MI passed a proposition to end affirmative action, this kind of stuff illustrates why we need to talk about race. There is so much latent racism in our culture and people think that if it doesn’t come in the form of a man in a pointed hood and robe or a cross on a lawn it is not racism.

It is absolutely amazing to me that Richards could go on Letterman and say “I’m busted up about this.. because I am not a racist” after what came out of his mouth. I can’t even say that. This betrays the hidden racism and ignorance that continues to permeate our dealings with each other. Like the folks in MI that voted to end affirmative action saying things have changed so we don’t need it any more or an emerging church leader thinking that because a couple of black folks have bee given positions in government that means that they have more privilege than he. Then there are all the folks who expect Richards to be able to call Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton and have every be alright because he apologized to them. Props to Al Sharpton for not going there.

Let me say this as clearly as I can. We cannot be the church of Jesus Christ until or unless we confront the sin of racism that exists in our churches and our culture. All the good theology in the world won’t mean anything if we don’t wade into this issue.

in a side note Bob Hyatt says that Brian Mclaren will stop doing outside speaking engagements 

but will begin to put on his own events with speakers drawn from a more racially, geographically and…uh.. genderally diverse group

I am anxious to see how this goes.

Popularity: 38% [?]

Technorati Tags: affirmative_action, diversity, faith & culture, letterman, michael-richards, race, racism, seinfield

Warning this may sound like a rant to some, read on if you care.

I am beginning to sound like a broken record but I am amazed at how many Christians in the blogosphere are playing down the Michael Richards tirade. Here is just a sampling

he apologized get over it, and I’m tired of being outraged besides he’s not a Christian it is no wonder the church has no credibility and is still so segregated.

I’m not trying to single out these bloggers as bad guys I don’t know them and don’t believe either of them condone Richards behavior.  They among many others are symbolic of the incredible insensitivity of the church to the damage done by racism and ignorance in the church of the depth of racial separation in this country.

Why do people who follow Christ try to explain away this sinful behavior that is so prevalent in America? Are we afraid to admit our own prejudices and confront our own complicity with racism? Why do we not see that there is no room in the kingdom of God for this kind of quiet acquiescence? Can we not find a prophetic voice to speak into our faith communities and the world that this is not God’s way? Where is the mutuality of the body (If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing 1 Corinthians 12:261 Corinthians 12:26
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
26 If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.

As person of African descent I was hurt deeply hurt by what came out Richards mouth. It was a cultural and emotional h-bomb. What deepens the hurt is the response of some of my brothers (I haven’t noticed this from sisters) in Christ who I can only assume just don’t get it. I don’t why I am surprised because it is not the first time I’ve seen this from Anglo-Christians. It is no wonder we have such declining credibility. We talk a good game. But when it comes to time to put our money where our mouth is, walk the talk and be the people of God & call for repentance where it is needed, we wilt away.

We say “Its no big deal”, “he is just a comedian”, “he just lost it that’s all”, “they called him cracker”, “there were people laughing”

I was outraged and disturbed when I heard Michael Richards I am deeply saddened by what i haven’t heard from so many of my brothers.

Popularity: 37% [?]

Technorati Tags: conversations, diversity, kingdom_of_god, michael_richards, racial_separation, racism

If you haven’t heard about the Jena six don’t be surprised. Until today when thousands marched to protest the treatment of six back youth by the justice system in the south there was scant  coverage of the six black students plight and not much talk if any of it in the Christian community.

There are many emergent conversations going on, was shared in the latest Emergent newsletter.

The first is on September 20: “Emerging Critiques of Evangelicalism.” ; and the second is on September 27: “Missional: Has It been Shrinkwrapped, Too?” Read about them both here. The other event is hosted by Zondervan, around the book Listening to the Beliefs of the Emerging Church. It’s called Emergence 2007, and it’s taking place in Austin, TX on October 19-20. Check it out.

And now to the business at hand: Recently, we’ve released the second book in the emersion books line that we produce with Baker Books. It’s called Justice in the Burbs, and it’s written by the husband-and-wife team of Will and Lisa Sampson. 

Many in the emerging, traditional and missional churches debate theology, but missing from the conversation is a key component of God’s reign and Jesus mission, justice. The injustice of racism in this country is readily and easily ignored by most of those who seek to initiate new ways of practicing the Christian faith. Some like me who saw great potential this effort to re-imagine faith run the risk of being co-opted into silence on the issue so that we can be apart of the “bigger” conversation. I say no more. We cannot talk about re-imagining faith without talking about justice for the oppressed, this is part of what Jesus stated as his mission in Luke 4. We cannot talk about justice for all (in the south, north, city and burbs) without dealing with the injustice racism as it is expressed in this country. We cannot talk about a generous orthodoxy that is not partnered with a just and generous orthopraxis.

