30 Days of Anti-Racism Today's challenge as we focus on the goal of a world that more fully understands and addresses racism is to "engage in the difficult conversation." Have you had an experience that made you uncomfortable? Maybe someone forcibly or subtly said something that was racist and it made your stomach ache. That's a good clue of what could initiate "the difficult conversation." Like anything, practicing makes it easier to engage in a difficult conversation in a healthy way. You could even do a pretend scenario with a friend and take turns practicing how to open up a dialogue and name the elephant in the room. Morgan Stafford, who put the 30 day of anti-racism calendar together, has this insight and suggestion for today. "Often, when another white person says or does something racists in our presence, we are not sure how to respond. Anti-racists learn to interrupt racism, even though it may be uncomfortable because authentic anti-racism means addressing racism whenever you witness it." He suggests watching this video to help us learn and practice how to engage in difficult conversations. Here are six things to keep in mind when engaging in a difficult conversation:
Keep Psalm 121 in front of you as well. "I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Peace, Dean
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30 Days of Anti-Racism
I hope you had a restful and reflective Labor Day weekend. There is much to hold in our prayers. Today's 30 Days of Anti-Racism challenge invites us to learn more about our local elections. The national elections certainly have a great impact on our lives. But the election of those in our community and state are perhaps more responsive to the needs of our neighborhoods. If racism is to be eradicated local officials who are aware of and sensitive to the struggle in our communities can help. Here is a listing from the Michigan Secretary of State's website of all those who are running for office in Michigan in November. As I scrolled through I was amazed at how many people are listed. It takes a tremendous amount of talented and civic-minded servants to help us live as a society. Let us return to this page and keep all of them in prayer in the weeks ahead. (As an aside and with absolutely no intention to sway your vote, I was amazed to see one person running for the Michigan Supreme Court who played third base for one of my church softball teams!) How do you think elected officials could make a difference and help us address racism in our communities? What kinds of legislation could you imagine passing that would address our inequalities? Peace, Dean 30 Days of Anti-Racism Challenge
The goal for today is to participate in intercultural conversations. One of the biggest challenges to confronting racism is the often limited opportunities we have to have intercultural conversations. We live in a largely segregated society. These 30 days would be a good time to consider why our communities are so divided by race and culture. Even if there is cultural diversity in your neighborhood or circle of friends and family, it can be hard to know how to begin a meaningful conversation about racism. Honesty is the best approach. Beginning with something like, "I am really trying to understand better racism in our community and my own implicit biases. Would you feel comfortable talking with me about your experiences?" The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has an online course called "You Are Here: First Steps for White Christians on Race and Racism." The $39 cost for the course might be money well spent if it helps to find ways to open new conversations and understandings. Tomorrow the challenge is to donate to or volunteer at a Food Bank. Consider supporting the work at UCOM, United Church Outreach Ministry, located on Chicago Drive, just past Burlingame. As you look ahead to Sunday, consider the challenging book "How to Be An Anti-Racist" and find a couple of people to read it with you. The discussions are difficult and important. God bless you as you do this important work. Peace, Dean 30 Days of Anti-Racism Challenge Yesterday we began our 30 Days of Anti-Racism Challenge in prayer. I hope God met us in this time of prayer with these words, "do not fear." Thinking about racism can cause some anxieties. Most of us do not want to treat others unequally. We do not want to judge others by the color of their skin. And, we are afraid of being judged. If our actions are seen by others to be racist we are hurt, embarrassed, and defensive. Prayer can help. God can remind us to trust and do not fear. Today's step is to draft your racial autobiography. This assessment helps us understand where we came from and the context of our experiences with people of differing races. Many of us grew up in communities that lacked diversity. Again, that is not a reason to become defensive. It is helpful to know and name our experiences as we confront racism in our world. Attached is the Family History/Influences Questionnaire from www.gborr.org. Use this as a start, and write down your experiences relating to other races. For instance, some may have grown up with limited racial diversity in their community, then went to the military or college or had some broadening of those experiences. Write down your experiences, and find someone who is willing to listen lovingly and prayerfully to your racial autobiography. Peace, Dean ![]()
During the month of September let us explore what it means to be anti-racist. The United Methodist General Council on Religion and Race is a good place to start. Go to www.gcorr.org to find expanded resources. Attached is a calendar that will help us participate in the 30 Days of Anti-Racism challenge.
From www.gcorr.org, here is the story behind the 30 Days of Anti-Racism challenge. Campus minister Morgan Stafford has committed himself to live an anti-racist faith and life. “As a white man, I have learned that I’ve benefitted from racism, while people of color have been harmed. I believe that white Christians must take the lead to confront and dismantle racism. It’s our job.” To focus and make tangible his beliefs, Morgan spent the month of June doing at least one thing every day to listen to, learn from, do, and become more anti-racist, reporting his progress via social media. We at GCORR liked the idea and reached out to Morgan to share his story, what he accomplished, and how it’s changed and enhanced his spiritual growth and his work with young people. As a result, GCORR invites white allies (and others) to spend the month of September doing #30DaysAntiRacism. Please post photos of your activities using #30DaysAntiRacism and encourage your friends, members of your congregation, Sunday school class, pastors, and community partners to join this 30 day. The Romans 12 covenant has begun to make its way from house to house and person to person. Whenever it might arrive at your house, think about what it says and sign it if you want to enter into that covenant with others. Take a selfie as a reminder and send a copy of the photo to me! I would love to see it!
There is no organized plan for how it gets mailed around. Just look at the signatures and send it to someone who hasn't signed yet. You can add a little note if you would like and maybe call them to check if they received it and if they have sent it along to someone else. I hope it goes and goes and goes to as many people as we can send it to. In the meantime, if you would like to see what the covenant says and sign it online, go here to our website. You can add your name in the comments. Let us outdo one another in showing honor today. Peace, Dean Let Romans 12:9-21 be our guide. Please sign this covenant anywhere along the margins or the back of this page, then send it to someone else to sign and send along. Keep sending it until everyone who wants can add their signature. Take a “selfie” after you sign and keep it as a reminder of how we seek to treat others. Send your selfie to the church at [email protected] to help us know where the covenant has traveled.
Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A
Exodus 2:23-24 I meet with a clergy covenant group every Tuesday via Zoom. Together, we are studying the book How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. It is easy to not think about racism. It feels good to say I treat everybody the same. I feel better about myself when I say at least I am not like those really racist people. But denying there is a problem and excusing my actions and inactions are not helping. Times like these call us to wade into uncomfortable places and have difficult conversations. The Israelites groaned and cried out for help. They were suffering injustice and oppression. They were seeking freedom and change. God heard their groaning and remembered their covenant. In the last few days, many have called out to God for change. The Detroit Lions, the Milwaukee Bucks, Doc Rivers, Robert Horry, the NBA, Jacob Blake's sister, The United Methodist Church... All of us have an opportunity to make the change that is needed. Perhaps it begins by remembering the covenant that God made with God’s people. And by remembering our covenant with Christ and one another in our baptisms. Then we can work to dismantle racism within us, among us, and around us. As we pray for steps we can make to address the pain, violence, and unrest in our country, let us also be in prayer for those who are suffering the effects of the hurricane that made landfall this morning. We have lots to pray for today. May God be our strength and guide. Peace, Dean |
REv. Dean N. PrentissI am blessed to be the Pastor at Wesley Park UMC. Find Daily Lectionary Readings Here. Archives
February 2021
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