The Sustainist: January 2017

01/24/2017

Building Bridges

Ever since the tragic shootings in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Dallas last year, I have been praying and discerning ways to respond that can be impactful, gracious and long lasting in the midst of our polarized communities.

With the election and the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the need for gracious dialogue among people with different perspectives, passions and experiences is even more urgent, not just on race but also other issues such as women’s rights, human rights, health, immigrant, freedom of press, religion, speech and to assembly, and many others.

Here is my big idea:

Imagine every church and ministry across the nation—Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, etc.—is a gracious place for truth-seeking on race and other important issues of our time. Specifically, in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, Bishop Jon Bruno, the Program Group on Multicultural Ministries and I had proposed that every congregation invite a team of at least two people to be trained as dialogue facilitators. The Kaleidoscope Institute will provide the training both in person (one full day training) and via the internet (webinars). 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 on race and other issues, moving toward greater social and spiritual wellness as a community.

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 the grace of Christ in our broken world.

Bishop Jon Bruno wrote in an invitation to the congregations of the diocese, “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.” (see complete invitation at http://episcopalnews.ladiocese.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/3180210)

In Los Angeles, we have already done two trainings at the end of last year involving 40 people who will be facilitating dialogue groups in their neighborhood communities. We are doing another facilitator training this weekend, January 28, at St. Paul’s Cathedral Center in Echo Park (9 am- 5 pm.) There is still room if you are in the area and would like to participate. Also a second training is scheduled for February 18 in the greater Los Angeles area (location TBA.) The trained facilitators are expected to continue their learning by participating in monthly webinars to learn more skills and processes in order to facilitate future dialogue sessions.

If you are interested in implementing such a movement in your area, I would love to be of assistance to make it happen. All we need is at least 12 participants representing 5 congregations in your area. The Kaleidoscope Institute can arrange to get someone to do the facilitator training.

For more information, go to our website: http://www.kscopeinstitute.org/dialogue-on-race/

You can also register at this website for the Los Angeles facilitators training. We welcome ecumenical participation.

Reflection Questions for 4^th Sunday after Epiphany (Year A)

Micah 6:1-8
What does this text teach you about your relationship with Godl?

Psalm 15
What does it mean to dwell with God?

1 Corinthians 1:18-31
What is wisdom and what is foolishness?

Matthew 5:1-12
What does it mean to be blessed?

Eric H. F. Law

Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org

Posted at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/09/2017

Dangerous Spirit of Political Party

As the United States moves towards the transition of a new administration this coming week, I thought it would be appropriate to study what previous presidents have done during this transition time.

President George Washington left the presidency and the nation's then capital city of Philadelphia in September 1796. He used his departure to publicize a major final statement of his political philosophy which is known as WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS. This document has long been recognized as a towering statement of American political purpose and until the 1970s, was read annually in the U.S. Congress as part of the national recognition of the first President's birthday. His words, carefully crafted with the help of Madison and Hamilton, is relevant today as it was in 1796. (In the musical, Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda captures the first part of Washington’s address in the song One Last Time.

Here is an excerpt on his warning about the “Spirit of Party” from this 32-page hand-written document:

Let me now take a more comprehensive view, & warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party, generally.

This Spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human Mind. It exists under different shapes in all Governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages & countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders & miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security & repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.

. . .

It serves always to distract the Public Councils and enfeeble the Public Administration. It agitates the Community with ill-founded Jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot & insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence & corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country, are subjected to the policy and will of another.

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the Administration of the Government and serve to keep alive the spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably true--and in Governments of a Monarchical cast Patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate & assuage it. A fire not to be quenched; it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest instead of warming it should consume.