Dr. King (quoting the prophet Amos) called for Justice to roll down like a river (²⁴ But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5:24Amos 5:24
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
24 But let justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry.

The NLT reading of this passage suggests that this justice is what leads to right living.

I colleague sent me this prayer request from his son.

My son Caleb, age 14, has asked that we  pray for this protest tomorrow that it be peaceful and that we pray that our  churches and schools, will continue to do their part to end racism in America.  Tomorrow his entire school in SF will join in the protest by having  conversations and wearing black. You might have heard conflicting reports of  what actually happened in Jena, here’s what I have been able to piece together  from several sources:

Here is what I think is at stake for the church in all its expressions

Again the thing that captured my attention is  that our youth, young men and women of all ethnicities are upset from High  School to Colleges all over the country, yet this news didn’t even make the TV  tonight! Also, upon reading the blogs I am impressed with the conviction and  perspective of today’s youth, they don’t want to accept this disease in  America anymore and many, many are very articulate about their angst. It was  the youth all over the nation through blogs and text messaging and other uses  of technology where the initial concept of a protest began and organization  started to take shape, albeit others are now stepping in to do the ‘real’  organizing.

If the church remains silent in the face of the continued evidence of the destructive results of racism for all people in and out of the church we are irrelevant to these young people and others who will look elsewhere for the justice that NT Wright say we innately know should be a part of how we live and love.

There is more to say on this but I will save that for later. SO the question I have on my poll for the last year remains. CAN the church emerge into a re-imagined faith without dealing with racism

Popularity: 32% [?]

Technorati Tags: conversations, emerging church, jena-six, missional church, racism

OK everywhere you look it seems there are nooses being hung. First Jena then a long Island police station, then the door of a Columbia university professor. Note that two of these are in the north where it is suggested racism is long gone.  SO why aren’t more Christians talking it about. I don’t know but I know the church can’t be the church until we deal with this uniquely American sin.

Popularity: 29% [?]

Technorati Tags: church, conversations, diversity, inclusion, race, racial_reconciliation, racism

Recently person whose  church hired an African American pastor to ”help” them reach out to diverse community was distressed to learn that the pastor was frustrated by the lack of awareness in the mostly white church about what was happening in Jena. There was a a real question as to how to get the members of this church to become more racially sensitive. It was as if the church had done it duty by hiring a black pastor now it was the pastor job to get those folks to church.

This situation is another example of why I think that racism and racial reconciliation needs to be a front burner conversation for every church and every Christian, Though few churches are talking about the problem of race in America there are a few Christians who are beginning to take the risk.

9 marks ejournal the starts by asking some BIG questions

Let me ask my fellow white readers a question: do you think of yourself as “white”? If not, may I suggest that you are racially insensitive?

Now a question for any African American readers: to what extent does “blackness” define the way you think of yourself? To whatever extent it does, may I suggest that your thinking is impeding reconciliation?

And a question for any Asian or Hispanic readers: to what extent does race shape your identity? If it doesn’t, is that because of acculturation, assimilation, or alienation?

To some degree the questions miss the point that racism is about power and privilege and race is just a construct for pursuing those things. But at least the are asking the questions.

 Here are responses form some  pastors and theologians

Ed Stetzer author of Planting New Churches in a Post modern age chimes in his blog.

We found that race matters in scripture. Even though few Anglo churches seem to notice, Scripture frequently demonstrates God’s concern for race and ethnicity.

Luke illustrates the coming of the Spirit with diverse expressions of tongues (Acts 2), even identifying the languages being spoken. And a glimpse of eternity in Revelation shows that men and women from every tongue, tribe, and nation make up the choir of eternal praise (Rev. 7:9). If the writers of Scripture take notice of ethnicity, so should we.

Here are some responses to  his  post from people who I assume are Christ followers

Could someone please define “racism” and “diversity” for me?

Maybe I live in a bubble, but I do not see the race problem. I am 27, and attend a predominantly white church

Maybe we do decide to change our worship style, dress, etc. Maybe we allow our minority church members to help plan so we have a style that reflects the diversity in our community. Maybe we intentionally plant gospel preaching churches in unreached areas in our community with ethnic and racial segments that are not being reached.

I have formed a long range partnership with a small African American church in a community that needs help. We are constantly partnering with that church and a nearby community center to minister to the people in that community.

