Soul Change to Social Change

In January, it seemed like a great idea to sign up for a Saturday workshop at Seattle Pacific University on racial reconciliation as a spiritual process. Identifying and learning from churches that are intentionally practicing racial reconciliation is one of the goals of my sabbatical, which begins March 3. This workshop sounded like it would equip me for the journey. By the time the day arrived -- this morning, February 22 --I was unconvinced. This was my 2nd-to-last Saturday before leaving home and church for 4 months. I still have packing to do! A list of important personal chores! A list of essential church tasks! And after attending the Seattle Symphony & Chorale's thrilling performance of the St. Matthew Passion on Friday night, an event that saw us arriving home after midnight? I really did not want to go to that workshop -- Soul Change to Social Change -- this morning. The lure of coffee and a donut at Top Pot got me out of bed. The donut diversion also made me late, but I arrived before the Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil was actually teaching. By the time Dr. McNeil was 10 minutes into her topic, I was sure I was in the right place on this Saturday. Dr. McNeil's goals for the day were to 1) foster greater cultural self-awareness and self-acceptance, 2) to lead us through a spiritual process that would allow us to gain clarity regarding our racial or ethnic identity, and 3) to empower us to become social change agents who in turn help others to experience racial healing in their local communities or churches. No small goals for a one-day workshop! But she delivered! I gained some humility, some humor, and some new insight into my cultural and ethnic self-identity. The Bible study and guided meditations that Dr. McNeil led were prophetic and Gospel-filled. I had made new friends who yearn to reach across cultural and ethnic boundaries in Christ's love. I left enlightened, encouraged and empowered to go forth on this sabbatical, seeking Christians in communities who are already witnessing to the reconciling power of God to bring people of diverse cultures and languages and skin shades together, not only in cities and towns and villages, but --gasp-- in churches. Tomorrow Bishop Kirby Unti will preach at Prince of Peace (which is one big reason I committed to attending an all-day workshop on a Saturday!) Following worship, we'll have our snow-delayed annual meeting, and Bishop Unti will speak again, on the topic of Moving Back Into the Neighborhood, which is the way Prince of Peace is addressing "Soul Change to Social Change". Moving Back into the Neighborhood shares a Big Question with the Rev. Dr. McNeil: What is God doing in the neighborhood? God has already gone ahead of me and all of the people of Prince of Peace, out into the astonishingly culturally and ethnically diverse neighborhoods of Olympic Hills, Lake City and Briarcrest. What is God doing? How can we partner with God and others in the community, to strengthen the community and the individuals within it?