September book discussion: “Dear White Christians”

We’ve lamented the death of Philando Castile in Falcon Heights. We’ve prayed for black men killed by police, for police officers killed while protecting protesters, for the families of all involved. We exhibited peace cranes at our church, and some of us have gone to public gatherings to listen and discuss what happened.

Now what? As Christians who are predominantly white, how do we take the next step toward racial justice? Dear White ChristiansOne place to start is “Dear White Christians: For Those Still Longing for Racial Reconciliation,” a book by Drake University religion professor Jennifer Harvey.

Harvey believes strongly that the ideal of racial reconciliation is the wrong focus—in fact, she thinks it’s “a primary reason we remain so un-reconciled across racial lines.” Harvey advocates instead for a “reparations paradigm,” one of repentance and repair toward communities of color.

Join us for four Thursday evenings in September to discuss these challenging ideas. We’ll meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 8, 15 and 22. (You don’t have to finish the book to participate.) You can purchase the book online here or here.

If you plan to attend, please email Linda Owen at [email protected] or call her at 651-357-5792 to sign up.