PREPARATION FOR LEADERSHIP MEETING
Each pastor briefly explains to their leadership council about the clergy meeting. In response to that meeting, each pastor is asked to gather their respective leadership to a special meeting.
In preparation, each of the leaders is asked to briefly identify a list of 4 or 5 beliefs that they consider foundational for a Christian church.
CHURCH LEADERSHIP MEETING
When they convene, have them share their respective list of Christian ideas without discussion.
As background, share the Barna poll that reports that two-thirds of active Christians and forty-three percent of all society think the Church should help address the divisions of racism in our churches and society.
Ask each leader to take a paper and write a couple of words or phrases about what they think Jesus might say about racial division and racism in our contemporary society.
Allow each member to share what they have written without comments or questions.
The pastor can also share the consensus of your previous clergy gathering.
IDENTIFY PEOPLE’S CONCERNS
Next ask members of their leadership to write three sentences, each of which identifies 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 form a cumulative list of the whole.
USE OF SURVEYS AND QUESTIONAIRES
Then share a brief outline of how the clergy propose to involve the membership through a process of email/surveys/ questionnaires that will be summarized and sent back to the congregation.
Explain that summaries will be sent to all participating churches (with the possibility of also involving some churches in other parts of the country and even possibly in other countries.)
Share the clergy list that was put together.
Then show them this brief video that explains the process further.
You don’t have to be a Bystander: https://smccutchan.kartra.com/videopage/35zqpYPTJflF
Finally, ask the leadership to support the pastor in engaging the membership in developing this ministry.
RECONVENE CLERGY
Once all the participating churches have completed this process, the clergy will convene and identify the churches who have agreed to participate.
·Determine the number of workbooks and video sets that will be needed.
·Identify the time needed to order and receive, receive them.
Reconfirm the next series of dates for clergy meetings and congregational actions
