"The Other Side of the River"
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 sense of call to community and to the congregation in such a way as to be a model of social justice and racial reconciliation that is genuine and consistent to each.
This is the place I would like to start. How can communication increase and grow?
Kotlowitz, Alex. The Other Side of the River. New York: Anchor Books. 1998
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 sense of call to community and to the congregation in such a way as to be a model of social justice and racial reconciliation that is genuine and consistent to each.
This is the place I would like to start. How can communication increase and grow?
Kotlowitz, Alex. The Other Side of the River. New York: Anchor Books. 1998
Comments
Post a Comment