Making Peace in a Racist Society
Get together with two or three other pastors and let forced writing in a short time release some significant thoughts for your conversation. Agree that you will engage in thirty minutes of forced writing and then you will share the results and explore your thinking.
SETTING: A mid-sized city that has experienced several racial confrontations including one major incident that cost 5 lives and 15 wounded. SNCC has been threatening to protest
PRECIPITATING EVENT:
Three pastors of different size churches happen to leave a funeral service from the multi-violent incident and fall into conversation about the state of their society and the feelings of anxiety among their respective congregations. They agree to have a conversation at a local coffee shop about what the church can do.
DIALOGUE CHARACTERS:
Everett Reid: For seven years, he has been the pastor of Calvin Presbyterian, a moderately progressive church. He is five-foot-eight, one hundred and seventy pounds, brown eyes. He is passionate about the church’s mission in society.
Joseph Allen: He is beginning his second month at Blessed Assurance. He is six-foot two inches and rather thin. His father was a pastor. He is uneasy about causing controversy as he begins his new pastorate but frightened about the state of our society.
Karen Fricter: She is five-foot five inches and one hundred forty pounds. She is a Black pastor of a small community church. She is well versed in feminist theology and rather concerned about the violence against women in our society.
YOUR TASK
The three pastors have arrived, ordered their food and settled in. They have exchanged basic information about their ministries, family, etc. Begin to write a dialogue among the three pastors as it might develop. Allow each of your characters to display positive and negative qualities and to show both understanding and prejudice in their conversation.
The central issue is how the church responds to the increasing racial tension in our society, both nationally and within their city.
Don’t overthink what you have them say or make either of them too perfect. Just begin and let the conversation flow.
The dialogue begins:
Joseph: So Everett, your church has been involved in many community efforts. What is your take on what is happening?
After thirty minutes, stop and each of you share what you have written. Then talk about both what you have written and what thoughts it has stirred within you.
