What’s
different today? Why is it that our nation, our communities, our congregations,
and even our families find it so difficult to have conversations? Has social
media made us incapable of nuanced thinking or merely incapable of civil
conversation?
I
find these questions impacting our congregations: no one wants a knock-down,
drag-out fight over Sunday morning coffee. Fear of division often leads us to
avoid dialogue. Is it inevitable that our polarized times means the end of
meaningful debate regarding the call to social witness?
Not so fast.
Mack
Sigmon, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian in Tucson, has penned some polarities
that describe how we as Presbyterians might engage one another even when we
disagree. Mack is proposing signage for Trinity’s exterior that says, among
other couplets,
We
proclaim justice, not politics
We
are diverse, not divisive
We
believe in interpretation, not conformity
We
believe in grace, not judgment.
I
am intrigued by these couplets! Can we engage social witness as a search for
justice and not devolve into “I hope my team wins” politics? Can we appreciate
diversity of argumentation without it necessarily being divisive? Can we frame
our answers to the questions, “What, then, shall we do? And what does the Lord
require of us?” as good faith efforts at interpretation rather than press the
need for conformity of thought or action? Can we do all this as a response to
God’s grace, in a spirit of graciousness toward all, without joining the
choruses of judgment so common on social media?
The
answer to the above questions is, “Yes, we can; therefore, we shall.” To this
end, the Big Event will offer eight mission formation workshops:
1. How
Do We Lead Our Congregations Towards Christian Anti-Racism?
2. Native
American Partnerships
3. Left
Behind Immigration Stories: How the Church play a proactive role to support
families
4. Opioid
Health Crisis: Equipping our Faith Communities to Respond
5. Effects
of Pornography on Youth and Adults: Connecting Porn to Global Human Trafficking
6. Are
We Really Ending Hunger and Poverty? Strategies for Ministry
7. Understanding
the Doctrine of Discovery: Seeking Reconciliation and Healing
8. Disaster
Preparedness Planning: Out of Chaos - Hope
We
offer these mission formation workshops because the world is a chaotic place
right now; it needs us to be salt and light, to proclaim the Reign of God, to
announce liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to
proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
To
register for The Big Event, CLICK HERE To
register for the Ignite the Spark, which will focus on the Thrive Project and
be led by the Rev. Kathryn Threadgill, CLICK HERE.
Register
now…well, I’m waiting…come on already 😉,
Brad
Munroe
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