emerging mosaic

In one Thursday afternoon in August after a drive from Grand Rapids to Chicago I boarded a bus with about 40 other people and started out on my first Sankofa journey. Sankofa (looking back to move forward) is a bus tour of several civil rights sites and a process of conversation and reflection about racial reconciliation. It is conducted by the compassion, mercy and justice ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

We visited sites in Birmingham and Selma Alabama, Jackson Mississippi, and Memphis Tennessee. On the way we watched videos dealing with racial tension and reconciliation. Movies like Crash and Remember the Titans, Race the Power of Illusion and the Color of Fear. After each viewing or site visit we were asked to reflection on what we saw or experienced with a partner who was from another racial ethnic group.

I have to say I was skeptical and ambivalent at first. I have done Cross roads anti-racism training and Cognitive Toolbox diversity training so I wasn’t sure what would learn. However these were sites in the south that I had never been to and would probably not go to alone since my first and only visit to the deep south was kinds of scary. So I decided to make the trip after being asked. I’m glad I did.

Our host/facilitators Chrissy, Debbie and Mona put together a powerful experience. The 72 bus ride made me feel as if I was one of freedom riders as we went from site to site seeing the critical places and experiences that shaped the civil rights movement. They asked the right questions and created the right moments to get the participants really thinking.

So some observations from my experience.

• Some white Christians still don’t grasp the impact of racism and white privilege in American society and the church
• Some people including me aren’t fully aware of this nations civil rights history. This is important for me to understand as I’m not African American having been born in Jamaica if I expect to work with African Americans in ministry.
• Some white Christians don’t appreciate the the ongoing complicity of the church in perpetuating intolerance and racism.
• There is still a fair amount of paternalism among white Christians in response to race and racial reconciliation.
• If someone is open and willing to suspend their preconceptions and entertain the ideas of others much progress in the dialog can be made.

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Technorati Tags: bus tour, civil rights, diversity, race, racial_reconciliation, racial_separation, sankofa, south

Today I got the chance to here Alan Hirsch talk at Grand Rapid Theological Seminary. These folks are constantly bringing some good people into town to stimulate conversation all across the theological spectrum of thought. This is a good thing. No they aren’t paying me to say that.

Now on to Hirsch. I read the shaping of things to come a couple years ago and used it when I taught a class on the missional church at GRTS a year ago. I own but have not finished reading Hirsch book the Forgotten Ways. It was helpful to hear him share his thoughts first hand. Hirsch talked about four critical shifts for the church to stay relevant and not die in the current context for ministry

• recovery of the centrality of Jesus
• recovery of discipleship
• recovery of  incarnational missional impulse
• recovery of apostolic ethos and movement

I think I have heard or read most of this stuff before. Some of it I have been saying myself for years. (Not that that means anything.) But what was interesting to me is how different his perspective on these issues were as opposed to whatI have heard coming from those who love his writing. The people who have talked to me about Hirsch’s SOTOK approached it in such an either or manner that I got the feeling that if I didn’t buy into every he said and follow is right now I was part and parcel of the death of the church.

Don’t get me wrong there is a prophetic urgency to Hirsch voice but he presents it with a much broader fuller, perspective and graciousness than many of his adherents (at least the ones I know) have. Maybe this is the way that books on this subject have to be written so that people will buy them. But after listening to Hirsch I didn’t get the same eiither or feeling about what he is proposing that I got reading the book. Instead I find myself in agreement with Hirsch that we need to learn how to rediscover what it means to be fully Christian fully human, and fully the church.

I beilieve he is correct when he challenges us to appreciate the fullness of the gospel and Jesus message and not simply attach to the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus like  some kind of a “cosmic fire insurance”. Or place so much emphasis on the ethos of Jesus that we make him into a nice example for good living. As Hirsch said many times in his talk that is not the whole picture of Jesus. Jesus is lord. he is lord of the church, Lord of our lives, and the author and finisher of our faith.

