As the United Church of Christ enters, this third year of “Sacred Conversation on Race,” where do we go from here? 

The disciples on the road to Emmaus encountered Jesus as they walked (Luke 23:13-35).  Jesus joined them on their journey from Jerusalem following the events of the crucifixion and resurrection.   They were so absorbed in the problems they were facing that they did not recognize Jesus among them.  Our lives are a journey with places along the road where we encounter the risen Jesus in and through the eyes of all those we encounter along the way.  Their eyes were opened as Jesus taught them, and then took bread with them.  Our eyes will also be opened when we are willing to be taught and willing to break bread with the strangers who live among us.

The work on race and racism is not an event; it is a process that brings individuals to reflection and introspection about who they are and how they treat those with whom they are called to live with in communion.  As children of God traveling the same road on this journey that is life, all are different places on the journey.  There is much to be changed in global racial dialogue which begins with the need to engage this issue of race based on where individuals are, realizing there is work for all to do.

There are those who live in homogenous communities where they rarely encounter individuals who do not look like them.  There are those who are in mixed communities, see themselves as finished with the work, and seeing no reason to work anymore at changing the world where the issue of race is concerned.  Yet there is the need to be ever mindful of the need to be engaged regardless of the experience or the time given to learning and being aware of race.

Hate crimes continue to be present among us and abroad.  Young men and women continue to be unfairly and unjustly incarcerated because of the color of their skin.   Mothers and fathers are still denied the right to a proper education for their children because of their race and where they live.  We are a society of inequities, where we claim justice, but no justice abounds for many.  Our conversations must continue based on where we are on this journey.  

In this next stage of Sacred Conversation on Race, there is a call to action beyond the scope of the many discussions we will have.  The intersections of race and many social issues (criminal justice, sentencing, medical care, education, immigration, economics, etc.) beg our attention and action as advocates for those who have less than we do, are under represented and experience marginalization based on the color of their skin.  There is a call for individuals to reflect on where they are and actively engage in the continuum which does not bring us to a place of finality, but places us on a track of life-long learning and discovery of where we are and how we can help make a difference in seeing racial justice for all.  The call to conversation is not passive, but an active call to care and concern for all. 

“No matter who we are or where we are on our journey…” all are welcome to the table to participate in Sacred Conversation on Race and to engage in meaningful, life-changing dialogue on race.  The invitation to engage in this dialogue is an acknowledgement of the legacy and tradition of the United Church of Christ in combating racism and racial injustice, and the desire to live out Jesus’ desire for the world, “That they may all be one.” John 17:21

The differing levels where individuals enter this dialogue and engagement of race can be expressed on a continuum.  The continuum speaks to where we are on the journey, and offers the possibility of more learning on every level to re-encounter the self and others as we seek to change the world around us.

SEEKER –– New to race and racial justice dialogue. Ready to be involved in first, basic level conversation on race. Curious and seeking to know more about the issues. Ready for Sacred Conversation on Race.

LEARNER ––Participated in first Sacred Conversation on Race. Is concerned with learning more and wants to be engaged in deeper, more meaningful conversation to learn how s/he can make a difference in impacting the social construct of race and racism. Ready for Sacred Conversation on Race and how race intersects and permeates all areas of life.

FACILITATOR –– Served as facilitator for Sacred Conversation on Race. Received training as facilitator and is able to engage with others in dialogue, as well as lead dialogue on race. Has heightened sense of self-awareness around issue of race. Ready for “White Privilege,”  “Internalized Oppression” and other focused dialogue.

ENGAGER –– Moved beyond basic dialogue. Desires to be in dialogue around changing systems and structures to have long-range impact on race dialogue and issues. Ready for Anti-Racism Training.

MOTIVATOR –– Received training on different aspects of race and racism. Desires to know more about living out the tools received in training. Ready for Diversity Training.

EDUCATOR –– Received many different levels of training. Realizes that there is the need to learn more from those who are on different levels of the journey. Actively seeks to participate with others on their journey as participant or facilitator. Ready for lifelong learning which re-engages conversation and training.

Creating the Beloved Community: Invocation, Confession and Assurance of Pardon For Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend

January 15-17, 2011

Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives. - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

INVOCATION

O God, all people are your Beloved,
across races, nationalities, religions, sexual orientations
and all the ways we are distinctive from one another.
We are all manifestations of your image.
We are bound together in an inescapable network of mutuality
and tied to a single garment of destiny.
You call us into your unending work
of justice, peace and love.
Let us know your presence among us now:

Let us delight in our diversity
that offers glimpses of the mosaic of your beauty.
Strengthen us with your steadfast love and
transform our despairing fatigue into hope-filled action.

Under the shadow of your wings in this hour
may we find rest and strength, renewal and hope.
We ask this, inspired by the example
of your disciple, Martin Luther King, Jr.,
and in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

O God, we long to co-create with you the Beloved Community
which looks to the common good; privileges all equally,
and creates societal systems
which celebrate the humanity and the gifts of all.
And yet we focus on our differences, envy each other’s gifts,
devalue manifestations of you, O God, that are not like our own.

Perhaps our sin is a slow wait for justice:

We allow the voices of brothers and sisters
who do not look like us, love like us, or worship like us
to be silenced.
We have told them to wait for freedom, justice and equality.
We foster in them a denigrating sense of nobodiness. Lord, have mercy.

Or perhaps we have kept silence ourselves

in the face of their struggle for full human life.
For it is not solely hateful words and actions,
but also appalling silence that follows the path of oppression. Christ, have mercy.

Perhaps our sin is to give in to weariness, discouragement, bitterness:

You have called us to be drum majors for justice, peace and righteousness,
Yet the work of peace and justice overwhelms us at times,
To build with God the Beloved Community seems impossible,
and we grow weary.
We cry, “Peace, peace,”
but there is no peace within us or around us.
We find ourselves on the path
of hatred and oppression, violence and war. Lord, have mercy.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Isaiah 62:1-5)

Sisters and brothers, God is at work in us and with us!
God has promised:

“I will not keep silent and I will not rest
until the vindication of my beloved people
shines out like the dawn and their salvation like a burning torch.
My people shall no more be termed ‘forsaken’
and their land shall no more be termed ‘desolate.’”

We remember that you have given your Beloved people a new name:

“My delight is in them.”

Thank you, God for delighting in us even now,

for forgiving us our slow action, our silence and our weariness,
for empowering our work
and inviting us once again
to create with you the Beloved Community you long for.

Want more material? Check out our MLK inspired Sermon Seeds.

Creating the Beloved Community: Invocation, Confession and Assurance of Pardon was written by the Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson, Senior Pastor of First Congregational Church, Stamford, CT. It was originally published in Worship Ways, volume 9 number 1, © 2010 Local Church Ministries, Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team, United Church of Christ.