It ranges from the ridiculous to the same ole same ole white hero on riding in to save those “black” folks. This is why race matters in this conversation about what the church is to be do and become.

Popularity: 29% [?]

Technorati Tags: african_american, african_american_church, diversity, racial_reconciliation, racism

In many ways I have resisted commenting on the current presidential campaign. I’m not a US citizen so I don’t get a vote. I don’t want to be misinterpreted as often happens when people blog on politics. But in the light of all the recent hoopla about an African american pastor and presidential candidate Barack Obama, I feel compelled to comment. I never thought that in my lifetime a person much less a man of African descent would be able to viably run for the presidency. Black men or those who are classified as such are at the lowest end of the social totem when it comes to power in the US. This is the American post colonial story. So I did not dare think that a “black” man with a non anglo ( read non slave) name would be in a position to compete much lesss win the presedency of the United States of America. But for some reason I’m unable to quite fathom my hope has been restored.

Maybe I’m inspired by this words of this video that countless people have seen by now.

Maybe I’m convicted by the comments of one of the people interviewd in the movie SIcko that the way to “control the masses” is through fear and hopelessness, and if poeple have hope that they will move for change.

Maybe I’m just struck by the incredible double standard which discounts the way that legacy of slavery shaes the life of very person of African descent  in America. thus causing the demonization of Rev. Jeremiah Wright while giving Pat Robertson and others who have made similar comments form seats of power a pass.

Myabe I’m convinced that the Jesus stated mission to hope to the hopeless is joined when we dare to hope for things not yet seen.

So I say yes I can hope again and hope that the church will too

Popularity: 4% [?]

Technorati Tags: african american, hope, Jeremiah Wright, obama

So here’s another set of reasons why we can’t ignore the issue of race if the church is to emerge into something other than refuge a disgruntled white intellectuals. There is a credibility gap in our society and it strains belief. Were it not for the history of race and class in this country it would be unbelievable.

• Last week a judge acquitted NYC police officers black and white people of power in the case of the shooting of a young man fifty times because they thought they were in danger. The witnesses (all black and some of whom were also shot) the judge said were not credible.
• Jeremiah Wright former pastor of Barack Obama’s church has been reviled and called everything from unpatriotic to a loon and even worse. This because he expressed a perspective of the black community on a national tragedy. Remember black folks died that day along with people of other races. While white pastors who support current presidential candidates express their extreme opinions without impunity.
• Hillary Clinton wins a primary based on the notion that she (who was raised with privilege and has been in the highest seat of power in this country) has more credibility with working class folks than a black man raised by a single parent who worked his way through college and passed up a big time law office for working with the very class of people he now has no credibility with.

The thing is that Jesus brought credibility to the incredible. He brought God’s credibility to a poor and oppressed. He brought God’s credibility to disenfranchised. He brought God’s credibility to those who were outside of the status quo. He brought God’s credibility to people on the margins. He brought God’s credibility to an pregnant young girl, a motley crew of twelve followers, an adulterous woman asking spiritual questions. He brought God’s credibility to all human beings by breaking down the barrier between us and calling us to reconcile to God and each other. His first followers though they stumbled initially followed his pattern (after being prompted more than once by the Holy Spirit.)

So how will the church today, the church emerging deal with the credibility gap? I am fast losing hope that the church emerging or has the guts to take on this critical issue. We will tackle gays rights, worship wars, poverty in other countries and gender equality but race and by virtue of our cultural reality class right here in the USA, not so much.

Check out this post on the EV blog

The church not speaking out strains its credibility but then this is the church which increasing has less and less credibility anyway.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, church, class, Clinton, credibility, diversity, Jeremiah Wright, race, Sean Bell, why race matters

While browsing I came across an interesting story it reflects an ongoing lack of understanding among about race and racism that I have most recently experienced with some Christian folks I’ve been meeting with. Here’s a quote

Hey, black guy at Home Depot wearing a do-rag and cornrows, I am not racist, I am just easily distracted and not good with faces.”

read the whole story here: the adventures of a boy and his computer - Guilt

There is such hesitation to deal with the fact that people are racist. I don’t have to be burning crosses to express racist tendencies. It flows out of deep seated perspective on the world and people of color that surface when we are in our comfort zones. Maybe that is why we tend toward dog and pony shows of like diverse worship gatherings to show that we aren’t racist. This despite the work of Emerson & Smith (Divided by Faith ) saying that just doesn’t work.

This is why race and racial reconciliation matters! you think?

Popularity: 17% [?]

Technorati Tags: cornrows, diversity, people_of_color, racial_reconciliation, racism