WHAT’S A PASTOR TO DO?

Dear pastor: Here is a more complete description of how to develop an antiracism ministry in your church. 

FIRST STEP FOR A PASTOR OF A CHURCH

IDENTIFYING AND INVITING SOME CLERGY COLLEAGUES:

1. Identify five or six other clergy that you think might also be interested in exploring an anti-racism strategy in their churches.  While it is not essential in this first step, it would be preferable if there were both Black and White pastors.
2. A.Preferably arrange for either some members of your church to prepare the meal or find a private dining room in a convenient restaurant accessible by your guests.
   1. Alert them to the fact that you want to find a convenient date when all of you might come together to both discuss and experiment with an anti-racism strategy. Assure them that they aren’t making a commitment beyond having a meal together until the idea is fully explored.
3. Tell them you will send them a small piece of homework that you would like them to complete before they arrive
   1. Make clear that you will meet for a couple of hours to eat and discuss the idea.
   2. The homework is this:
      1. Ask them to come with a list of 5-10 Scriptures or faith ideas that speak to the issues surrounding racism and its effects in both our churches and our society.
      2. Those who bring at least eight will receive a special desert!!!
   3. Preferably these are statements that a majority of their members would recognize as a part of the Christian faith.  (e.g., You shall love your neighbor)
4. During your time together, each will share their list and then as a group you will try to identify a combined list of ten that together you feel are recognizable as central to basic Christian faith.
5. Following this discussion, you will identify those clergy who are willing to continue together in developing an anti-racism ministry for each of their churches. Those who agree will need to speak with the leadership of each of their churches. Following is a suggested process for that meeting.

MEETING WITH YOUR RESPECTIVE LEADERSHIP

                Explain to your leadership how you have arrived at this area of interest.

• Note Barna poll suggesting that two-thirds of churches and 43% of society think the church should help address the divisions of racism in our churches and society.
  • Share the general consensus of your clergy gathering.
  • Ask them to write three sentences, each of which identify a concern that members of the church might have about becoming involved in addressing racism as a church.
  • Share each person’s three statements and forming a cumulative list of the whole. (no discussion at this point, just form the shared list.)

• Then, ask them to each form three faith statements that speak to why faith might urge the church to seek to address racism in church and society.  Again, without discussing, listen and format a cumulative list of the statements.
  • Now share the clergy list that was put together.
  • Next, show them this brief video that explains the process further.