Minnetonka UMC Commission on Religion & Race

07/19/2022

Thank you for your donations during worship yesterday, church! Together, $164.51 was given for the Center 4 Reconciliation. We're off to a great start!

02/11/2022

Wonderful to see Hopkins Public Schools calendar equity work in this article.

Muslim students in three Minnesota school districts will no longer have to choose between honoring their religious traditions and attending classes. They, and the educators who shepherded the school calendar changes, are hailing their adoption as a pivotal moment. Minneapolis and Hopkins also added....

02/04/2022

The journey of good work doesn’t end where your discomfort begins ⚠️

Conversations about race, justice, and equity are hard. It’s just the truth. And when we’re asked to interrogate our own biases or complicity, it gets even harder.

Friends, attempting to shield ourselves from discomfort is not the answer ❤️

Your feelings of discomfort are trying to tell you something. Think of them as gentle nudges, alerting you that something is challenging what you currently know, and guiding you towards taking the next right step.

➡️ Do I need to slow down and sit with this topic to consider where I might have made a misstep?
➡️ Is this a learning moment for me? What is the lesson here?
➡️ Could I take a more nuanced approach and ponder a change in perspective?
➡️ Is this conversation, book, article, or curriculum showing me that there is a better way? Does this intimidate me? Why?

Making sweeping decisions to ensure that we never experience discomfort at the expense of harming others and perpetuating inequity does a great disservice to us all. We are all connected to each other.

Wrong turns will happen. You’ll often feel like you’re running out of gas. But treating discomfort as a pit stop instead of the end of the road will keep you fueled up as you journey on ☀️

(wow I really stayed dedicated to this analogy, didn’t I 😂 enough puns sis! we get it!!)

02/04/2022

MUMC ADVOCATES FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY

Minnetonka United Methodist Church, along with several local faith communities, have written the Minnetonka Public School Board to advocate for a commitment to educational equity as a key value in the search for its next Superintendent. A joint statement from the congregations may be found below:

As congregations that include past and current families served by the Minnetonka Schools, we believe it is critical that the leader of our school district has demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in public schools. Beyond the essential act of creating a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and staff, a commitment to educational equity will also help our students navigate a complex world while celebrating the differences that make us strong as a community.

As the School Board considers its next superintendent, please read and reflect upon the “Equitable Education Imperatives” being sought by students within our school district as a part of the Minnetonka Coalition for Equitable Education MCEE. At this juncture, we believe it is critical that the leadership profile for the next Superintendent reflects someone with a long-term vision for the district that strives for educational equity in pursuit of excellence. Our next superintendent should be able to evaluate the systems in Minnetonka that contribute to educational inequities and make changes to address these inequities.

We, as faith partners across this community, challenge you to pursue excellence in equity and inclusion as you recruit and select the next leader of Minnetonka Schools - doing less would be a mistake.

This moment presents an opportunity not just for Minnetonka Schools, but for our community as a whole.

Minnetonka United Methodist Church
St. Luke Presbyterian Church
Excelsior United Methodist Church
Trinity Episcopal Church, Excelsior
St. David's Episcopal Church

06/19/2021

United Methodist Women is the largest denominational faith organization for women with approximately 800,000 members whose mission is fostering spiritual growth, developing leaders and advocating for justice.

06/10/2021

“Expanding the Table” — New GCORR Podcast on Practicing Anti-Racism

Checkout Episode 1: Racism, Police Reform, and Faith

Episode 1: Racism, Police Reform, and Faith

06/10/2021

6 Ways White People Can Observe Juneteenth

Respectfully attend or volunteer at events. Ask your local sponsor of Juneteenth events and your Black friends, colleagues, and church friends how you can help. Volunteer for the clean-up/set-up crews. Help staff information booths, if appropriate. If you attend as a guest, be respectful. Do not wear African daishikis or kente cloth without first asking permission. While you may intend it as appreciation, others may view it as cultural appropriation.

Preach and teach about the current face of racism. Many white people have been socialized to see racism as a challenge of the distant past. However, full voting rights and equal education for African Americans were not granted until the 1950s and 1960s. In The United Methodist Church, some annual conferences had legalized racism until the 1970s. The U.S. Church is still largely segregated in worship and work. White Christians must grapple with their role in perpetrating racism and work to heed God’s call to “let justice roll down.” Use sermons, worship, and church media to educate and inspire your congregation.

Support Black churches, charities, and businesses. Make a regular tithe or donation to a local African American church, a United Methodist campus ministry at a historically Black college or university, or community ministry or scholarship-fund supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Make deliberate efforts to support Black-owned businesses and services.

Listen and read. Juneteenth offers an opportunity for white friends and family to learn more about the realities African-Americans face and the contributions they make to the church, community, and world. Listen to this podcast with Jasmine Bradshaw, which further explains Juneteenth history and ways your family can celebrate the holiday.

Confront the history in your community. Learn about the history of enslaved Black people in your local area and state. Explore the history of your church and its leaders and develop ways that your congregations can make tangible amends and reparations.

Church school and small groups: Discuss Juneteenth’s history and current implications for African Americans. Invite a local Black history teacher or museum curator to speak, or watch the Ava DuVernay’s Netflix documentary, 13th: From Slave to Criminal with one Amendment, which explores the U.S. journey from the enslavement of Black people to the school-to-prison pipeline. A study guide for the film is available.

What is Juneteenth? An overview of its historical origins from history.com : Juneteenth (June 19) marks the day in 1865 when U.S. federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure all African Americans were freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half