The Sustainist

From Paralysis to Hope

In my July 8 post, I called upon all Kaleidoscope Institute Associates, Catalysts and trained facilitators to intentionally start interracial dialogue processes wherever they are.  Pastor Mark Smutny did just that and here is his report to me about the first dialogue session he facilitated at Altadena Community Church.  Notice the simplicity of the design that uses the basic Kaleidoscope Institute tools with some slight modifications.

Dear Eric,

I invited the congregation where Barbara has worshipped for years, the Altadena Community Church (UCC) to a two Sunday gracious dialogue called, "Race, Racism and Gun Violence: From Paralysis to Hope." The first session was this past Sunday where we used RESPECT Guidelines, Mutual Invitation and the three-part structure of KBS (Kaleidoscope Bible Study). However, instead of a scripture, we read President Obama's memorial address he gave in Dallas.

The first question invited people to select a word, phrase or image from the speech. During the second reading, we invited people to reflect on the question, "How have racism and gun violence personally affected your life? The third question was, "What does God invite me to do, be or change about racism and gun violence?"

I must say that the sharing was deeply painful and the resolve filled with hope. I'm now designing the second session.

Thank you for the gift of gracious leadership.

Peace, 

Mark

Reflection Questions for Proper 13 (Year C) Hosea 11:1-11   What is God’s relationship with humanity? Psalm 107:1-9   What does God’s mercy endure? Colossians 3:1-11   How do you set your minds on things that are above? Luke 12:13-21   What did you learn from this text about values in living?

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Currencies and Gracious Leadership: August 4-6, 2016 West Linn Lutheran Church, West Linn, Oregon Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 October 23-27, 2016 St Columba Center, Memphis, Tennessee Gracious Leadership: Racial Reconciliation Catalyst Training Register at www.kscopeinstitute.org

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

Dialogue on Race Relations

Ever since the string of shootings in the last couple of weeks in the U.S., I have been in conversations with many leaders in my church denomination, The Episcopal Church, exploring ways to respond that would be meaningful and impactful.  One of those conversations bore fruit!

This week, Bishop J. Jon Bruno of the Episcopal Diocese wrote an article for the diocesan newsletter laying out an approach that can engage our communities across southern California to enter into constructive and gracious dialogue on race relationship. This project will be co-sponsored by the various groups in the diocese that have been active in addressing this issue:  the Program Groups on Multicultural Ministries which includes Black Ministry, Asian Ministry, Hispanic/Latino Ministry, and Native American Ministry.

I have included the article here and I would love to explore implementing similar projects with my friends in the dioceses, conferences, synods, presbyteries and associations of the many Christian denominations and faith communities.

Building bridges, not barriers

By J. Jon Bruno

The only way we are going to see change in our increasingly violent world is by building bridges, not barriers, between cultures, economic systems and faith communities, among other societal groups.

Jesus calls us to love our neighbors, to do good to those who hate us — even in the face of violence such as this summer’s unprecedented number of horrific terror attacks around the world, escalating gun violence in America’s cities, and uncertainty such as that fueled by the Brexit vote.

This issue of The News illustrates ways in which our diocesan community is reaching out, especially to immigrants and refugees, in efforts to provide places of stability, mercy and hospitality among our human family. One family at a time, one individual at a time, we are seeking to ease suffering and offer hope as best we can, courageously and creatively. In 2002 I chose to focus my ministry as your bishop on the theme “Hands in Healing.”

Together, especially in these troubled times, let us continue to reach out as Jesus’ own hands and heart, bringing peace and understanding without fear or hesitation.

In this regard, I am encouraged by the ministry provided by our diocesan Kaleidoscope Institute. Please see the following message that also appeared earlier this month in the weekly editions of The News.

A new invitation to dialogue on race relations

Our congregations are places where people can come together and discuss race relations and the tensions that have increased especially since the recent shootings in Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas.

According to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll on the subject, 69% of Americans believe that race relations nationally are suffering deep discord — the same percentage expressed the same view in 1992 following the L.A. civil disturbances sparked by the verdict in the Rodney King case.

Clearly, we have much work to do, and fortunately in Southern California we have the resource of the diocesan Kaleidoscope Institute, led by the Rev. Canon Eric Law, who has been helping us make progress in these areas — both locally and nationally — for the past two decades. Earlier this month, Eric and I spoke about ways in which the Kaleidoscope Institute can help members of the diocesan community and wider population address the issues of the present time.

“Imagine every church and ministry in the diocese as a gracious place for truth-seeking on race and other important issues of our time,” Eric said, setting the stage for far-reaching efforts in which our congregations can become involved. “This movement will enable the diocese to not only empower every local community to move toward wellness and reconciliation but also enable our churches and ministries to be truly missional — manifesting Christ to our broken world.”

