Racial tensions were brought to...
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Racial tensions were brought to light by an incident at a local high school last fall. A
racial slur was shouted out a car window at black students after school. At an emotional
school board meeting, parents spoke about the need for the school to intervene. Articles
appeared in the local newspaper highlighting the issue and the need for everyone to
examine their attitudes. Racism affects all people.
The local ministerial board decided to address the issue of racism in community churches. After several meetings a letter was drafted with the intent of being read at each church and published in the church's newsletter. The consensus was that people of faith needed to take the first step toward achieving reconciliation. The letter was a call to put an end to racism in the community.
The Sunday the letter was read there was a mixed reaction from the congregations. Some acknowledged that there was a problem, sighting specific incidents, while others felt differently.
A couple of weeks later, Jessica spoke with her pastor. She shared that she could not get the letter out of her mind. She said she felt the gentle nudge of Jesus calling her to become involved with the issue. Jessica offered to conduct a workshop that would address the issues that were plaguing the community. The pastor suggested that she offer the workshop for people in other churches as well as everyone in the community.
Tensions were running high when the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome reminding them that the basis of our faith is our love toward one another, even people who might be different. The early church struggled with accepting Gentiles. Paul exhorts, "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor."
The local ministerial board decided to address the issue of racism in community churches. After several meetings a letter was drafted with the intent of being read at each church and published in the church's newsletter. The consensus was that people of faith needed to take the first step toward achieving reconciliation. The letter was a call to put an end to racism in the community.
The Sunday the letter was read there was a mixed reaction from the congregations. Some acknowledged that there was a problem, sighting specific incidents, while others felt differently.
A couple of weeks later, Jessica spoke with her pastor. She shared that she could not get the letter out of her mind. She said she felt the gentle nudge of Jesus calling her to become involved with the issue. Jessica offered to conduct a workshop that would address the issues that were plaguing the community. The pastor suggested that she offer the workshop for people in other churches as well as everyone in the community.
Tensions were running high when the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome reminding them that the basis of our faith is our love toward one another, even people who might be different. The early church struggled with accepting Gentiles. Paul exhorts, "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor."
