Worship Lab – Coming Soon!

Book Study: How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

In November/December, Rev. Cathi King and I led a presbytery-wide book study on How to be an Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.  Thursdays@Noon via Zoom.

Praised by the New York Times as “The most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind,” Kendi’s groundbreaking work provides an essential counterpoint in the national conversation about race and resonates in this collective moment of reckoning. The term Kendi introduces—being an anti-racist—sets forth the idea that people can either be racist or anti-racist, and that there is no in-between.  Racists, he argues, are people who support racist policies through their actions, inactions or ideas; anti-racists actively confront racial inequalities. Being neutral isn’t enough. Dr. Kendi urges us to actively combat racist systems and policies, and provides tools to do so. We hope you will join us for this important conversation, which will continue to shape our Matthew 25 identity, and continue the discussion seeking racial justice begun with our previous Robin DiAngelo book study.

You may also want to secure a copy of the book now.  It is currently listed at Amazon (Kindle/Audiobook versions also available). CAUTION: There are numerous workbooks, summaries, large print editions, and translations in German of his book. So be careful as you order. The cheapest at the time I ordered was a $16.20 Hard Cover edition.

Dr. Kendi is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities and the Founding Director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research as well as a the recipient of the National Book Award (in 2016 for Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America), a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a contributor at The Atlantic and a CBS News correspondent.

-Matt

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White Fragility Book Study

Thursdays at Noon via Zoom: July 16-August 20.  

Lanie Sipes and I hosted a book study on “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism” by Robin DiAngelo.  Lanie is the Associate Pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Toledo; I am the General Presbyter of Maumee Valley Presbytery, although the discussion was not limited to folks in our presbytery.  It was open to all and included 45 people from around the nation.

We are wanting to help us carry the anti-racism conversation forward, spurned by  recent events in our country that have once again shined a light on the deep impact that racism continues to have on our nation.  Our goal is to provide a safe place for discussion, as we seek racial justice together.

Registration happened through Zoom

Syllabus

-Matt

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Managing COVID-19 & Anti-Racism Discussions w/ Church Leaders

Every Wednesday at 3pm, Matt hosts a zoom coffee hour/discussion for the pastoral leaders of Maumee Valley Presbytery as they work for racial justice and managing the COVID-19 situation.  If you are looking to join this time of discussion, support, prayer, and exploration, drop Matt an email.  It meets in his personal Zoom room.

Register here