Do Good – Community Engagement/Community Development – Session 2 of 3

ABOUT THIS SESSION

Do Good, Community Engagement and Community Development with Maria-José (Coté) Soerens will give us a window into community-driven transformation through relationship and among a population generally skeptical of Christianity.

ABOUT THIS SERIES

The United Methodist Church is a 94% white and aging denomination. However, our collective visions – denomination and local congregations – express wishes for greater diversity in leadership, in the pews and in our work in the world. In this time of COVID-19, with a renewed uprising for racial justice, the church must act. But out of what mindset?

Three practitioners have agreed to challenge our thinking regarding mission, community engagement, and cultural humility to help us practice our way into beloved community. They will help us to have eyes and ears to past mistakes and support us in redirection. The learnings will be relevant to us all –Black, Brown, White, LGBTQIA+, immigrant generation, fully-abled or partly disabled – as our collective mindset for ministry has grown from a history of colonization and rescue.

SESSION I – Do No Harm, Decolonizing Mission with Dr. Soong-Chan Rah will prompt us to clarify our context for ministry, apply theology to our context, and develop ministry practices that maintain dignity and equity.

SESSION III – Stay in Love with God, Cultural Humility with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove will explore how being led from the margins transforms one’s leadership and promotes liberative movement for all God’s people.

You are invited to attend all three sessions as the concepts weave together to support dignity and equity within and outside of our church walls. Those applying for projects through Fund For Families Phase 2 in the PNW Conference as especially encouraged as the series will inform the application process.