Specifically, Eric proposes that every parish, mission and ministries in the diocese invite a team of at least two people to be trained as dialogue facilitators. The Kaleidoscope Institute will provide the training both via the internet (webinars) and in person in the form of a full-day workshop. The facilitation team will be trained to:

• Invite people from the local neighborhood community (including law enforcement personnel if possible) to come to a dialogue on race.
• Create a gracious environment in which participants feel safe and also challenged to speak their truth of their experience of race in light of recent events.
• Facilitate constructive dialogue to achieve mutual understanding (not debate) through deep listening.
• Form local communities consisting of church members and neighborhood people who may continue to dialogue, moving toward greater social and spiritual wellness as a community.

The Kaleidoscope Institute is providing an in-person full-day facilitator training in two different locations of the diocese on Aug. 20 and Sept. 10, in addition to a series of on-line trainings for potential facilitators who are not able to make these training sessions in person.

If you would like specific information about these offerings, please visit the Kaleidoscope Institute to register, or contact Eric Law directly at [email protected] kscopeinstitute.org, or phone 213.482.2040, ext. 216.

I commend these resources to you and to your congregation. Pastorally and personally, both as a bishop and as a former police officer, I appreciate the cultural and professional sensitivities that the Kaleidoscope Institute brings to this important work of mending torn societal and interracial fabric in our communities. Let us all continue to work and pray for God’s presence and peace among us as we reach out to one another with hands outstretched in healing.

Reflection Questions for Proper 12 (Year C) Hosea 1:2-10   What is God’s relationship with humanity? Psalm 82   What are the ways that God restores us? Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)   How does it mean to continue to live our lives in Christ? Luke 11:1-13   What did you learn from this text about your relationship with God?

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Currencies and Gracious Leadership: August 4-6, 2016 West Linn Lutheran Church, West Linn, Oregon Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 October 23-27, 2016 St Columba Center, Memphis, Tennessee Gracious Leadership: Racial Reconciliation Catalyst Training Register at www.kscopeinstitute.org

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

Calling for Action in Interracial Dialogue

In light of the shootings in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Dallas this week, race is once again the hot topic of the day. Some of us are called to go out on the street and protest.  Some of us are called to prayers.  Some of us are called to do the grieving and healing work.  Some of us are called to do the legal work as these cases will most likely go to trial.  

The people of the United States tend to have a short attention span; so I invite you to do something that will make a lasting impact in fostering wellness in your community before we move on to the next thing that caught our attention. 

I call upon all Kaleidoscope Institute Associates, Catalysts and trained facilitators to intentionally start interracial dialogue processes wherever you are.  In other words, invite people in your family, neighborhood, school, workplace, churches, community center, etc., to enter into a grace margin that you create, in which they can share the truth about their experiences and listen to other’s experiences in order to achieve understanding and possible reconciliation. It can be as extensive as a full community forum like the one that Peter Schell and Rondesia Jarrett facilitated after the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson. It can be as simple as gathering folks in a café to have a constructive dialogue on race like the one I suggested for Starbucks during their failed “Race Together” attempt to get their patrons to talk about race. 

Write back and let me know what you decide to do.  Share the resources that you have.  If you need resources, contact me.  Over the years, we have developed many tools and processes for interracial dialogue.  For example, I had designed a 5-session interracial dialogue process which was used after the 1992 riots in Los Angeles. The description of the process is in the appendix of my book, The Bush Was Blazing But Not Consumed. One of our Associates, Lucky Lynch, had extensive experience in create dialogue process for the law enforcement community.  We have tools like Photolanguage, which can be used to engage small in-depth dialogue on race and many more.

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

Reflection Questions for Proper 10 (Year C) Amos 7:7-17   How do you discern the plumb line for yourself and your community? Psalm 82   What injustice are you complaining to God? Colossians 1:1-14   What does it mean for you to bear fruit of the Gospel? Luke 10:25-37   How does Jesus’ criterion of what is a neighbor challenge you?

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Currencies and Gracious Leadership: July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Incubating Sustainable Missional Ministries     Gracious Leadership: Racial Reconciliation KI Associates Conference (by Invitation only) August 4-6, 2016 West Linn Lutheran Church, West Linn, Oregon Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 October 23-27, 2016 St Columba Center, Memphis, Tennessee Gracious Leadership: Racial Reconciliation Catalyst Training Register at www.kscopeinstitute.org

 

Pathway of Hope

For the last two years, I have been doing training programs for the Officers of the Midland Division of the Salvation and got to know about their innovative approach to end homelessness.  So I was excited to finally get to take a tour of their housing and homeless services. Colonel Neal Richardson picked me up at the hotel where I was staying.  We stopped at a red light where there was a homeless person holding a sign asking for help. Colonel Neal lowered the window and called the man to come over. “Are you local?” he asked.

