Not optional: ESSENTIAL

Some Christians think that racial reconciliation is a liberal, politically motivated social agenda that has nothing to do with their faith as followers of Jesus Christ. So many discipled Christians don't know that the gospel includes reconciliation across racial, gender, ethnic, social and cultural barriers. Discipleship is an invitation to follow Jesus into a new community, the Kingdom of God, where we are called to make disciples who create corporate social change as people who love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves. This means that all churches must face the ways in which they have fallen short of this gospel mission. God has the power to raise up disciples who are agents of racial healing. We need the Holy Spirit to transform us and dismantle the racism that is insidious and entrenched in hearts, systems and institutions. We are members of a Kingdom that prioritizes racial justice, patterned on the reconciliation won for all by Jesus' death and resurrection. May God be glorified as we pray for him to bring his resurrection power to the brokenness all around us!

Grace and peace,

Anita Sorenson
Pastor for Spiritual Formation