The Sustainist

Racial Reconciliation

As I examine my experience of 2015, issues around race was on top of my list of things I want to devote more time and energy to address in 2016.  Police shootings, Black Lives Matter, protests and demonstrations on college campuses were highlights of the year.  In this same year, the Episcopal Church, the denomination to which I belong, elected the first African American Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, to lead a church of close to 2 million members with communities in all of the United States, Taiwan, parts of Central and South America, and the Caribbean.  At this installation, Bishop Curry preached,

Racial reconciliation is just the beginning for the hard and holy work of real reconciliation that realizes justice but really across all the borders and boundaries that divide the human family of God.  This is difficult work. But we can do it. It’s about listening and sharing. It’s about God. In this work of reconciliation we can join hands with others.

Racial reconciliation is about realizing justice across racial boundaries and divides, and in the process, restoring, what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., called, the beloved community.  This is difficult work because it is not just about interpersonal relationships but also about challenging and transforming systems that consistently bestow privileges to one group while disadvantages another group based on race and skin color.  How shall we do this?

In Holy Currencies language, the work of racial reconciliation is about achieving wellness – spiritual, social, economic – for our community.  In order to do that, we need to increase our currencies of truth and relationship.  These two currencies go hand-in-hand.  In order for people of different racial backgrounds to speak truth to each other, exposing the systemic injustices, we need to develop trusting relationships.  On the other hand, in order to have deep trusting relationships across racial boundaries so that we can work together to dismantle systemic injustices, we have to be able to speak truth to each other in love.  The work of racial reconciliation flows between these two arenas until the opportunity for reconciliation emerges and the restored community can move into action to undo injustices together.  In order to do this, we need to invest our time, place, and money to provide gracious leadership that can facilitate this movement in local communities.

In this effort, the Associates of the Kaleidoscope Institute and I decided to redesign our Spring Institute (February 29-March 4, 2016) in Los Angeles to focus on Tools for Racial Reconciliation.  Our goal is to provide skills and tools to community leaders to create gracious environments in which people of different backgrounds can have faithful and constructive dialogue. 

Topics to be shared and experienced:

• Creating a respectful and gracious environment for dialogue
• What is Racism? Interpersonal, systemic, sin, . . .
• How has racism affected our lives?
• How does racism relate to other diversity issues?
• Where am I in my journey in addressing racism today moving toward reconciliation?
• What is my next step in this journey? My perception of myself?  My interaction with others? 
• What is my role in challenging and transforming the systems of which I am a part?

The foundation of this training is based on a Developmental Approach to interracial work.  We believe everyone is on a journey toward great intercultural competency.  We respect and do not judge where people are on this journey and we create a gracious time and place for people to explore where they have been, where they are now and what their next step can be as they move toward becoming more competent in facilitating the work for reconciliation for themselves and others.

 As we make the commitment to provide this resource for racial reconciliation this year, I invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to send leaders in your community to come and experience a positive constructive approach to addressing this difficult and often emotional issue.  It is our belief that dealing with the issue of racism and intercultural issues can be a life-affirming, mutually challenging and supportive experience.    They will also take home practical skills and tools that they can apply to their personal life, their ministry and their community.

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: January 18-22, 2016 Chicago, IL Gracious Leadership Training Community Transformation (Part of the D. Min. Program of Bexley-Seabury Theological Seminary) February 29-March 4, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Tool for Inter-group Dialogue and Racial Reconciliation KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training April 7-12, 2016 San Francisco, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies Incubation of New Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training A Bilingual (English-Spanish) Event May 4-7, 2016 Greenfield, NH Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for 2nd Sunday after Christmas (Year C) Jeremiah 31:7-14   What did you learn from this passage about God’s relationship with human communities? Psalm 84:1-8   How does it mean to dwell in the house of God? Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a   What does it mean to be adopted as children of God? Matthew 2:1-12   What does this story teach you about nurturing Christ in your life?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org                

Sharing Abundance

The phone call came in December. “I need the address of the Kaleidoscope Institute so I can send you a check,” the caller said to me, “What for?” I asked, because I could not remember doing anything for her organization within the last year.

