Anti-Racism Workshop in Austin

Saturday, February 29^th, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Rev. Neal Christie will host the workshop, “Shaping Beloved Community: From Dignity, Recognition and Inclusivity to Advocacy and Equity” at Saint John’s UMC on Saturday, February 29^th, 9:00am – 3:30pm. The event is cosponsored by the Rio Texas MFSA (Methodist Federation for Social Action) and the Saint John’s Risk-Taking Mission & Service Committee. Cost for the workshop is $10. A light lunch will be provided.

This workshop will examine the concepts of diversity, inclusivity, equity, cultural humility, and intersectionality; how both external and internalized racism and ethnocentrism create and perpetuate racist systems.  We’ll explore what it means to live in a race-dominant culture and how white privilege perpetuates that culture; what does a race-equitable culture look like?  We will look at specific public policies in the U.S. and how they perpetuate exclusion, marginalization, and oppression.

Join us as we learn more about ourselves as persons created in the image of God, and to affirm Christ’s grace in our church and society.

Rev. Christie, who serves as Assistant General Secretary for Education and Leadership Formation on the UMC General Board of Church and Society, directs the agency’s educational opportunities, including world-wide trainings, workshops, seminars, and internships. He also coordinates curriculum related to the UM Social Principles. Rev. Christie has authored a number of publications and produced several educational videos on social justice for the church. He is an elder in the Greater New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church. Neal has been devoted to the ministry with Church and Society for 20 years.

Register at https://2020anti-racism_workshop.eventbrite.com. If you have questions, please contact Anne Mund at ennadnum@hotmail.com. To pay by check, please follow the instructions at the bottom of event flyer: Anti-racism_Flyer2020

“Shaping Beloved Community: From Dignity, Recognition and Inclusivity to Advocacy and Equity”

Rev. Neal Christie,
UMC General Board of Church & Society
Assistant General Secretary for Education & Leadership Formation

Neal directs the agency’s educational opportunities including world-wide trainings, workshops, seminars, and internships. He also coordinates curriculum related to the UM Social Principles.

Saturday, February 29, 2020, 9a – 4p

Saint John’s UMC Austin

2140 Allandale Road

Austin, TX  78756

Registration information to be provided soon.

(From Michael B. Jordan, who plays Bryan Stevenson in the film…)

Every day, innocent Black people are imprisoned in our country, but we rarely see their stories on the big screen.  That’s why I’m so proud to have had an opportunity to work on Just Mercy, a film that hit theaters on January 10 and tells the story about modern day hero Bryan Stevenson and his Equal Justice Initiative.

As an actor and producer on the film, with my company Outlier Society, this is a story that I know has real implications in our world today.  Authentic storytelling can serve as a powerful deterrent to the fear and racism that drive our justice system.  When faced with the human emotion and devastating impact of injustice, we must demand change.  We must work together to keep the story from repeating itself.

We hear too often of individuals who face or challenge unjust charges in the news.  Meanwhile, entire families, communities and whole generations have been swept up into these necessary fights for freedom.

The story of Just Mercy is one of community, justice and redemption on death row.  It’s the story Black communities across the country face with evolution of slavery: our criminal justice system.

Just Mercy will bring the full story out of the shadows and I hope you are able to come out on this weekend to see what hope and fight looks like.

9 AM – 5:30 PM  October 12,  St. James’ Episcopal Church

This free one-day workshop provides a safe, open, and productive environment to learn and share about race. Snacks and lunch are provided. We’ll watch Race: The Power of an Illusion, examine concepts from Eric Law’s The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb, and share in small groups. Registration is required. Reserve your place here.