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As delayed as it is, I celebrate the new sense of urgency in many white ministry leaders to address race/racism w/their faith communities. I have just a word of caution for those who have little to no experience leading these discussions: /1
In your urgency, do NOT hurry. Right now, all your urgency should be directed toward learning, toward reckoning w/the gaping holes in your Christian ethics & practice, NOT toward speaking. /2
Speaking or leading before you’ve taken the time to unpack your own blind spots, biases, & unbiblical sensibilities will cause a lot of unnecessary distraction and do unintentional harm, especially if you have a large platform. /3
If you’re attempting to address the “silence is complicity” issue by speaking, realize that you can break silence in ways that don’t involve you centering you’re own voice (a habit you’ve undoubtedly developed as a high-profile leader). /4
You can pass the mic to (and pay) people well-seasoned in these discussions, who have lived what you’ve been clueless about, who have written books and led conversations behind the scenes for years, even decades. And you can vouch for their legitimacy before your community. /5
There’s an example of what this dynamic looks like in Matthew 8:5-13. A centurion who occupied a position of power and privilege, who was associated w/the violence of the Roman Empire, came to Jesus, a Galilean from the margins of a marginalized people, and asked for help. /6
Don’t miss the power dynamics. When he rolled up in his cart & horse, you can be sure the people thought Jesus was in trouble. But this centurion discarded his status & said to Jesus in front of all those people, “I need you. I don’t have the ability to heal, but you do.” /7
