The Power of the Family Reunion
Berry Family Reunion
This weekend, I participated in the Berry family reunion in Houston, Texas. This reunion celebrates my wife’s family on her dad’s side. The theme of the weekend was “legacy.” Besides the very hot weather (100 degrees the whole time), this has been a very powerful time. I love attending family reunions. It was about 20 years ago when my life was greatly impacted thru a family reunion on my mother’s side of the family.
At that reunion I found out that my great, great grandfather was full-blooded Irish and married a woman who was half African-American and half Native American. I left that family reunion years ago embracing that I’m African-American and also multi-ethnic. A few years later, while in seminary, I unpacked further Jesus Christ as the Son of God and as a multi-ethnic Jew, who was the Son of Man (Matthew 1). These two discoveries have had a tremendous influence on discovering my ministry calling.
I wonder how many people are disconnected from their life mission, simply because they are disconnected from their family tree and cultural heritage?
At the Berry family reunion, many people shared on the power of family and the importance of legacy. Our ability to leave a legacy in the earth is deeply connected to an intimate relationship with God and having a deep understanding of our heritage. This, I believe has become a great weakness for many of my European-American brothers and sisters. By becoming White, they have become greatly disconnected from a heritage that could possibly fuel a deeper understanding of life and mission. I believe African-Americans could offer a great gift to our European-American brothers and sisters, by being more public in conversations about the power of heritage and legacy. There are people of all ethnicities who have become disconnected from family and heritage. Allow God to speak to you about discovering the power of your own family heritage and legacy regardless of ethnicity or racial background. You may discover your life mission.
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Efrem, in order to really have an impact on racial relations, you really have to learn to get through the stereotypes and develope a better understanding of where most people are on these issues. Being both Swedish ancestry and African ancestry, raised in an urban environment, I have experienced what YOU would call a full range of cultural experiences. I can tell you without question that you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. The people on the Swedish American side think exactly like my relatives on the African American side. You are constantly trying to point out “the differences.”. In the family of Christ, both sides are Christians, I really haven’t seen a difference. I think you need to stop watching documentaries and meet those who took part in the events you for some reason think you know so much about, ie, the Civil Rights Movement. You want to follow the lead of “your champion” Gary Walter, and attack everything in the past through a “politically correct” lens. Comments from Gary Walters, 7/7/11 in Santa Cruz, that all missionaries in the past were “forcefull neck bending” ogres and Adam Edgerly’s, 4/23/10 at Mission Springs Conference Center comments, that the early members of the Covenant denomination were racists, are not only untrue, but disgraceful. Hanging around doctor and lawyer “frat bothers” dressed in dockers and button downs, does not make you an expert on race, even if they are African American. Focus on the unity of Christ and stop trying to analyze things you know nothing about. At least listen to the Lionel’s of this world.
Peter,
As I read your comments, my first thought was, “Why does this Brother read my blog?” It is obvious that you disagree with everything that that I write, so I’m guessing your main objective is attack. You are not trying to understand what I’m really trying to say. Your attacks are made without knowing more about my back ground.
One, I have done deep research and through relationships gotten in touch with my own multi-ethnic and multicultural heritage.
Two, I have written books and multiple articles on biblical solutions towards racial reconciliation and unity.
Three, I pastored a church for 8 years that was committed to advancing the Kingdom of God and racial reconciliation. That church is still going on today.
I consult with many evangelical organizations that have not drawn your conclusions about my theology or approach.
With all this, I know that I’m not above mistakes or error. I am very open to healthy critique that leads to solutions. Beyond your attacks, I ask you to offer your own writings providing solutions.
Your comments about Gary Walter and Adam Edgerly are way out of context. You would have a hard time trying to prove that there is no racism in the Covenant or Swedish past. At the same time the ECC is a pioneering movement of reconciliation. I have spoken with former ECC Swedish presidents and superintendents who have shared with me the ECC’s struggles with race and gender.
I’m open to healthy dialogue, but I wish you would desire more than attacks.
Efrem, My main issue is not your goals, but your tactics. It is unfair and untrue to paint the Covenanters of the past as “racists” and past missionaries as “oppressive.”. Were there racist Covenanters in the past? I’m sure there were. However, it is wrong to slander all those who have gone on before. Never have I heard Gary talk about those saints who went before, who mortgaged their homes to build a world missions program which is flourishing 75 years later. Were they racists? I never heard Adam refer to those Covenanters who took the money when they sold their own church buildings and invested it into the new multiple ethnic/ intercity churches we have been blessed with. Were they racists? Isn’t it more Biblical to inspire with these examples, instead of trying to tear them down? How does this build racial unity and reconciliation?
Finally, your personal issues on race may not be the same ones others are dealing with. For example, when the Promise Keepers ministry first started, with the goal to equip men to be better Christian fathers, sons, employers, employees, etc…, it was wonderful. Men of all races sat intermixed in stadiums all across this country: singing, sharing and praising God together- this was the TRUE mosaic we dream about. However, several years into the ministry, one of it’s founders, feeling convicted of his own racists past, decided that the emphasis of the ministry should be “racial reconciliation”. I sat in one meeting where all the white men were told they should turn to the nearest person of color and humbly apologize for 400 years of institutionalized American racism. Has their been a history of racism in this country? Without a doubt. However, the white guys at that event were not necessarily the ones who should have been apologizing. Suddenly, the men of all races became uncomfortable. Promise Keepers has never recovered. How sad that a wonderful ministry was damaged by one man’s, misguided, though well intentioned, miscalculation. I don’t know what these past presidents of the ECC shared with you, but maybe, just maybe, they may not have been referring to all Covenanters.
