Which Side Is the Other Side?

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul… Psalm 42:4a (RSV) Are you a Baptist? United Methodist? Presbyterian? Episcopalian? An Adventist? Or maybe a Non-denominational Christian? Or maybe not a Christian at all. Are you Republican or Democrat? Liberal or Conservative? Pro this or pro that? Do you believe in the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus or maybe even Peter Pan? All of these beliefs and thoughts make us who we are. The problem with all this diversity is that we can start to build fences and not celebrate our differences. God made us all unique and special, but do we really celebrate that as well as we could? I have been a pastor for over twenty years. During this time I have served a diversity of congregations. Each time I meet a congregation they want to know where I stand on many issues. How do you serve communion? In the pews or do you have people come forward? Do you read your sermon or are you able to use an outline and be comfortable? These questions lead up to what they re...

The Process Benton Harbor and St Joseph are known as the “Twin Cities.” This name is not very accurate to the true picture of these cities as you can see by the following Census information. Benton Harbor Caucasian 5.49% African American 92.40% Household Income $17,471 St. Joseph Caucasian 90.31 African American 5.11% Household Income $37,032 (Census 2008) My congregation in St Joseph is not racially diverse. They struggle with the differences of the communities. Because of their fears and differences they have only engaged the community of Benton Harbor in very nominal ways. They tend to see little value in a connection with the people on the "Other Side of the River." 1. Statement of Core Problematic In living out my call from God to model social justice and racial reconciliation within the larger community I anticipate there will be lines of tension between that call and my call as pastor within a homogeneous congregation. 2. The Learning Goal: I will engage my sen...