1. A CONVERSATION ON RACE AND THE CHRISTIAN ETHIC
RACE MATTERS
A CONVERSATION ON RACE AND THE CHRISTIAN ETHIC

2. GROUND RULES
I’M ANIMATED AND PASSIONATE… DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF I RUN OR YELL OR ACT SOMETHING OUT
PLEASE DON’T FALL ASLEEP … IF YOU DO… NO SNORING
ALLOW THIS TO BE A SAFE SPACE. IF YOU HEAR THINGS YOU DON’T AGREE PLEASE REFRAIN FROM DISCOURAGING OTHERS WITH NEGATIVE COMMENTS. THE GOAL IS TO STRIVE TO MOVE US CLOSER TO CENTER WITH THE THINGS WE FACE AROUND US

3. INTRODUCTION Disciple (2011) Husband (2013) Father (2006)
Outreach Pastor – The Path (ATL)
Educator
Coach
Sociologist
Studied Sociology at Ga State University

4. GOALS AND AIMS DEEPER DESIRE TO INVESTIGATE WHAT YOU HOLD AS TRUE
PROMPT PERSPECTIVE ADJUSTMENT
PROVIDE FRAMEWORK FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION
PROVIDE RESOURCES AND PRACTICALS TO NAVIGATE DISCUSSION

5. DEFINITIONS
RACE – SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED, TRADITIONAL DIVISION OF HUMANITY; people usually share common descent
CULTURE – BELIEFS, BEHAVIORS, OBJECTS AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS COMMON to members of a particular group or society
RACISM - [SYSTEMIC POWER + PREJUDICE] variety of practices, beliefs, social relation and phenomena that work to reproduce racial hierarchy and social structure that yield superiority, power and privilege for some and discrimination/oppression for others

6. PREJUDICE - [PRECONCEIVED PERCEPTION] NEGATIVE OUTLOOK toward a person or group based on perceived status or characteristics – often held independently of facts about person or group
BIGOTRY - [OBSTINATE PREJUDICE] the action of a person who is devoted to his/her own opinions and prejudices; especially one who regard or treats members of a group (such as racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance
DEFINITIONS

7. TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE WE LIVE IN A POST-RACIAL COLORBLIND SOCIETY
RACISM CAN ONLY BE PERPETRATED BY THE MAJORITY
RACE IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT WITH A DYNAMIC DEFINITION RATHER THAN STATIC

8. THE LIE IS…
WE LIVE IN A POST-RACIAL / COLORBLIND SOCIETY … COLORBLIND IDEOLOGY is a false premise that strips individuals of the characteristics that contribute to their experiences

9. JESUS…IS THAT YOU?

10. LISTENING IS A THING
ONE OF THE GREATEST TOOLS IN BUILDING TOWARD RECONCILIATION IS A SET OF EARS TO HEAR

11. CROSSING THE LINE
“ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW IS THAT OFTEN WHEN PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERED WHITE AND THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERED PEOPLE OF COLOR DO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER, NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE OPPOSITE PERSPECTIVES, THEY ALSO USE DIFFERENT MEANINGS FOR THE SAME LANGUAGE AND THAT LEADS TO TALKING PAST ONE ANOTHER”
MICHAEL BURNS
CROSSING THE LINE

12. CHRISTIAN ETHIC IN COLOSSIANS
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

13. CAN WE TALK? FOR A MINUTE SIT DOWN. BE HUMBLE.
THROW GUILT OUT THE WINDOW
IF YOU ARE HETEROSEXUAL, CHRISTIAN, WHITE MALE AND WEALTHY – you navigate differently
ACCEPT AND VALIDATE THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS
RECOGNIZE RACE CONVERSATION IS ESSENTIAL TO PROLIFERATING THE GOSPEL

14. GOD’S COMPLETE PICTURE
AFTER THIS I LOOKED AND THERE BEFORE ME WAS A GREAT MULTITUDE THAT NO ONE COULD COUNT, FROM EVERY NATION, EVERY TRIBE, PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE AND BEFORE THE LAMB. THEY WERE WEARING WHITE ROBES AND WERE HOLDING PALM BRANCHES IN THEIR HANDS
REVELATION 7:9

15. RESOURCES TO ENGAGE Oneness Embraced by Dr. Tony Evans
Crossing the Line by Michael Burns
RESOURCES TO ENGAGE