Diversity

I'm reading the book Leading Diverse Communities: A How-To Guide for Moving from Healing into Action. It, along with conversations and a Scholarship essay, have made me think more recently about race and racial diversity. I think of myself as a respecter of diversity, and a learner from other cultures. This seems odd considering I grew up in mostly white communities. I wonder how it's possible to be an open minded, inclusive, globally minded, and racially accepting person? What experiences foster such a personality?

For myself, I've thought about my parents. They are globally minded, and inclusive, and open minded, and racially accepting. In fact, it seems almost like a fluke or accident to them that I grew up in mostly middle-class, suburban settings. It's even odd to my sister who, though only four years older than me, feels that her formative years were more urban and diverse than mine. But somehow my parents instilled in me a sense of equality.

Three things may have been central:
My parents taught me that all people are equal. They strive to treat everyone, from every walk of life, and of every color or nationality as unique individuals of equal value. My friends from poor homes were just as valuable as my friends from middle class homes. My friends from Japan or who were black were all special and equally valuable friends.

My parents taught me that people of all backgrounds have something to offer. When we ignore some part of the diversity of our world, we are less because of it. When we miss out on some part of the diversity, we miss out on understanding and experiencing part of God manifest in humanity.

My parents also taught me important things about poverty. Race and economics are closely tied in our society. Many issues of racism are compounded by issues of classism. That's why this matters. They taught me that while hard work should, and often does, pay off, sometimes bad things happen to good people. They also taught me that not everyone begins live with the same set of opportunities and limitations. In general, I do not assume that people who are poor, are poor because of laziness or bad choices. Though this is sometimes the case, there are other issues that interfere and are often the case.

These values have really shaped my willingness and desire to cross racial and other barriers of diversity. The book mentioned above shares 7 principles for building environments to welcome diversity. Two stood out to me and my classmate.

Principle 3: Treating everyone the same may be unintentionally oppressive
Inclusion does not mean sameness. Treating Equally does not mean Treating the Same

Principle 5: Recognize and work with the diversity already present in what appear to be homogeneous groups.
By fostering an appreciation for ALL forms of diversity (family makeup, spiritual background, exposure to issues of race, geographic background, race, gender, culture, and more) we can better recognize and welcome other forms of diversity that may be more uncomfortable for us now.

My friend shared an image that stood out to me. He went to Saddleback church and encountered a choir. That choir had Asian faces, Hispanic faces, White faces, and Black faces. He said that they all had a common purpose, and they sang perfectly. He said they all smiled the same.

In our diversity we can find common ground. We can appreciate and celebrate our differences and our similarities, both as individuals, and in categories that shape us. Afterall, we were all created in God's image.

Out of Chaos

After TWO mostly snow days, missing half my classes, and procrastinating on reading, I haven't really learned much in the last couple of days. So, as promised in my introduction, I found where I had posted my first major learning in Seminary. This was written to friends on August 28th, 2008:

I had my first real exciting learning/ ah ha this morning! We were studying the first creation story, which I've studied many times. My professor (dean Bruce Birch) put it in the context of the Exile where it was being codified and written down for the first time. That stuff was very interesting, but what made that story go from nice to inspirational was when we talked about why this story starts from creation out of chaos! He said that you can only create from nothing once, but you can create out of chaos over and over again! It is relevant for every generation!, and it was especially relevant to the people in exile since their sense of order has been upended and their trust in the sovereignty of God is in question! This story is alive and at work and relevant not as a history but as a reassurance of God's order in the midst of life's chaos! So cool and fun.

So the learning is:
The first creation story begins with chaos to reassure and remind us all that no matter the chaos of our lives, God is always working to bring order out of chaos.

Enjoy the reassurance that with God comes order...I so needed this reminder today.

The Practicing Congregation

My first class of this semester at Wesley Theological Seminary was Leading Formation. The class has an exciting and very broad description: "An exploration of how an emphasis on Christian faith practices - including justice, forgiveness, prayer and hospitality - can swerve as organizing principle for congregational life and administration."

In our first reading from The Practicing Congregation: Imagining and New Old Church by Diana Butler Bass I learned a new way of understanding church. This author approaches mainline denominations in a positive way. I've only read the intro and first chapter, but the key concept that I learned was this:

Though the church had been in decline, a new form of church has begun and is rising out of the ashes of mainline decline. This new type of church the author calls Intentional Congregations. These congregations include the Practicing and Emerging church movements. The key difference between these churches and other late 20th century churches is a focus on practice as apposed to program.

I remember my husband, other young adults, and I trying at various times to describe to older adults what we believe young people are searching for from churches. We talked about seeking authenticity, genuine welcome and acceptance into the family, and a place for open and deep dialogue. The response was frequently confusion, a yearning to understand how to communicate those things, or defensiveness. As I read from The Practicing Congregation I felt that my eyes were opened. Earlier generations of churches had focused on programs. They sought to connect new people with a social network and programs that met their needs. These models have worked, and still work in many cases.

However, it is a new language to try to understand Intentional Congregations. It is not primarily about a new style, or a new program. Perhaps it is primarily about a deep commitment to conversation and support. Perhaps it is primarily about seeing church as a place that challenges and changes, instead of a place that meets needs and is an exciting experience.

I'm excited to learn more because I believe there are many people, and many generations including my own who seek a more creative, post modern, theologically expansive, and yes even a bit messy church experience. One that feels more authentic. One that stretches us, and yet fills a deep need in our soul. We are starting to awaken to the idea that the American Culture is not synonymous with Christianity. We recognize that our culture cannot meet the need for Christ within us.

Introduction

Several People have been interested in what I'm learning and experiencing in Seminary. Additionally, I've realized that I learn so much that I want a way to capture the most important insights I'm gaining in this wonderful experience. Thus materialized this blog, while procrastinating from equally important work this morning :)

If no one else reads this it will still be a valuable tool for my own self processing. I'll start my next blog with some reflections from this past week (the first of a new semester) and then some about what I learned last semester. I hope this will be a place where you can learn, as well as a place where complex ideas can be better understood and examined for you and for me. I welcome your comments, critiques, and questions (just don't critique my spelling ;) )!

Blessings as you explore theology, seminary, religion, life, and more!