This unexpected development ended up giving those of us who came for her forum a chance to sit down together and to share stories of powerful experiences we've had learning more about race and racism. It was a gift to gather with and learn from parishioners who are usually a part of many different ministries, groups, and conversations on Sunday morning - Sunday school teachers, Book Group members, and Faith Forum participants, among others. 

At the end of our conversation, Vestry member Judy Johnson shared what Augsburg College has been doing to become more racially and culturally aware, and in doing so, gave us a helpful road map for what we might do at St. Matthew's.  Her comments may be found below.

Faithfully,

Blair 

- Judy Niemi Johnson

I work at Augsburg College, where we are deeply involved in social justice. We work alongside many community organizations to close the achievement gap and to support first generation students and students from underrepresented communities to complete their college degrees. Currently, 30% of our students are first generation, PELL grant elegible and 40% students of color, making us the most diverse private college in the state.

In addition to doing many projects, we developed three key practices as a community to keep our work moving forward along the way.

1. Each staff member and many academic departments took the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI assessment). This showed each of us where we were in this developmental process, what were our own issues and misconceptions and assumptions we made about the stranger. We had to own our "stuff". This also helped each individual to begin their own path to learning and changing our perspectives. With each person doing this work, the campus became more inclusive.
2. As a community we intentionally learn about other cultures. I sit down with our ethnic directors on a regular basis to learn about different students' cultural backgrounds. Faculty and students teach about their cultures and communities. Faculty and guest speakers share the histories of different groups. I attend seminars off campus to learn about the achievement gap, white advantage, racism and poverty. One must be intentional to learn about each other's cultures and historical backgrounds. We never say "I have learned enough."
3. We share stories of success. I am fortunate to read hundreds of student essays each year, to hear what they have overcome to get here. It is important to celebrate small victories along the way. In our community gatherings we usually hear from students about their success and how they are changing the world. This gives us all hope, that the hard work we do is making a difference, one student at a time.

When riding the bus one day I met the mother of one of our students. He's on the football team, one of our African American students on the starting line up. She shared that she knows he is not going to make the NFL. Her concern was that he get a good education, so he can start his own business one day. She was so proud he was at Augsburg, that he was going to finish college and have a better life than her. That is why I am so passionate about education and the difference it makes in a person's life. I see it every day.

--  Judy Niemi Johnson
     Senior Associate Director

Israel Demands A King

The 8th chapter of the 1st book of Samuel describes how Israel demanded that Samuel appoint a king to rule over them.  In doing so, they were rejecting their traditional leadership by prophets annointed by God.  Samuel warned them that a king would take their sons and daughters for his service, would take a portion of their grain and vineyards, and would take a portion of their cattle and flocks.  In the end, he said, they would cry out because of their king. But the people were adamant, saying that they wanted to be like other nations that had a king govern over them. 

Why would the people want a king as their leader?  Beyond the explanations given by scholars, perhaps one reason is simply that the people felt they could relate to a human king more than they could to God.  A king was like them in many ways.  He shared the same emotions, experiencing anger, fear, shame, regret, and sorrow.  And more than that, a king shared their mortality.  One could see part of oneself in a human king, something that was impossible with an immortal, omnipotent God who spoke only to prophets.

How fitting, then, that God would choose to provide a means for humans to establish a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.  Jesus was an ordinary human from a humble background, a person with whom most could relate. He demonstrated his humanity by occasionally displaying the emotions with which we are familiar.  In the end, he overcame his fears and misgivings in order to accept God's will.  His humanity, his life and his teachings provide an example for us to follow so that we can come closer to God.