“Yes.  I grew up here,” was the reply.  Then Neal asked if he knew how to get to a certain street where there was a Salvation Army facility. He said yes. Then Neal said, “Go there and ask for Mrs. _____ and she will take care of you for the night. Tomorrow I will come by and see you. Here is my card.”

Then we drove off to see the actual facility that Neal referred to. At that moment, I was envious because I wished I could be that definitive and helpful in the many embarrassing encounters I have had with homeless individuals. Namely, I often felt useless and powerless in these situations. 

“What will happen next once he finds his way to that facility?” I asked.

Neal told me that the Army has a network of housing facilities and services.  An individual or family can stay for one night and then in another facility, up to a week to get a little more stability.  With a case manager’s assistance, they can move to another facility and stay up to 120 days.  Depending on their special needs, they could be referred to a drug rehab and other medical treatment facilities, mental health services, job referral, etc. all provided by the Salvation Army. If they are ready, they can move into a more permanent, affordable housing where they pay with a percentage of their income.  Now, I was really jealous. This kind of comprehensive approach to homelessness should be in every town and city!

The Midland Division of the Salvation Army is a member of the Missouri Governor’s Committee to End Homelessness, the vision of which is that “housing is a right, not a privilege. Therefore, all individuals and families must have the right to safe, affordable housing in healthy communities with access to a network of supportive services.”

Neal took me to see two of the four shelter facilities.  Then we drove by the Rialton Apartments with 15 stories of affordable housing (under $550/month) in downtown.  It was renovated and reopened in 2012.  The facility includes a computer center, fitness facility, laundry center and meeting spaces for resident use.  Then I was given a tour of the Veterans Residence, a $9 million project, three-story building with 48 single apartments for both male and female veterans, most of whom were homeless. Unlike traditional low-income housing, the Veterans’ Residence apartments feature aesthetics of superior quality, solid surface counter tops, new appliances, and other high-end amenities. These homelike surroundings aim to give veterans something to work toward as they strive to reintegrate themselves into the society they risked their lives to protect.

Then Neal showed me proudly his latest project, 3010 Washington Boulevard, just around the corner from the Veterans’ Residence, which provides 58 one-bedroom units designed for individuals with a variety of special needs. The building was a home for orphan boys and when the Salvation bought it in 1970, it was the Habor Light Center for men struggling with substance abuse.  Now, it continues to be a pathway of hope, deterring homelessness for individuals with special needs. 

I finally asked Neal the question in my head since the beginning of the tour of these amazing housing facilities, “How did you finance them?”  Neal said that the Army owned the land and the buildings and the renovation and the new buildings projects are all paid for with Federal Government’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)

I went to LIHTC website and found that the following condition for these projects:

Proposed housing developments must:

• Meet a demonstrated affordable housing need;
• Provide housing for low-income persons and families;
• Demonstrate local support;
• Leverage tax credit funding with other financing and/or rental assistance;
• Be economically feasible;
• and Balance sources and uses of funds.

Neal told me the the Tax Credit program provided incentive to developers to build affordable housing and after a prescribed period of time, the building can be sold at market value and ease to be low-income housing.  But Neal said that the projects they developed will stay affordable housing forever.

Ever since the tour, I have been sharing this comprehensive and innovative approach to homelessness with my constituencies – mostly church organizations.  My dream is to see churches to develop their land and buildings into affordable housing using Government Tax Credit. Furthermore, I want churches and service agencies in the same area to coordinate their services to the homeless to create a comprehensive network like that of the the Salvation Army in St. Louis. I would love to explore these ideas with any organizations anywhere in the U.S.  So write back and contact me if you are interested!

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

Reflection Questions for Proper 9 (Year C) 2 Kings 5:1-14   How did you learn from this story about power and healing? Psalm 30   How does God restore you life? Galatians 6(1-6)7-16   What does it mean for you to sow to the Spirit? Luke 10:1-11, 16-20   What did you learn from this passage about leadership?

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Currencies and Gracious Leadership: July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Incubating Sustainable Missional Ministries     Gracious Leadership: Racial Reconciliation KI Associates Conference (by Invitation only) August 4-6, 2016 West Linn Lutheran Church, West Linn, Oregon Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 October 23-27, 2016 St Columba Center, Memphis, Tennessee Gracious Leadership: Racial Reconciliation Catalyst Training Register at www.kscopeinstitute.org