“Oh,” she replied, “My department has a leftover amount of money from this year’s budget and my committee thought your organization should have it because of all the good things that you have done for us in the past.” 

December is also when some organizations that have contracted with the Kaleidoscope Institute for consultation and workshops in the following year insist on paying in full before the end of the current year. They sometimes say, that the reason they can afford these future workshops is because they have leftover money in this year’s budget. 

When I was a child, the celebration of Chinese New Year’s Eve always included a giant feast with the whole family.  My mother would explain, “We have to make sure there is leftover for tomorrow, the New Year.”  Leftovers are signs of abundance.  The word for leftover or extra, 餘, sounds almost the same as the word for fish, 魚, in Cantonese.  This is the reason why the image of the fish is found in many Chinese designs symbolizing blessings and abundance.  And of course, we always have fish soup as part of the New Year’s Eve feast.

I started writing The Sustainist, my weekly blog, in 2011. When I began blogging, I had the fear that eventually I would run out of things to say.  Yet, four years later, I am still writing.  So much of my writing comes from my ministry through the Kaleidoscope Institute—training and coaching gracious leaders and consulting with local churches and ministries.   In that sense, The Sustainist blog is the extra, the leftover that flows from the ministry of the Kaleidoscope Institute.  If you have been a subscriber of The Sustainist, you know that the blog posts became the foundation of my book, Holy Currencies: Six Blessings For Sustainable and Missional Ministries. The abundance from the blog continued to flow, forming the body of my new book that’s coming out in January 2016 titled, Holy Currency Exchange: 101 Stories, Songs, Actions and Visions for Missional and Sustainable Ministries.

            Here are a few more extras that flow from this year to 2016 from the Kaleidoscope Institute:

1. Tools for Racial Reconciliation -- In response to current events, KI is focusing our Spring Institute (February 29-March 4, 2016 in Los Angeles) on Tools for Racial Reconciliation. So if you have leftover funding from this year, pay it forward and register yourself and someone in your ministry to come to this training.
2. Stewardship 360 - KI is launching a new on-line stewardship curriculum in June 2016. Local congregations teams can take this course, which explores all the “holy currencies” resulting in a year-round holistic stewardship programs for your church.
3. Venture Capital Fund for Missional Ministries – KI is working with regional church organizations to develop a funding process that enable local churches to incubate and launch entrepreneurial ministries using the Holy Currencies/Cycle of Blessings process.
4. Bilingual Training Institute – Our training institute in San Francisco Theological Seminary (April 7-12) will be fully bilingual (Spanish-English) providing a comprehensive course offering – Gracious Leadership, Holy Currencies and Catalyst Training.
5. Cycle of Blessings in Songs – KI is producing a recording of the 19 songs that are part of my new book Holy Currency Exchange. The recording will be available in spring of 2016.  This musical creation (with N2K and Theodicy Jazz Collective) will further enrich the Holy Currencies resource allowing more people to enter into this transformational process in creative and intuitive ways.

As you approach the end of the year, I invite you to examine the past year and give thanks for the abundance that you have received.  Then consider offering the leftover, the extra, to individuals and organizations as blessings.  This way, you keep the blessings flowing for their families, friends, and communities for the coming year.  If the Kaleidoscope Institute resources are part of the blessings you received, consider giving to KI by making a donation, registering for our upcoming training institutes, or giving to our special projects such as the Cycle of Blessings in Songs or the development of Stewardship 360.

When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.”  (John 6:12)

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: January 18-22, 2016 Chicago, IL Gracious Leadership Training Community Transformation (Part of the D. Min. Program of Bexley-Seabury Theological Seminary) February 29-March 4, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Tool for Inter-group Dialogue and Racial Reconciliation KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training April 7-12, 2016 San Francisco, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies Incubation of New Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training A Bilingual (English-Spanish) Event July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for 1st Sunday after Christmas (Year C) Isaiah 61:10-62:3   How does it mean for righteousness to spring up before all nations? Psalm 147:13-21   How does this text help you understand God’s word? Galatians 3:23-25, 4:4-7   What does it mean to be adopted as children of God? John 1:1-18   What does it mean for the Word to become flesh?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org                

