“Following Jesus: Explorations on Politics & Race in Today's World”
Politics and race are hard to talk about in our polarized culture, but they are significant and crucial aspects of Christian discipleship. Join the 30s, 40s, and Friends Class this fall for two different series that will help us reflect with one another on these important areas surrounding our life together.
On September 10, we’ll start with a week of sharing stories and community-building.
The following Sunday, on September 17, Kaitlyn Schiess, Duke Divinity doctoral student and Blacknall member, will begin teaching a four-week course inspired by her new book “The Bible and the Ballot” (Brazos, 2023). We live in a Bible-saturated culture. American history is full of politicians, pastors, and pundits invoking biblical references to support political causes. And yet for all our familiarity with the Bible, we are woefully ignorant about how or why we are using the Bible in politics. How can we apply passages written thousands of years ago to contemporary politics? How can we dialogue with people who interpret passages differently than we do? How can we respond to Facebook posts that use bullet point verses or cherry-picking pamphlets? The answer might be found not merely in how we interpret the Bible but by critically examining our own history and our own hearts.
Then, starting on October 22, Blacknall elders Steve Hinkle, Alicia Ramos, Paul Tshihamba, and Jeff Baker will lead a course entitled, "Who Is Our Neighbor? Why Understanding and Turning from Racism Begins with Listening." For this course, the 30s, 40s, and Friends class and Blacknall's Jesus, Race and the Church Committee extend an open invitation to anyone interested in a Sunday School space centered on listening to and learning from one another and the Scriptures. How can we share our personal stories with regards to race? Can we listen to one another with grace and hope while not passing by the places we might rather overlook? Can we experience grace while seeking to understand and to love our neighbors, to believe them when they speak, and together more fully become the people of God?
Leader/Primary Contact: Trig Steinbrenner
Additional Leader: Warren Kinghorn