A community of practice for multiethnic ministry
By: Rob Howe and Lisa Liou, co-facilitators
In our journey as a multiethnic fellowship seeking to reach every corner of campus, white staff may have their/our own set of questions about things like:
- Navigating your own whiteness in a multiethnic context
- Leading/partnering well in ministry as a white staff among students/faculty/staff of color
- Dynamics on campus related to diversity, inclusion, and/or #BlackLivesMatter and how to participate as a white person in these conversations
You are invited to learn and share about issues of race, ethnicity, and culture with a group of white staff who are asking the same questions.
What:
A group of GFM staff engaged in intentional reflection, dialogue, and action around the topic of whiteness, including:
- What does “being white” mean? Tensions between InterVarsity’s and the academy’s notions of whiteness
- White privilege
- The social construction of race
- White responsibility for racial and ethnic shalom
- Loving white students, faculty, and colleagues
- Loving students, faculty, and colleagues of color
When:
monthly 1-hour Zoom calls and ongoing Facebook group discussion starting January-June 2017.
Who:
While the group is primarily intended for white staff, colleagues of color are welcome (though not expected) to participate in the conversation. We may invite the expertise and perspectives of colleagues of color on specific topics.
Why:
Our universal calling to love God’s people of every ethnicity and culture requires particular kinds of learning (and unlearning) for white staff. This group will complement our ongoing GFM focus on cross-cultural dexterity by offering white staff a gracious space for deeper growth on the multiethnic journey.
To join in or learn more, contact us at robahowe@gmail.com or lisa.liou@intervarsity.org.
Also of interest: You may remember the Approaching Differences image above from a bookmark last updated in 2014 that you can still print today. You can also view a video from 2000 about the diagram and personal stories that made us grow.
