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2016 Remind & Renew featured Barber, Watkins
By Phillips Theological Seminary staff
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Rev. Dr. William Barber II and Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins embrace at the Remind & Renew conference as Phillips Theological President Gary Peluso-Verdend looks on. The event was held at First Christian in Tulsa, OK.
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The church and people of faith have a great responsibility for engaging the conversation about race in the United States, according to speakers at the 2016 Remind & Renew conference. (Audio of all speakers available on website.)
"What would happen if we all got together?" asked the Rev. Dr. William Barber, II. "What if we put away this puny language about 'left versus right' and started talking about what's just?"
Point-by-point, Barber connected decades-long policies of federal, state and local governments that cut funding for public services, including education and health care, to deep seated efforts to maintain control by a white majority. He said when justice-seeking people come together, change will happen.
"The Christian Church is primed to be that voice because we believe that everybody is invited to the table," Barber said.
"The same people fighting Medicaid expansion and the same people fighting health care for women and the same people fighting the LGBT community and the same people fighting labor rights and the same people fighting public education, the same people fighting voter participation, are the same people. They're like the Sadducees and Pharisees," said Barber, pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina and founder of the Moral Monday movement and NAACP North Carolina president.
More than 230 people attended the two-day event at Phillips Seminary in Tulsa, Okla. The speakers were asked to address the question, "What is the conversation about race Christians in the U.S. should be having, and how might that conversation contribute to liberty and justice for all?"
During a public keynote address Jan. 13, The Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), said, "After a decade of anti-racism work... we know that racism is race prejudice plus the misuse of power by institutions and individuals to the benefit of white people."
"We selected the topic for the 2016 Remind & Renew gathering to stoke the conversation about race Christians should be having. The racially charged tragedies in late 2014 and 2015 which preceded the conference have, tragically, continued, which made the conference even more timely and urgent," said Gary Peluso-Verdend, president of Phillips Seminary. Read more |
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Every year in February Week of Compassion gets special attention, but the offering serves year round in disaster relief and long-term development in the United States, Canada and around the globe. Funding efforts as diverse as water distribution in Flint, MI, and the refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe, or earthquakes and flooding, Week of Compassion is one of the most cost effective ways to donate with a tiny 6 to 8 cents per dollar going to administrative costs. Find out more
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| News in the Church Other News |
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Con tu mano y la mía by Rev. Héctor J. Hernández
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Our actions and inactions always have consequences
by Rev. Héctor J. Hernández, M.Div., MAMFT
Guest Blogger, NBA Mental Health Affinity Group Research and Design Team
As I serve and walk in acompañamiento (accompaniment) with my brothers and sisters from Latin America, I have witnessed firsthand the beauty, richness, resiliency, resourcefulness, and creativity that allow these communities to move forward and thrive. However, I have also witnessed their struggles, pains, and sorrows as they try to survive through multiple and complex oppressive systems that discriminate, marginalize, victimize, and dehumanize them, vehemently conspiring against their well-being. As immigrant Hispanic families try to navigate these systems and try to survive the clutches of systemic racism, oppression, and dehumanization, they also deal with the by-product of this struggle. And, it often comes to their lives as mental health stressors like anxiety, anger, depression, post-traumatic stress, and as maladaptive behaviors like domestic violence and addictions, to name a few. Read more ________
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Annual African American History Month Resource
 Disciples Home Missions' annual African American History Month resource, designed for use in worship or small group study, gives special attention to the lives of African American Disciples who have committed their life and ministry to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), as well as listing further suggestions for more exploration of African American History.
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Woman-to-Woman Worldwide ~ 2016
 The 2016 journey will be to South Africa and Ghana in October. All applications are due by Feb. 15. Visit the W2WW web page to learn more.
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Black Leadership Projects Grant
Accepting applications now
The Black Leadership Projects Committee is happy to announce the 2016 grant process is open. Applications are due no later than May 31. There is no minimum request.
All proposals for projects that develop, nurture, and strengthen lay or clergy church leadership in Disciples African American congregations will be considered. Funds will be awarded to the chosen projects in Summer 2016. Go to our webpage for more information and application guidelines.
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Brite Divinity School Ministers Week 2016: The Power to Bless
February 15-18, 2016
 Join us as Barbara Lundblad, Timothy Sandoval, Sara Miles, and Peter Steinke explore the many ways we as pastors and communities have the power to create wholeness in our world. Other speakers and workshop leaders include Sandhya Jha, Mack McCarter, Katie Hays, Mike Hunter, Micah James, and Roger Weddell. Check out the full schedule and list of offerings at www.brite.edu/mw
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Black Ministers Retreat in March
ALL Disciples are welcome to attend the Black Ministers Retreat in Jackson, MS, March 8-10. The theme is Ministry for the Long Haul.
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Hispanic National Pastor search
The National Pastor for Hispanic and Bilingual Ministries is responsible for developing programs and offering pastoral care to Hispanic ministers, lay leaders and Hispanic congregations, as well as advocating for the Obra Hispana in the general and regional expressions of the Disciples of Christ.The office is located in Indianapolis. All applicants are required to provide updated search and call paperwork and to submit a "Letter of Interest" postmarked by March 1. More information can be found on
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If you are interested in advertising in future issues of the Disciples News Service, please contact Fred Jones |
| Events, Resources and Ministry in Action |
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Brite Ministers Week, Fort Worth, Feb. 15-18
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NBA XPLOR: Latest Stories and News
We continue to receive applications for the 2016-17 cohort of NBA XPLOR Residents; our extended deadline is Feb. 19. Hear from this year's XPLOR Residents, who reflect on social justice issues, vocational discernment, "being the change," and more.
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You can find ways to plug into mission and more through these ministries.....
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 The Disciples News Service, also known as The Disciple®, is distributed weekly or as needed by Communication Ministries. For changes to your subscription options or to subscribe to this newsletter, please visit: disciples.org/dns/subscribe-to-dns/ If you are interested in submitting news for distribution in the Disciples News Service, please review our "Guidelines for Submitting News and Information to Disciples News Service": disciples.org/dns/submitting-news/ The next deadline to submit news for consideration
in the Disciples News Service: Friday, January 29, 2016 |
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