Facing Fear with Truth

A week after the mass shooting in San Bernardino, which is now officially referred to as a terrorist act, I continue to pray for the victims and their families and support the work of bringing the community of San Bernardino together to cry, pray, and support each other.   I also am mindful of the fear-based reactions of the various groups in the United States to this tragic event such as banning all Muslims from entering the country and the increase of gun sales. A headline of the LA Times on December 10, 2015 read, “Customers rush to gun stores to ease fears after San Bernardino shooting.”

In my book, Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear, I presented 4 different ways that people deal with their fear: fear-conqueror, fear-bearer, fear-exploiter and fear-miner.  Fear-conquerors deal with fear through acts of aggression against an “other” seen as enemy.  Fear-bearers react to fear by limiting themselves, becoming the victims.  If they don’t stay within the line of what is acceptable, they would be faced with the threat of violence.  Fear-exploiters are the ones who reap profit of money and power from fear.  Often, they are the ones who reinforced the roles of the fear-conquerors and fear-bearers by fanning the flames of fear, targeting the fear-bearers and encouraging fear-conquerors to do their parts.  Follow the money and political gain and you will see who the fear-exploiters are at the wake of any fear-producing event.

All three roles I have described so far do not address fear constructively, meaning lessening our fear and reconnecting us with communities that can help us regain a sense of safety and wholeness again.  Fear-conquerors ignore fear to the point that they might say “I don’t have fear.”  Fear-bearers simply step in line just to survive.  Fear-exploiters actually increase our fear so that we continue to play our roles that will give them more power and financial gain.

Fear-miners

...approach fear as an opening, and as an invitation to mine from it the gifts and treasures buried deep below the surface.  When we dig down through fear’s openings, we can mine from fear the God-given gifts of wisdom, courage, dignity, and self-esteem with which we can face any adversity that comes our way.  When we see our fear as a gift, we will discover that underneath our fear lies the knowledge of God.  Buried below our fear is the seed of ministry.  Beyond our fear is the hope of resurrection, with new visions for us, our communities and our nations. (Excerpt from Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear.)

How do we begin as fear-miners then?  One of the most destructive things that fear does is to put a distance among people.  “Could your neighbors be terrorists?” the fear-exploiters would say, “This can happen anywhere!”  So instead of being good neighbors, we are to spy on our neighbors—see something, say something.  So, the first step to being fear-miners is bridge the distance put there by fear and to get to know your neighbors.  Go over to the next house or apartment and say hello.  Make time to get together and find out more about each other’s interests, concerns, passions and experiences.  More importantly, gather with your neighbors and share your fear especially in the wake of a terrorist attack and when appropriate, eat together, pray together and play together.

When you know your neighbors, you are not fearful of them.  When you really know your neighbors, you might actually discover that a certain individual or group in your neighborhood are not to be trusted based on real knowledge and not rumors and suspicious speculations. 

For faith communities, please help your members to be fear-miners by organizing truth events, bringing people in your neighborhood together to speak truth about their experiences, especially about their fears. By facing our fears together, we may name the fear-exploiters and refuse to play the prescribed roles of fear-conquerors or fear-bearers.  By speaking the truth about fear, we might mine from it respectful relationships and trusting communities that will truly help us be safe and whole again.

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: January 18-22, 2016 Chicago, IL Gracious Leadership Training Community Transformation (Part of the D. Min. Program of Bexley-Seabury Theological Seminary) February 29-March 4, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Tool for Inter-group Dialogue and Racial Reconciliation KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training April 7-12, 2016 San Francisco, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies Incubation of New Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training A Bilingual (English-Spanish) Event July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for 3rd Sunday of Advent (Year C) Zephaniah 3:14-20   How does this text help you not be afraid? Isaiah 12:2-6 (The First Song of Isaiah)   How does this text help you not be afraid? Philippians 3:7-18   What does it mean for the Lord to be near? Luke 3:7-18   What does this passage say to you about your expectation?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org