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NEJ Bishops CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1


country and the mission of the church,” reads the letter. “Our president’s recent Executive Order suspending the country’s refugee assistance program and banning visas from seven countries seems a far cry from the words ‘give me your tired and your poor.’”


Time for the church to ‘love our neighbors’


Fourteen College of Bishops members, both active and retired, said it was time “for the church to do what it does best – love our neighbors as we ourselves have been loved. We urge all United Methodists to be intentional in providing a ministry of prayer and presence in our churches and throughout our communities that bear witness to our grace and love. “We implore you to preach and proclaim an alternative rhetoric to the message of fear and anger that is being generated by those with power,” the letter continues before endorsing a controversial welcome that many houses of faith in our region and across the nation are offering to undocumented immigrants who fear arrest and deportation: “We invite you to step forward and provide safe places of sanctuary for those who long for a place of care and advocacy.” The bishops end their letter with a


solemn prayer and their e-mailed cover memo with the words, “Let us continue to be faithful and earnest in our prayers for the immigrant, our leadership, our churches, and even ourselves.” An additional prayer, titled Prayer to the Immigrant and Refugee, composed by Rev. Michael Johnson, is appended to the bishops’ letter. Johnson is the husband of Philadelphia Area Bishop Peggy Johnson. Read the College of Bishops


letter and Prayer to the Immigrant and Refugee at http://tinyurl.com/ nej-bishops-letter-prayer.


Visit to Lancaster Church World Service


During the College’s meeting, Bishop


Park visited the Lancaster office of Church World Service, joined by Pennsylvania Episcopal


colleagues Bishops Peggy


Johnson of the Philadelphia Area and Cynthia Moore-Koikoi of the Pittsburgh Area, along with retired bishop Violet Fisher. The Lancaster CWS office serves about a 100-mile radius and is the largest CWS office in the country. “When we visited the Church World


Service office in Lancaster, we heard stories that were both heart-warming as well as heart-breaking. The journeys of the families of refugees are extremely long and perilous, plagued with fear, danger, and uncertainty. For some, it took 15 to 20 years of living in a refugee camp before they arrived in the United States. Many are separated from their families without knowing if they will ever be reunited. Their stories are also an incredible witness to the human spirit; to resilience, sacrifice, and perseverance. They are hanging on to hope for a better life for themselves and their loved ones, and are willing to pay whatever the price. I am inspired to see the church active in the ministry of providing essential services to the settlement of refugees in partnership with the community and the government. Indeed, this ministry represents our response to Jesus’ words: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Bishop Park and other bishops also a


visited peaceful new immigration protest against Executive the Order


in Lancaster’s Penn Square, near the bishops’ Marriott Hotel meeting site.


Susquehanna LINK - February 2017


How to have a courageous conversation in a small group or Sunday school class


By Rev. Chris Barbieri and Rev. M. Scott Hughes


to


Most of us were taught as children avoid


talking about politics and


religion. Lately, however, it has seemed impossible to avoid talking about either. The 2016 presidential election is over and has exposed how fractured, fearful, and divided we are as a nation. The reality for most small groups is that they are


already talking religion, and


many have found politics to be part of the conversation. How do we engage in healthy conversations that bring us closer together and closer to God in such a politically charged environment? Though often seen as a respite from the political nastiness, the church can serve as the best place for these contentious conversations. Our culture has fallen seriously ill


with confirmation bias, and we too easily surround ourselves with sources that only feed our opinions and biases. Often our biases are subconscious. Internet tracking software closely monitors what we click and view and feeds us more “news” in line with our beliefs. It


takes courage to enter into


conversations when we know up front that we may be starting from places of disagreement. However, if we can be brave and enter those conversations, we often discover we have similar goals, just very different plans to achieve those goals. As leaders in the church, how do we plan and facilitate these courageous conversations?


