Let's Talk: Church, Race, and a Great Commission
Session I - This is Holy Ground
“When the LORD saw that he was coming to look, God called
Then the LORD said, "Don't come any closer! Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground."”
Exodus 3:5 (CEB)
Session Goals
Establish a sense of collective covenant, flowing with grace and accountability
Develop group rapport
Demonstrate the holy nature of this work through collective worship
Homework
Session II - How Were We Formed?
“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me…
Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.”
Psalm 51:3-5 (NRSV)
Session Goals
Establish key vocabulary and definitions surrounding race and racism
Provide framework for group covenant
Examine how individual identity is formed
Homework
READ - Racism and the Christian Church in America: Caught between the Knowledge of Good and Evil
READ - Churches played an active role in slavery and segregation. Some Want to Make Amends
Session III - Say it ain't so.
[Pilate asked] “Are you the King of the Jews?”…Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”
John 18:33-36 (NRSV)
Session Goals
Establish that the Kingdom of God is not like the kingdom of this world
Discuss the role of Christian Institutions in perpetuating racism
Homework
READ - Jesus - An Interpretation (Chapter 1 of Jesus and the Disinherited)
READ/Listen - Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence, (Resma Menakem with Krista Tippett)