Peter,
I thank you very much for your reply and I feel that I have more understanding of where you are coming from. Let me offer a few things in response-
1.) I’ve never said in any sermon or blog post that all of Covenant history is a racist history. I don’t believe that all Swedish members past or present were, or are racists. I’ve been blessed by people such as Jim Hawkinson, Dave Olson, Mark Stromberg, Jim Frethiem, Don Johnson, Kurt Peterson, Evelyn Johnson, and many others who have taught me much about the Covenant past. I have also read many books about the Covenant past. I joined the Covenant 9 years ago because of its heritage and future goals. I would have never left my activity in the National Baptist Convention USA if I didn’t affirm who the Covenant is.
2.) If you listen to my sermon which is on-line right now at http://www.covchurch.org, you will hear me talk of those Covenant members of the past who sacrificed so much for evangelism and missions. This is really one of my main points. One of the issues in the Covenant is that we’ve forgotten about the richness of our immigrant past. The drift from an immigrant identity into Whiteness is one of the reasons we haven’t more fully realized unity and a deeper sense of being a reconciled community.
3.) I’ve heard many sermons from Gary and Adam on the sacrifices of those Swedish immigrant who God used to develop the Swedish Covenant Church affectionately know as the Mission Friends.
4.) All this to say, you seem to only want to celebrate the good of the Covenant and have little interest in unpacking or taking responsibility for its mistakes and maybe even its sins of the past. Are you saying the Covenant history is without mistakes or sin? If that is true, this denomination would be the only one to be able to say that. Are you saying the Covenant has never struggle with racism or sexism? I believe the answer to these questions are well documented. As a regional Superintendent of the Covenant I have no problem in both celebrating the richness of our heritage and also taking responsibility for when and where we have missed the mark.
I hope that you will come to understand my great love for the Covenant, but also that we are in need of prophetic voices within it as well. Also, I have a different take on Promise Keepers than you. When Promise Keepers lifted up a conservative political agenda they had many supporters. When they rooted Christian theology in individualism that had great financial support. But when it was time to deal with the real issues of race within this country, between men, and within the church, many conservative White males were not interested. This is a truth that you can’t be denied. White privilege and racism is still a very real sin in our society. Many Whites see racism as an individual issue and not a societal one. My question for you is this, do you see racism as both a societal issue and a church issue? If so, how do we address this sin?
Efrem
Hi Efrem, Thank you for your thoughtful response. As I wrote, I do believe there is racism everywhere and, as I wrote, I’m positive there are examples of it in the history of the Covenant and at the present. These are further examples of the stains of our sinful nature, which God heals with His grace. What concerns me is that we approach these issues in a manner that corrects and heals. In order to do this we must assure several important ground rules are followed: that we deal with the issues in a factually correct method; that we do not politicize these issues or the Gospel; and that we be honest to deal with the issues from all angles. This is where I tend to diverge from Gary and Adam’s approach ( let me state that even though I have criticisms of these two men, I do have high personal regard for them and do not, for one second, believe they have anything, but the best of intentions.). I just cannot fathom how addressing a group of individuals, 75% who are minority and have only been in this denomination for less than 3 to 4 years, and telling them that they would not be accepted as brothers and sisters in Christ, because of their race, edifies them or anyone in Christ. As Adam makes this statement, how does he expect them to process this information? How does this unite the body? If he thinks this is an ongoing sin, why doesn’t he address those he believes are commiting it? This doesnt even take into account that his comment comment was, actually, factually untrue.
Next, even though I agree there are long term consequences playing out in this nation as a result of past racism, most of the racism today is based on different issues than it was based on 50 years ago. Promise Keepers was out of step in their understanding of racism. They short changed the complexities of the issues. Racism of 50 years ago and earlier was mostly based on an argument of intrinsic inferiority of non-whites. Today, while I’m certain there are a few laughable nuts who are still harboring such feelings, racism is more of an argument among siblings, “she got more than I did.” etc…… There are several university studies memorializing this change. While someone like Gary, growing up in lilly white Marin County 40 years ago, might think they have a handle on what the issues of racism are, I assure they do not. I’m sure the whites in those enclaves had different issues with race than those who lived in the inner city. Also, there are issues within minority groups that have influenced “progress.”. As I have stated, I am half African American. My uncle was very active in the NAACP. He always criticized that the personal goals of “wealthy” minorities were many times at the expense of “poor” minorities. Thus, when Richard Nixon signed the first Affirmative Action laws, “wealthy” minorities lobbied hard to have the only criteria be race instead of race and financial need. Note note “race and financial need” not “race or financial need.”. This favored the children of wealthy minorities over poor minorities. It upset my uncle, who voted against it, and today it still prevents the provisions of those laws from benefiting the most needy in our society, minorities stuck in the inner city, who have bad schools, crime, and have little hope of reversing the downward cycles without outside help. And, finally, I don’t understand how it is edifying for Promise Keepers to tell my white friend ( who worked as a dishwasher to get through business school and was layed off from his job that very afternoon, along with five other white guys, because our employer was required to keep the minority guys, me being one of them) I brought with me to the last Promise Keepers event I attended, that he needed to turn to me and the other minorities around hin and apologize for 400 years of white oppression in American. Are you serious Efrem? You think that is appropriate? As long as we don’t realize that these are complex issues, inflamed by careless comments such as Adam’s, we will continue to reap the disention we sow.