In this regard I find Hirsch to be completely orthodox in his thinking, His methodology my be radically different but we are in radically different times. It was refreshing to hear him talk about the way the evangelical church has subverged the message and minstry of Jesus with our subjective interpretation of Pauline theology. This amounts to what he calls Paulism not Christianity. If we are to be Christians then Christ/Jesus  must be at the center of everything we do. As Hirsch said Paul would be disturbed by what we have done since he specifically taught that this faith we live was not about him but about Jesus. I think our emphasis on Pauline theology and only the death and resurrection of Jesus rather than his whole life and mission provided a convenient means to fit the Christian faith in a western North American US box. Buy my ticket follow the rules and I will be home free. The reign and kingdom of God is much more than that.

Now in case you think that I have become a Hirsch groupie let me say that I was a little disappointed in his response to my question which followed some others about how all this translates into a multi-racial pluralistic culture. He basically said the US was another animal all together because of the long history of segregation and slavery. Yep knew that. He also said the kingdom of God is multi-racial/multi-cultural. Then he asked I thought. So here goes.

Writes like Hirsch must challenge their readers to a broader cultural and contextual understanding of their thoughts. The readers especially anglo readers to must learn to see the implementation of these thoughts those lens other than their own discomfort and disconnect the the modern western church. We all must learn to ask what if their are perspectives other that those I am familiar that shape the way that I think about how church looks feels, tastes and smells. Finally we must avoid at all costs taking our interpretation of any writer and elevating it to an absolute (by doing this we avoid the cult of personality that seems to be developing in much of the emerging/missional church conversation) . More on this to come in another post.

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Technorati Tags: alan hirsch, church, church planting, diversity, hirsch, incarnational, kingdom of God, mission, missional, missional church, Paul, reign of God, shaping of things to come

Recently i discovered a voice in the emergent conversation that I was not aware of, melvin bray.

His bio reads

I  am a professional speaker and aspiring author. I am contributing the chapter “Reading the Prophets for Justice: How can we read the prophets to learn justice?” to An Emergent Manifesto of Justice [Baker Publishing: Emersion Books, February 2009]. I am seeking to broaden my audience with my regular contributions to God’s Politics blog (beyond those blogs I manage myself).

He has commented several times on the EV blog post on race. I am really interested to hear more of his perspective.

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Technorati Tags: diversity, emergent, emergent_village

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.

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

Several years ago I sat in a worship gathering with Sally Morganthaler as someone from the Ionia Community lead the gathered body in some “worship songs of diversity” from Africa. At one point Morganthaler asked me where is the hip hop music? The Anglo church including some of my friends in the emerging church and emergent conversation have been slow to embrace hip hop’s place in the church.

Baker Bookhouse is sponsoring a Hip Hop Culture Forum on April 24th and bringing some important people to the table talk about this very issue.

The next night will feature a great line up of Christian hip hip artists including

Local George Moss ( who  will moderate the forum
T-Bone
Grits ( a favorite of my son and I)

and many more. This is something worth checking out

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Technorati Tags: baker-books, diversity, hip hop, hip hop church, hip hop culture

For a new voice in the conversation check out the Inclusion Café a friend of mine, fellow Jesus follower and diversity trainer Steve Robbins has launched this site social/professional networking web site for those pursuing diversity and an end to racism and unintentional intolerance in a sector of society. 

I want to encourage those of us in the religion sector to check it out, sign up cross post your blog and get in the conversation with a wide range of people for other social sectors

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Technorati Tags: conversations, diversity, inclusion

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.

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

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

I came across this interesting story about the ongoing legacy of the church colonial paradigm.

It is just amazing that because of the western missionary values an African women sees a white dress and veil as the ideal for her marriage.

Although priestesses still control the island’s relationship with the spirit world, their clout is waning, as churches sown by missionaries have taken root.

“When I get married it will be in a church, wearing a white dress and a veil,” says 19-year-old Marisa de Pina, who strikes a modern pose under the blond grass of her family’s hut, wearing tight Capri pants and sequined sandals.

She says the Protestant church she attends has taught her that it is men, not women, that should make the first move, and so she plans to wait for a man to approach her. To make her point, the teenager pops into her hut and returns holding a worn copy of the New Testament, its pages stuffed with post-it notes, letters and business cards.

Read the full story Top News- Women Choose Spouses on African Island - AOL News

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Technorati Tags: african_island, conversations, diversity, in the news, missionaries, protestant_church

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.

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