by Lynne Faris Blessing

While at a family reunion this summer, my cousin asked me what I’ve been working on lately. I started telling him about our church’s efforts to try to figure out what it looks like to pursue racial reconciliation and about how a group of us have been meeting with people from churches in the region who want to see what God might have us do together. Some of the churches, such as ours, have a Race and Justice Team. Others are very interested but just getting going… Slowly an alliance of churches is emerging.

The hope of the alliance is to be a resource to churches/
communities who want to take next steps in working through the tough issues of race relations. I told my cousin that we’re starting with the theme: “Learning to talk honestly and constructively.” At that point he jumped in and said, “You know, sometimes I don’t talk to [people of color] because I’m not sure if I should say ‘African-American’ or ‘black.’ I feel so awkward that I just avoid starting a conversation.”

As a white person , I know the feeling of not wanting to step on others’ toes – and really not wanting to sound ignorant. I struggle with wondering if what I have to say has much value since I’ve experienced privilege all my life and haven’t known the sting of oppression based on the color of my skin. At the same time I long to connect deeply with people of all other races – and I long for this to happen across the world. Can you imagine what this world would be like if people came together in Christ, in unity? I love to think of heaven as a place for a huge family reunion – people from every background living as brothers and sisters.

So in an effort to learn how to be God’s family, the alliance is hosting an evening with Dolphus Weary on Wednesday, September 17, 7:00 pm at Emerald City Bible Fellowship. You might remember Dr. Weary from when he preached at Bethany last September. He speaks with great wisdom which comes from a tough, life-long ministry of empowering the poor and pursuing the ministry of reconciliation.

The main focus will be…you guessed it…“Honest Conversations.” The subtheme comes from a hot topic these days – the presidential race and race relations. It’s on many people’s minds. What are some helpful ways to address delicate issues? How does our faith in Christ bridge the gaps? This will not be an attempt to promote one candidate over the other. Rather the hope is that people will come away feeling more confident to engage in constructive conversations that move us toward a better understanding of each other.

We hope you can join us on the 17 th. And then hopefully the next time an uncomfortable situation arises we will ignore the urge to avoid the hard conversations. May God help us all to move beyond the awkwardness towards the unity God so wants for his family. I long for a taste of heaven like this here on earth…