Be the Change: Resources and UMM Event
As part of the UMC initiative to end racism, we began last summer to periodically offer resources for those seeking to Be The Change to dismantle systematic racism. You can continue to find previously shared resources by clicking the Learn More button, below.
In honor of Black History Month, you are invited to watch the PBS Series - The Black Church: This is our Story, This is Our Song.
And listen to local voices in The Black Church episode from Another View Radio Show.
The VAUMC United Methodist Men are hosting the following event:
Dismantling Racism on March 16 (Zoom information below)
According to Andrew Kissell, Southeastern Jurisdictional president of United Methodist Men (UMM) and a lay member of the Virginia Conference, “United Methodist bishops are still working hard to learn, lead and love in this regard and will not back down from confronting this virulent strain of exclusion we call racism or white supremacy.” Kissell encourages the UMM to help "by boldly promoting dialogue on race; by becoming allies for change; and by recognizing that as lifelong learners we may be of much greater help when we actively listen to the victims’ stories of hate and exclusion.”
Join the Virginia Conference UMM for a Zoom forum on March 16 at 6:30 p.m. that will be moderated by Kissell. Learn more about the event at this link.
These resources are to encourage us all as we seek to love, listen, learn, self-reflect, and pray.
To learn more about the UMC initiative: United Methodists Stand Against Racism visit here.
As part of the UMC initiative to end racism, we began last summer to periodically offer resources for those seeking to Be The Change to dismantle systematic racism. You can continue to find previously shared resources by clicking the Learn More button, below.
In honor of Black History Month, you are invited to watch the PBS Series - The Black Church: This is our Story, This is Our Song.
And listen to local voices in The Black Church episode from Another View Radio Show.
The VAUMC United Methodist Men are hosting the following event:
Dismantling Racism on March 16 (Zoom information below)
According to Andrew Kissell, Southeastern Jurisdictional president of United Methodist Men (UMM) and a lay member of the Virginia Conference, “United Methodist bishops are still working hard to learn, lead and love in this regard and will not back down from confronting this virulent strain of exclusion we call racism or white supremacy.” Kissell encourages the UMM to help "by boldly promoting dialogue on race; by becoming allies for change; and by recognizing that as lifelong learners we may be of much greater help when we actively listen to the victims’ stories of hate and exclusion.”
Join the Virginia Conference UMM for a Zoom forum on March 16 at 6:30 p.m. that will be moderated by Kissell. Learn more about the event at this link.
These resources are to encourage us all as we seek to love, listen, learn, self-reflect, and pray.
To learn more about the UMC initiative: United Methodists Stand Against Racism visit here.
10/13/20 Reaching In, Reaching Up, Reaching Out: The Spiritual Work of Overcoming Racism
Our "Be The Change" resourse this week is from Rev. Stephen D. Bryant, publisher of The Upper Room. Check it out here.
10/6/20 "13th"
This week's resource is the film 13th: Combining archival footage with testimony from activists and scholars, director Ava DuVernay's examination of the U.S. prison system looks at how the country's history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America.
This piercing, Oscar-nominated film won Best Documentary at the Emmys, the BAFTAs and the NAACP Image Awards.
US Rating: TV-MA For mature audiences. May not be suitable for ages 17 and under.
This essential film can be watched on Netflix or for free on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8&t=4s
9/29/20 "Love Is The Way"
This week's resource is the newly released book Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times by Bishop Michael Curry of the Episcopal Church. Click here to learn more: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/605848/love-is-the-way-by-bishop-michael-curry-with-sara-grace/
9/22/20 UMC Panel Discussion
This week's resource is a recording of the UMC's End Racism panel discussion held on 9/16/20: The Theological Roots of Racism & Colonialism. To view, click here.
8/11/20 Intersectionality
This week's focus is on intersectionality; the ways in which our many different identities (race, gender, age, abilities, etc.) uniquely affect our experience in the world.
You are invited to listen to Justice in America Episode 6: The Faces of Mass Incarceration here: https://theappeal.org/justice-in-america-episode-6-the-faces-of-mass-incarceration/ you can listen (or read the transcript!) online or through your favorite podcasting app.
8/4/20 Indigenous Peoples
This week's focus is listening to indigenous peoples. Use this map to learn about the Native American land you live on: https://native-land.ca/ Search your address or zoom in on the map, and then click on the link(s) in the box that says "You are on the land of:" to learn more about the tribes of your area.
The non-profit organization Cultural Survival envisions a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance. Learn more and get involved here: https://www.culturalsurvival.org/.
7/21/20 Dismantling Racism - UMC Town Hall
This week's resource is a conversation in the United Methodist Church's Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom series. Watch here: https://www.umc.org/en/content/dismantling-racism-town-hall
7/14/20 The History of Race and Science
This week we will be focusing on the concept of race as a social construct that has no basis in biology. To dive deeper into the history of race and science check out:
Dope Labs: https://www.dopelabspodcast.com/podcast-episodes/lab-025-skin-deep
Science Vs: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/science-vs/6nhgxk/race-can-we-see-it-in-our-dna
In the first chapter of Dialogues on Race, we read several excerpts from this article by Bryan Stevenson https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/06/24/bryan-stevenson-on-charleston-and-our-real-problem-with-race which is an interview following the 2015 Charleston church massacre. Join me in reading the full article, which is as relevant today as it was 5 years ago.
7/8/20 Empathy
This week, let's explore the topic of empathy by listening to Finding Fred Episode 1: Genius of Empathy
This is the first episode of a podcast series called Finding Fred.
