TEAM LEADERS
By Juanita Carpenter
ST. LOUIS,
Missouri—Curtis
May, director of the Office of Reconciliation Ministries, conducted a
reconciliation conference in St. Louis, Oct. 25 to 27.
About 100 people attended, including five chapter leaders. We added a new chapter leader, Pam Harris. She was commissioned by Pastor Karl Reinagel, Mr. May and the other chapter leaders.
New Creation in Christ Church (St. Louis North), pastored by Mr. Reinagel, was the host church. Discussions of cultural and racial differences were handled in a non-accusatory, caring and educational way.
“At the reconciliation weekend many things were revealed,” Mr. Reinagel said. “The deep pain of African-Americans and their struggle with prejudices that affect all of life. It really was an outstanding time of learning and growing for the local members who participated,”
Attendees learned how to handle reconciliation in a Christian manner. The following are steps to reconciling. Confession: stating the truth, acknowledgment of the unjust or hurtful actions of my people or myself toward other people or categories of people. Repentance: turning from unloving to loving actions. Reconciliation: expressing and receiving forgiveness, and pursuing intimate fellowship with previous enemies. Restitution: attempting to restore that which has been damaged or destroyed, and seeking justice wherever we have power to act or to influence those in authority to act.
Various videos were shown that covered the positive and negative history of America’s race relations.
The workshop ended with
communion.
TEAM LEADERS
Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2004