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An Invitation Series Orientation From the beginning the Father Son and Holy Spirit have invited us to participate in holy relationship not just with them but with all his children Our mission therefore is to cultivate holy relationship everywhere it has not yet been realized not just in our personal relationship with God This series consists of four videos facilitated by Monterey Church of Christ s Senior Minister Barry Stephens and Missional Life Minister Aaron Dawson These videos are 30 35 minutes each Jesus prayed for these holy relationships in his cornerstone prayer Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven While he recognized how unholy the patterns of this world are his teaching and example taught us to restore holy relationships in ways that reflect heaven True peace is hard Often we settle for lack of conflict instead of God s peace which is holy relationship between all things It s for this purpose we seek to make available ongoing conversations we ve held as a body at Monterey since the summer of 2020 We acknowledge this is an incredibly small contribution but we are committed to listening learning and keeping the embers burning What we share here are not answers but a path which seems consistent with the teachings of Jesus himself You will likely not agree with everything but that is not the point The point is that we be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ Eph 4 12 13 To do this we must allow ourselves to be challenged and shaped by all voices across God s Church In your hand is the accompanying study guide including homework additional videos and reflection necessary for understanding subsequent sessions You will not want to skip this homework which you can access by clicking the YouTube links Feel free to engage with these four sessions on your own with a friend or spouse or with a group Whatever your approach be sure to approach these matters in prayer Ask the Spirit to identify and release any anxieties you may find that hinder you from the good he is doing and to give you the mind of Christ 1 Corinthians 2 16 so that you are able to hear His voice Ultimately our prayer is for the fulfillment of God s mission here on earth as in heaven that is the reconciliation of all things May He continue to accomplish this in you and through you in us and through us _____________________ Each session can be viewed by clicking the titles below 1 2 3 4 Why Study Race Relations Hearing Others Stories Disparities Seeing Our Present A Path Forward
SESSION 1 Why Study Race Relations 0 00 Introduction 5 15 Our Journeys 15 34 A Biblical Rationale 26 11 Video Talking About Race 28 00 Wrap Up Homework Bryan Stevenson We can t recover until we deal with it 6 13 The Missing Chapter Wilmington NC 1898 12 22 The Elaine Massacre 9 35 Internet search self guided SESSION 2 Hearing Others Stories 0 00 Introduction 2 31 Blind Spots 11 06 Narratives Are We Listening 22 18 Historical Snapshot Lubbock 28 34 Wrap Up Homework Race The House We Live In 6 04 A Tale of Two War Veterans 8 40 The Dick Cavett Show James Baldwin 17 08 Emmett Till 1955 Tulsa Race Massacre 1921 The Waco Horror 1916 REFLECTION 1 What parts of Session 1 stood out to you What were you challenged by What did you agree disagree with 2 Do you think we are in a new era in the race relations conversation or not Why do you think this 3 What role do blame shame and guilt play in race conversations Have you noticed any of these affecting you 4 If someone were to ask you for a biblical rationale for studying race relations where would you begin 5 How would you characterize our community s literacy in this conversation and why How do we learn to dialogue about race relations in more productive ways 6 Regarding the homework did you learn any new information What feelings or thoughts did you experience Share these REFLECTION 1 What parts of Session 2 stood out to you What were you challenged by What did you agree disagree with 2 Think of any blind spots you ve overcome Who or what helped you to become aware of them Did you grow 3 What current blind spots are you becoming aware of 4 What does it take to understand someone s narrative Have you ever been changed by this process How so 5 How might generational trauma be relevant to a study on race relations 6 How is the activity of listening to other stories relevant to our Christian faith How important do you think this is to God 7 Regarding the homework did you learn any new information What feelings or thoughts did you experience Share these
SESSION 3 Disparities Seeing Our Present 0 00 Introduction 4 17 What is a Disparity 9 45 Video The 100 Race 16 13 7 Areas of Disparity 33 18 Isaiah 58 6 Homework SESSION 4 A Path Forward 0 00 Introduction 2 35 Systemic or Structural Racism 11 31 Video Lubbock Truth Reconciliation Clip 21 59 ARC Awareness Relationships Commitment 28 35 7 Ways to Practice Reconciliation Homework An Evening with Bryan Stevenson Rev Tim Keller 51 32 REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1 What parts of Session 3 stood out to you What were you challenged by What did you agree disagree with 2 Have you heard the concept of disparities explained before beyond economic disparities Why or why not 3 In The 100 Race some kids were so excited to get ahead that they never noticed their brother or sister at the starting line until it was pointed out to them What insights do you draw from this and other parts of the video 4 Why do you think so many disparities fall along racial lines Is it fair to say because of our past while ignoring some of the modern day disparities that past has created 5 Is Isaiah 58 6 about spiritual or physical chains reflect on the entire chapter for context What do you think about disparities being one form of chains people can experience 6 Regarding the homework did you learn any new information What feelings or thoughts did you experience Share these Plan your next steps by putting ARC into practice REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1 What parts of Session 4 stood out to you What were you challenged by What did you agree disagree with 2 When you hear the term systemic or structural racism what comes to mind Does any blame shame or anger surface Why 3 Where have you seen examples of systemic or structural racism in unintentional places Where in your town have you seen this 4 What did you learn or appreciate from the open dialogue in the Truth Reconciliation video clip 5 Where are you in Jamar Tisby s ARC Where do you sense your next steps should take you 6 Think of 1 or 2 friends loved ones or groups you would consider sharing this series or parts of it with Commit to sharing in a way that makes sense in that relationship
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES ARTICLES Black Lubbock A History 1974 PDF BOOKS The Cross The Lynching Tree James Cone Jesus and the Disinherited Howard Thurman The Color of Compromise Jamar Tisby How to Fight Racism Jamar Tisby PODCASTS Pass the Mic Truth s Table