Racial Reconciliation & Justice Resources

This resource list is an evolving document created by leaders and pastors at Mosaic who have responded to the Holy Spirit’s leading to engage in racial reconciliation and justice.  Our hope and intention as a church is to humbly listen, learn, empathize, repent, and then act.  We believe that our nation is experiencing a critical moment and that we are compelled by the love of Jesus to participate in a way that will contribute to healing and wholeness–rather than the continued denial of the Black experience in our nation and the historical impact, personal pain, and systemic un-health caused by slavery.  

The resources here have been helpful in our learning of the racial complexity of our nation, specifically between black and white.  While we do not agree with everything written, spoken, sung, or performed below, we do believe they have something to offer to inform our understanding and challenge our assumptions. It’s our hope that you will engage these resources with an open mind and submit your heart to the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you listen, watch, think, and process. He will guide us into all truth. (John 16:33)

— Tim Osborn, Lead Pastor

Be the Bridge Groups

This summer, Mosaic leaders are piloting a Be the Bridge group with the hopes of multiplying. Be the Bridge is a Jesus-centered non-profit that “empowers people and culture  toward racial healing, equity and reconciliation”. Bridge Builders participate in an intentional nine-session community of a diverse 3-12 individuals. 
 
If your heart beats to participate, or you want to learn more as groups become available throughout the next year, sign up HERE.

The work of justice and reconciliation is right in line with being a disciple of Jesus. As a church family who is learning to follow Jesus in authentic community for the world, we must continue to emphasize the need to participate in bringing about racial justice and reconciliation. Simply put, this is part of following Jesus. Naming the sin of racism, lamenting with our brothers and sisters of color, repenting, and moving in step with the Spirit of our God of justice is difficult but necessary work. 

 Jesus came into the world to reconcile the world to himself and to reconcile formerly hostile communities to one another (Ephesians 2; 2 Corinthians 5). Jesus entrusted this ministry of reconciliation to the church. Racial reconciliation is not an optional aspect of the church or a niche issue reserved only for more “liberal” congregations; racial reconciliation is central to the church’s gospel mission.

 We believe that as Mosaic actively engages with aligning to be in step with Jesus and fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit, it will require us to have a robust merger of Good Theology, Good History, and Good Praxis guiding the way. This evolving list of resources can be used to help guide us along the way. Dive in with a spirit of humility, self-reflection and learning.

 

Definitions

Racial Reconciliation

Reconciliation involves three ideas. First, it recognizes that racism in America is both systemic and institutionalized, with far-reaching effects on both political engagement and economic opportunities for minorities. Second, reconciliation is engendered by empowering local communities through relationship-building and truth-telling. Lastly, justice is the essential component of the conciliatory process—justice that is best termed as restorative rather than retributive.

 

Racial Justice

The proactive reinforcement of policies, practices, attitudes and actions that produce equitable power, access, opportunities, treatment, impacts and outcomes for all.

Racism

Racism is a belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another. It is also a system of advantage based on race, involving cultural messages, misuse of power, and institutional bias, in addition to the racist beliefs and actions of individuals.

Prejudice

Prejudice is a preconceived judgment or opinion about a person or group of people, usually based on limited information and stereotyped generalizations.

implicit Bias

The Kirwan Institute defines implicit bias as “the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner…activated involuntarily, unconsciously, and without one’s awareness or intentional control.”

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