Download a study guide for this article at
www.thelutheran.org (click on “study guides”).
Michelle, for example, noted in a separate interview, “You know, a lot of (white) people say, ‘Well, I don’t see color.’ Well, you’re a fool, because there is color!” Tese differences were also
evident as members talked about how people were treated. While most white parishioners couldn’t recall instances of discrimination in their congregation, all but one of the African-American members provided specific examples. Mary, for one, recalled when she vol- unteered to teach Sunday school. Even though she is an experienced teacher by profession, she was asked to serve as a helper rather than lead a class on her own. How do we move past our dif-
ferent experiences and together live out our baptismal covenant to “serve all people following the example of Jesus; and strive for justice and peace in all the earth”? Deepening our empathy for one another and engaging in common work toward a just society are good places to start.
Empathy Recognizing that one’s own expe- rience of the world differs from another’s can be uncomfortable, but it’s an important aspect of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Over and over again, the Gospel accounts show Jesus valuing the lives of oth- ers through his encounters with tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, among others. Te radical hospitality Jesus demonstrates extends to everyone, but especially to those excluded by society.
‘Resting in the conviction that we are redeemed, we
can begin the hard work of confronting the reality of systemic racism in our country.’
How do we cross lines of differ-
ence to foster the deep relationships to which Jesus calls us? Our church communities are a
place to begin. Tose sitting right next to us in a pew on Sunday mornings may or may not be of a different racial or ethnic group, but their experiences may differ from our own. Sometimes the stories we need to hear are farther away. Yet we can meet people in our broader community. Tose of us who are white can read and reflect on the experiences of people of color. I recently interviewed white
members in declining rural churches that rented space to Latino congregations. Te efforts oſten created tension among the white members, some of whom resisted the changes. Pastor Chris explained that his
congregation’s decision to rent space was “not born out of goodwill or a desire for mission. It was born of practical necessity.” While that was a common
response, it wasn’t the only thing I heard. Karl, a mainline Protestant layperson, said, “We have things to learn from [the Latino congrega- tion]. ... Teir sense of aliveness to the Spirit and awareness of the Spirit working is something we could use.” In other words, for those like
Karl, listening to other people’s sto- ries enriched their experience.
Racial justice resources Check out the ELCA’s social statements “The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries” and “Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity and Culture” (includes a congregational study guide), available at
www.elca.org/socialstatements.
Joseph Barndt’s Understanding and Dismantling Racism (Fortress Press, 2007) discusses the history of racism and how we can respond, and Stephanie Spellers’ Radical Welcome: Embracing God, the Other, and the Spirit of Transformation (Church Publishing Inc., 2006) is a practical insightful guide for congregations.
Engagement Listening and learning are impor- tant steps, but they aren’t enough. Like you, I don’t want to live in a world in which I receive unfair benefits at other people’s expense. I don’t want to live in a world nar- rowed by fear. Instead, I want to encounter my neighbor in love as a response to God’s free giſt of grace. As we hear the stories of those who have been hurt by racism, we are called to respond in love. Engaging together across lines of
difference, both inside and out- side of our congregations, can be transformative. Together we can make a difference, and the church has provided us a place to start in its social statements and other resources, some of which are listed in the sidebar. Tere’s no better time than now to empathize, engage and join our voices with others in the church and community to work for racial justice.
Author bio: Rehwaldt is a professor of religion at Midland University, Fremont, Neb.
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