BLeach

Leroy Barber on Building a Blended Church

I enjoyed a question and answer time with Leroy Barber.  Good to ask him some questions as an African American leader about how I, as a young white pastor, can work for racial reconciliation.

Some of his responses:

• Value personal relationships to avoid taking a "token approach" to reconciliation
• Don't lead out of guilt.  You'll especially be tempted toward guilt because of your benefits from white privilege.  But guilt doesn't motivate. 
• When a blend does begin to build, look for new vehicles to express it.  Give it fresh art, new music, and new literature.  Tell the story to your community.
• White leaders need to take the cape off.  We're not here to save the day.  Instead, our best contribution is by simply becoming part of the "beautiful community."

Q: Day 1

Long day. Good day. First day at Q.

I was going to post more information from each presentation, but instead I'll just send you to Scott's blog since he's already done it!

I did have the opportunity to connect with two different people who are church planting in my neck of the woods.  The first is actually the guy I was randomly selected to sit next to.  He planted a universtiy church in Ann Arbor, targeting students at U of M.  I sat next to the second guy in one of the breakout sessions.  (He was wearing a Detroit Lions hat).  When I saw the hat I knew...this guy's from Michigan.  You've got to understand, no one adopts the Lions.  Come to find out, he's working toward planting a church in downtown Detroit and works ten minutes from our church. 

And I had to come all the way to NYC to meet him:)