Living out the Core Priorities of WARC's 24th General Council
At WARC's 24th General Council at Accra, Ghana in 2004, the following core priorities were adopted:
- Justice for the economy and the earth
- Sharing of the Gospel for the fullness of life of all people
- Spiritual reformation and renewal
How are you, your congregation, your church/denomination, and your community living out any or all of those core priorities?
1 Comments:
At 10:48 AM, Oliver Patterson said…
To: CANNAC & WARC Members
From: Dr. Oliver Patterson
FIRST REFORMED CHURCH JAMAICA HOSTS AFRICAN-AMERICAN COUNCIL, RCA GATHERING:
CONFRONTIING RACISM: WHAT’S A CHRISTIAN TO DO?
The gathering was held Saturday, October 13, 2007 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the "termination" of the transatlantic slave trade. There were two broad purposes: 1) to educate ourselves about institutionalized and internalized racist oppression that lead to social and economic injustice; 2) to align the community mission projects of the churchess gathered so that they are a blessing to the families.
The workshops were:
(1)Belhar Confession
Presenters: Elder Sarah Smith, Rev. Banks
(2)Hip Hop Music and its mpact on Culture
Presenter: Rev. Larry Williams
(3)Internalized/ Institutionalized Racism
Dr. Oliver Patterson
Panel Discussion: What is God Leading us to?
(1)Community Development (2) Leadership Development (3) Mission Services
Chair Panel: Rev. Dwayne Jackson, Dr. Oliver Patterson, Elder Sarah Smith, Rev. Paul Glover, Micheal
Celebration of the Past, Present and the Future
Evaluation of the AAC Commemoration of the
Abolition of the Slave Trade
Positive Dimensions
•Given the context of increased racist acts in the society, the theme was clearly appropriate: Confronting Racism: What’s a Christian to do?
•We were correct to go beyond the surface issues, nooses, Jena 6, racist language, massive incarceration of Black men, rampant aids etc. and to focus on institutional racism and internalized racist oppression.
We were also correct to focus on the role of the church as one agent of education and human service, and the need for churches to work with families, schools, and community based organizations.
• We were correct to challenge the churches to work collaboratively to meet community needs.
• We were correct to structure the gathering as if we were applying for a grant. Rev. John Vaughn, Director, 21st Century Foundation, stated that most of the grants he receives only speak to good works and rarely discuss policies that support gross inequality.
•We were correct to choose the Belhar confession as the theological foundation for our work. Each participant received the Belhar Confession and the new Accra Confession (AC)Study Guide. It is important to note that AC is a faith declaration, not a doctrinal confession.
•We were correct to include in the program: Hip Hop Music and its Impact on Culture. It appealed to many teenagers (over 25 in attendance) and to adults.
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Dimensions to Improve
•Time. The workshops should have been scheduled for at least 90 minutes. Sixty minutes was simply too short.
•The numbers attending the workshops should be no more than 25.
•The gathering should be a single day, from 8:00 AM – 3:00PM, and not a two day affair especially if the Friday session is going to end after 10:00PM.
•We should have invited key pastors and elders from different denominations to join us.
Implications for Our Work
•It is time to move forward. I would suggest that we work through our organizations. In the United States, CARE and the Ecumenical Justice Network are groups to begin the process.
•African Christians and Africans in the Diaspora need to seek unity in the message of Jesus Christ and in their own history as they have transformed Christianity into an authentic religion.
•Members of CANNAC need to be present at significant gatherings of folk from Canada and the United States.
•Our European brothers need to hear the cry for justice and how they can work to oppose policies that produce inequality.
Steps Needed to Move Forward
•Develop a timeline and a schedule of work to be accomplished.
•Identify key folks who have a passion for racial justice.
•Provide finances for the work to be done.
•Create a network of folk who will work collaboratively.
Appendix
CONFRONTING RACISM: WHAT’S A CHRISTIAN TO DO
EASTERN REGION GATHERING – FALL 2007
CONFRONTING RACISM: WHAT’S A CHRISTIAN TO DO
Friday, October 12, 2007
Dinner ~ 6 pm
Commemoration of Ancestors African Drums ~ Malik
Praise & Worship ~ 7 pm
Congregation Selection
Prayer of Confession
Scriptural Reading ~ Rev. Anna Jackson
Greetings ~ Irma Patterson
Statement of Purpose
Dr. Oliver Patterson
Dance Selection
Introduction of Speaker ~ Rev. Mark Kellar
Gathering Speaker
Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock
Devotions Invitations
Belhar Litany
{Free will offering}
Musical Selection
Offertory Prayer ~ Rev. Patricia Singletary
Prayer for Good People ~ Rev. James Seawood
Closing Remarks
Benediction
CONFRONTIING RACISM: WHAT’S A CHRISTIAN TO DO
EASTERN REGION GATHERING – FALL 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Breakfast ~ 8 am
Praise & Worship ~ 9 am
Scriptural Reading ~ Rev. Paul Glover
Morning Prayer ~ Rev. Winston Clarke
Greetings:
Rev. Glenn Missick, Executive Director, AAC
Elder Wilbur Jones, Vice President, AAC
Gathering Workshops 10:00 am – 10:50 am
(1) Belhar Confession
Elder Sarah Smith, Rev. Banks
(2) Hip Hop Music and its mpact on Culture
Rev. Larry Williams
(3) Internalized/ Institutionalized Racism
Dr. Oliver Patterson
Break ~
Reporting/ Discussion Workshop Leaders
Lunch ~
Panel Discussion: Where is God Leading us to?
(1)Community Development (2) Leadership Development (3) Mission Services
Chair Panel: Rev. Dwayne Jackson, Dr. Oliver Patterson, Elder Sarah Smith, Rev. Paul Glover, Micheal
Celebration of the Past, Present and the Future
HOLD THE DATE!!!
THE EASTERN REGION
African American/Black Council
Reformed Church in America
Invites You to
A SPECIAL FALL GATHERING
Theme:
“Confronting Racism: What’s a Christian to do?”
Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, Senior Pastor
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA
+ Guest Choirs and Groups
Friday & Saturday, October 12 & 13, 2007
First Reformed Church of Jamaica
Queens, NY
Workshops: Racism, Hip-Hop Music, Church Growth & Health, Leadership Development, Spiritual Gifts, Missional Church, etc.
* Registration materials forth coming
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