Beyond Feeling Like a Bystander
Most people reading this blog, probably all of you, consider racism like a horrible virus that continually affects and distorts our society and our churches. When you read about previous times in our churches when pastors tried to defend racism in sermons, you are embarrassed that such an attitude and behavior is part of the history of our churches. You would agree that the racist structures and attitudes that exist in our society are directly contradicted by the Gospel. Some of you have acted aggressively on those thoughts but many are uncomfortable and confused about how to begin. You probably feel guilty that you haven’t done more to challenge the racism that divides our society.
HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
I want to describe the outline of an approach that builds upon our faith and can contribute to the spiritual growth of our church and her membership. It is spelled out in more detail in a book that I will speak about, but it begins with some solid faith principles and interrupts some of the separation that we have been experiencing during this pandemic.
I want to suggest that you form a task force that will help you generate a church wide conversation about your church and our shared faith. Especially as Presbyterians, but probably shared by most Christians, we believe that God is Lord of our lives and it is not just an accident that we were called to be part of a Christian church. We believe that the church is more than just a club of nice people, but that we were called together on purpose and provided the gifts among us to accomplish a Divine purpose. Sure, I know that many churches have resisted that call of God, but it is still true that God wants more from us than just a friendly gathering.
STEPS TO TAKE
So the first step is to take advantage of our internet capability and poll our membership and ask what they believe are some of the behaviors that God wants of us as a church. You might say something like, “if you reflect on the membership of this church and their gifts, what are some of the acts of ministry that you think God may want from us as a church?” Tell them that you want them to identify three to five short sentences and that you will combine them with other peoples’ responses to build a picture of the church’s response and will share the results to the whole church.
You would be wise to set up a separate email dedicated to this conversation and have several volunteers help you in combining their responses in a generalized summary. That summary will be sent to the membership to continue the conversation.
Second, as you send that summary, ask people to review it and to suggest two to four faith principles that support that type of church ministry. You might even direct them to the Beatitudes as one source for their reflection. ( Matthew 5: 1-14) although they can also draw on other parts of Scripture or religious thoughts that they have been taught.
Again, your task force gathers their responses and composes a summary document reflecting some of the key Christian principles that the church membership has identified. When they have the document, it is returned to the congregation for reflection.
Third, with that description of the church and faith principles in mind, ask the congregation to suggest in no more than six to ten sentences how this might shape the church’s response to the racial tension and division in our society. If you feel it is helpful, you might call attention to the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20 as Jesus final command to his disciples.
Fourth, whether it be by Zoom under the present condition, or hopefully when this clears up in a congregational gathering, allow people to gather and discuss their response to what God seems to be calling them to be and do as a church. If it is a physical gathering, you might set up round tables that hold six to eight participants so that you can facilitate small group discussions.
SUPPORT FOR YOUR ACTIONS
The book I’d refer you to with more specific guidelines is Racism and God’s Grace: Truth and Reconciliation for American Churches, which can be found at .
The book also guides you in seeking out how you might form alliances with other White and Black churches to begin to engage in specific acts of anti-racism.