A good framework should have a group covenant,


First, you must establish a framework. a trusted facilitator, and


conversation plan. The group covenant provides the ground rules for conversation and fosters a culture of respect and safety. There are several sample small group covenants available here, or you can create your own. Whichever covenant you choose, be sure to convey these key ideas: respect for each participant, a commitment to listening, and a willingness to learn. Part of the human condition is a subconscious desire to confirm previously held beliefs. By definition, we learn only by encountering new thoughts and ideas. Learning, a key aspect of being a disciple, requires a willingness to closely examine (and even set aside) our assumptions and biases in order to more fully follow Christ. That doesn’t mean we simply accept what is shared. Rather, we may come to appreciate a different perspective or experience, whether we decide to incorporate those beliefs or not. As pastors appointed to the whole community, these experiences lead to a greater knowledge of the realities of racism, sexism, and poverty that exist in our communities. We learn because we engage in conversations with


people 2018 who experience racism,


sexism, and poverty. The facilitator


must be trusted by


the group. The facilitator needs to be clear about his/her role when the group gathers. While the facilitator may have opinions about a topic, he/she must not be perceived as supporting one side or the other. Rather, the facilitator is there to ensure all sides are fairly represented and that the covenant is followed. The facilitator reminds group members about the covenant they have agreed to and remains calm, no matter how anxious others become. A conversation plan is also essential. This may include large-group discussion, small-group time, prayer, and silence. Several sample conversation methods can be found here. Do not overlook the importance of introductions in your plans. Be sure the group has time to get to know one another. It is important that each participant sees all other participants as human beings with hopes and fears… not as “the enemy.” There are numerous techniques for handling introductions. You will want to customize this relational time, depending on whether you have a one-time or an ongoing group. Second, everyone should commit to deep, active listening. Too often, we think we are listening when we really are just waiting for our turn to speak. Deep listening requires that we take a posture of curiosity. When someone says something we don’t understand or that makes us angry, that is precisely the moment that might be key to our growth. It is a pivotal moment because it can lead to hostility and division, or it can lead to growth – both for the individual and for the group. Before responding or seeking to be understood, individuals


should “seek


first to understand.” This means listening carefully and asking questions. Try to understand the other person’s position and


underlying beliefs well enough


that you can restate it comprehensively. Interestingly, this is the same advice we pastors often give in marriage counseling. When these potentially


divisive


moments occur in your group, resist the temptation to debate. Go deeper and ask a question instead: “What makes you feel that way?” Or, “Can you help me understand why you think that?” Once the conversation has developed further, it may be helpful for the facilitator to restate the position that initiated the division. Better yet, the facilitator could ask someone from the “other side” to articulate the position.


Third, create a courageous


space. How your space is configured matters. A classroom with a podium up front implies power for whoever is at the podium. If possible, arrange seating in a circle or square so that everyone can make eye contact with everyone else.


This seating arrangement conveys a sense of equality for everyone participating in the conversation. Visuals are also important.


Make


two large reproductions of your group covenant on poster boards or adhesive flip chart sheets. Place these on opposing walls so that every participant can always see the covenant, no matter where he or she sits. This will help the facilitator keep everyone on track and will be a visible reminder to everyone about the “ground rules” for the conversation. Similarly, use poster board or flip chart sheets to post a few Scriptures pertaining to unity in Christ. Two helpful Scripture passages are James 1:19-20 and Galatians 3:26-28. Even be willing to contextualize Galatians 3:28 by adding Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives. As we search the Scriptures together, worship together, pray together, receive the sacraments in


honest dialogue


together, and engage with one another,


we can uncover subconscious biases. Uncovering a subconscious bias can be an enlightening and welcoming experience for some. It may be a traumatic and chaotic experience for others. This is where creating courageous spaces for courageous conversations fosters an environment for growth. When adults can experience moments of vulnerability – where our assumptions may be exposed – that is the prime opportunity for real learning and discipleship. I (Chris) vividly remember one such moment from thirty years ago. An African -American co-worker was on a romantic date with his wife when he was pulled over and treated roughly by the police. A carjacking had recently occurred, and this person was pulled over because he was a black man driving a nice car. The police realized their mistake after a few minutes and apologized, but, needless to say, the date was ruined. Hearing that story helped me appreciate for the first time that everyone is not treated equally and fairly, in spite of our many laws. A false assumption died, but real growth occurred.


A Final Word


Talking politics in our partisan and divided country can be risky. Taking the time to be deliberate and intentional in creating the proper environment for conversation can go a long way toward setting the stage for learning and growth. This important work can bring healing to places of division. Small groups and Sunday school classes are ideal places for Courageous Conversations. Jesus prayed that his followers would be known for how they loved. May we all treat one another such that Jesus’ prayer is fulfilled.


Continue implementation of the quadrennial plan and adjust where necessary Offer specialized training to the places of greatest potential Resourcing continues and is adjusted for regional needs


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