As described on fatherly.com:
"Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was not a simple show. And Fred Rogers was not a simple man. He was radical. Spiritual. Revolutionary. Maybe even subversive. On Finding Fred, Carvell Wallace, the best selling author of The Sixth Man, dives into the work of an idiosyncratic and profound thinker, asking what a beloved children’s show host can teach us about surviving and thriving in today’s chaotic world."
If you like the first episode, listen to the whole series; it is a beautiful piece!
Ways to listen:
Online: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-finding-fred-51090582/?keyid=Finding%20Fred&pname=podcast_profile&sc=widget_share
Through podcast apps on your favorite device such as apple podcasts, spotify, or stitcher.
6/30/20 1619 Project
This week you are invited to explore The 1619 Project:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/20/magazine/1619-intro.html
"The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.
6/23/20 White Privilege
Our Be The Change resources this week focus on white privilege:
For reading: White Privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack by Peggy McIntosh
https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mcintosh.pdf
For watching: Deconstructing White Privilege
https://www.umc.org/en/content/deconstructing-white-privilege-gcorr
6/16/20 Conversation
This week let's watch and listen to this conversation between two of our Peninsula neighbors: Anne Kirchmier of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and Gail Roberts of House of Open Door Full Gospel Baptist Church at this link https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2794349127342043.
If you are interested in learning more, please complete this brief form.This week's resource is a conversation in the United Methodist Church's Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom series.
Watch here: https://www.umc.org/en/content/dismantling-racism-town-hall
Our "Be The Change" resourse this week is from Rev. Stephen D. Bryant, publisher of The Upper Room. Check it out here.
10/6/20 "13th"
This week's resource is the film 13th: Combining archival footage with testimony from activists and scholars, director Ava DuVernay's examination of the U.S. prison system looks at how the country's history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America.
This piercing, Oscar-nominated film won Best Documentary at the Emmys, the BAFTAs and the NAACP Image Awards.
US Rating: TV-MA For mature audiences. May not be suitable for ages 17 and under.
This essential film can be watched on Netflix or for free on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8&t=4s
9/29/20 "Love Is The Way"
This week's resource is the newly released book Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times by Bishop Michael Curry of the Episcopal Church. Click here to learn more: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/605848/love-is-the-way-by-bishop-michael-curry-with-sara-grace/
9/22/20 UMC Panel Discussion
This week's resource is a recording of the UMC's End Racism panel discussion held on 9/16/20: The Theological Roots of Racism & Colonialism. To view, click here.
8/11/20 Intersectionality
This week's focus is on intersectionality; the ways in which our many different identities (race, gender, age, abilities, etc.) uniquely affect our experience in the world.
You are invited to listen to Justice in America Episode 6: The Faces of Mass Incarceration here: https://theappeal.org/justice-in-america-episode-6-the-faces-of-mass-incarceration/ you can listen (or read the transcript!) online or through your favorite podcasting app.
8/4/20 Indigenous Peoples
This week's focus is listening to indigenous peoples. Use this map to learn about the Native American land you live on: https://native-land.ca/ Search your address or zoom in on the map, and then click on the link(s) in the box that says "You are on the land of:" to learn more about the tribes of your area.
The non-profit organization Cultural Survival envisions a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance. Learn more and get involved here: https://www.culturalsurvival.org/.
7/21/20 Dismantling Racism - UMC Town Hall
This week's resource is a conversation in the United Methodist Church's Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom series. Watch here: https://www.umc.org/en/content/dismantling-racism-town-hall
7/14/20 The History of Race and Science
This week we will be focusing on the concept of race as a social construct that has no basis in biology. To dive deeper into the history of race and science check out:
Dope Labs: https://www.dopelabspodcast.com/podcast-episodes/lab-025-skin-deep
Science Vs: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/science-vs/6nhgxk/race-can-we-see-it-in-our-dna
In the first chapter of Dialogues on Race, we read several excerpts from this article by Bryan Stevenson https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/06/24/bryan-stevenson-on-charleston-and-our-real-problem-with-race which is an interview following the 2015 Charleston church massacre. Join me in reading the full article, which is as relevant today as it was 5 years ago.
7/8/20 Empathy
This week, let's explore the topic of empathy by listening to Finding Fred Episode 1: Genius of Empathy
This is the first episode of a podcast series called Finding Fred.
As described on fatherly.com:
"Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was not a simple show. And Fred Rogers was not a simple man. He was radical. Spiritual. Revolutionary. Maybe even subversive. On Finding Fred, Carvell Wallace, the best selling author of The Sixth Man, dives into the work of an idiosyncratic and profound thinker, asking what a beloved children’s show host can teach us about surviving and thriving in today’s chaotic world."
If you like the first episode, listen to the whole series; it is a beautiful piece!
Ways to listen:
Online: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-finding-fred-51090582/?keyid=Finding%20Fred&pname=podcast_profile&sc=widget_share
Through podcast apps on your favorite device such as apple podcasts, spotify, or stitcher.
6/30/20 1619 Project
This week you are invited to explore The 1619 Project:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/20/magazine/1619-intro.html
"The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.
6/23/20 White Privilege
Our Be The Change resources this week focus on white privilege:
For reading: White Privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack by Peggy McIntosh
https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mcintosh.pdf
For watching: Deconstructing White Privilege
https://www.umc.org/en/content/deconstructing-white-privilege-gcorr
6/16/20 Conversation
This week let's watch and listen to this conversation between two of our Peninsula neighbors: Anne Kirchmier of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and Gail Roberts of House of Open Door Full Gospel Baptist Church at this link https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2794349127342043.
If you are interested in learning more, please complete this brief form.This week's resource is a conversation in the United Methodist Church's Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom series.
Watch here: https://www.umc.org/en/content/dismantling-racism-town-hall