This morning, I had the opportunity to attend a breakout session called “the church’s next steps for racial reconciliation” with Latasha Morrison and David Bailey as part of the 2021 virtual IF:Gathering conference. Morrison and Bailey are Christians who work to educate individuals about racism and facilitate the process of working toward racial reconciliation in communities.
What is Racial Reconciliation?
Racial reconciliation is the process of listening to others, working through the history of systemic racism and oppression, lamenting this history, and individually committing to challenging biases in oneself and in one’s community.
This process starts with an open and willing heart. According to Bailey, one common issue in these conversations is that “people are more concerned with being right than with being righteous.” For true reconciliation to take place, people have to be willing to set down their pride and assumptions and instead be open to correction and growth.
"Racial reconciliation is spiritual formation." — David Bailey
We’re Missing the Context
These conversations have to be rooted in understanding the history of racism in the United States and beyond. Although slavery was abolished in 1865, Jim Crow laws, redlining, and other forces have shaped a structure of systemic racism that can be seen in everything from educational opportunities to employment statistics.
"They left the neighborhoods devalued, then built the school system on top of that." — Latasha Morrison
To do this process of racial reconciliation well, we must start with an understanding of what historical forces have converged on the present moment. We must also recognize that the church is both individual and an institution. This means that, just as the church informs our theology and thoughts, the people within the church shape its culture and teachings.
It’s Not Just What You Say
Racial reconciliation is about epistemology and ethics. Put more simply, it’s not just what you know: it’s what you do with the knowledge you have. It is also a lifelong process that requires constant learning, constant listening, and constant lament as we recognize the ways that we are falling short.
Learning More
While this topic is more complex than anything that can be put in a blog post, both Latasha Morrison’s organization “Be the Bridge” and David Bailey’s ministry “Arrabon” offer great starting points to learn more about the process of racial reconciliation through workshops, conversation guidelines, and other resources.
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