Wednesday, August 03, 2005

thoughts to get started...

some thoughts from the "new forms of leadership for new forms of churches" critical concerns course at emergent. we were discussing the question "how does race/ethnicity impact our issues of power/control?"

  • we as church leaders need to remember that whenever we stand in front of people, we have the ability to silence people.
  • we need to talk from our own experience...and to listen to others talk from theirs...instead of assuming that we can speak from where we have not been.
  • we need to go beyond simply asking people to participate, but to learn how to stand in God's power and recognize the ways in which we use control to keep some people out and to let other people in. denial is a part of what we do to keep people out.
  • we need to be mindful of the power structures that often exist within different cultures.
  • there is a challenge not to be naive...but also not to be frightened.
  • we must continually wrestle with how to break down barriers, how to build bridges.
  • we need to "out" many of the poisonous secrets that we've been harboring for a long time.
  • we need to prepare ourselves for the uncomfortable and allow ourselves to go there.
  • sometimes race issues aren't really race issues. we just don't know how to form relationships.
  • we must continually find ways to bring issues of race, gender, power, and control to the table in order to keep these a part of our ongoing conversation.

Monday, August 01, 2005

August Cohort Gathering

Greetings All,

The next gathering of the Nashville Cohort will be this Thursday:
August 4
11:30-1:00
at the Flying Saucer
111 10th Avenue South
Located behind the Union Station hotel
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 259-PINT
Link  
  • here
  • for directions.

    In the Pool Room.
    (When you walk in the main entrance, continue straight ahead into the pool and game room. You'll find the cohort in the far back.)


    Our conversation will center around the topic of racism and it's impact on our practice of community and church life here in the south. Thomas will be kicking off our discussion with a, well, provocative media clip. Should be great conversation.

    Post any questions you have about the topic here. We'll use them to guide our discussion on Thursday.

    See you there.
    Peace and love,
    Dixon