Celebrating DiversityCelebrating Diversity

The Clothing of EqualityThe Clothing of Equality

Disciples of ChristDisciples of ChristDemographicsDemographics

3000 Anglo congregations3000 Anglo congregations 432 Convocation congregations432 Convocation congregations 172 Hispanic congregations172 Hispanic congregations 85 NAPAD congregations (approx.)85 NAPAD congregations (approx.) 100 Haitian congregations100 Haitian congregations

Ethnic constituencies represent Ethnic constituencies represent approximately approximately 21%21% of total Disciples of total Disciples

congregationscongregations

CultureCulture

Relating to ethnicity, as well as socio-Relating to ethnicity, as well as socio-economic circumstances and gender, economic circumstances and gender, in a group, society or institution; in a group, society or institution; including values, beliefs and patterns including values, beliefs and patterns of thinking of thinking

Interpersonal RelationshipInterpersonal Relationship

Concerning or involving relationships Concerning or involving relationships between people. Interpersonal between people. Interpersonal behaviors may be intentional or behaviors may be intentional or unintentional.unintentional.

PrejudicePrejudice

A preformed opinion, usually an A preformed opinion, usually an unfavorable one, based on unfavorable one, based on insufficient knowledge, irrational insufficient knowledge, irrational feelings or inaccurate stereotypes. feelings or inaccurate stereotypes. This could be based on a pre-This could be based on a pre-judgment and evaluation using one’s judgment and evaluation using one’s own or one’s group’s standards as own or one’s group’s standards as the right (and only) way.the right (and only) way.

DiscriminationDiscrimination

Treating people differently through Treating people differently through prejudice. Unfair treatment of one prejudice. Unfair treatment of one person or group, usually because of person or group, usually because of prejudice about race, ethnic group, prejudice about race, ethnic group, age group, religion, gender, sexual age group, religion, gender, sexual orientation, physical disabilities orientation, physical disabilities and/or physical characteristics and/or physical characteristics

TransformationTransformation

A complete change, usually into A complete change, usually into something with an improved something with an improved appearance or usefulness and appearance or usefulness and understanding, as in a paradigm shift understanding, as in a paradigm shift (which is a radical change in (which is a radical change in somebody’s basic assumptions about somebody’s basic assumptions about or approach to something).or approach to something).

MOVIEMOVIE

Movie Discussion QuestionsMovie Discussion Questions

o Have you seen any of these practices in your Have you seen any of these practices in your own community or workplace? Describeown community or workplace? Describe

o What impact do you believe these practices What impact do you believe these practices have on the society in which you live?have on the society in which you live?

Life WalkLife Walk

Life Walk DiscussionLife Walk Discussion

Are there things in your life you have taken for granted that you now see have not been available to everyone in this room? Discuss.

PSALM 146: 1-2PSALM 146: 1-2

Praise the Lord!Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I will praise the Lord as long as I live;I will praise the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God all my life I will sing praises to my God all my life long.long.

Adonna and Judy’s PsalmAdonna and Judy’s PsalmPraise the Lord!Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I praise the Lord for my deep faith roots, I praise the Lord for my deep faith roots, planted by my ancestoral family.planted by my ancestoral family.

I sing praises to God for the gift of I sing praises to God for the gift of nurturing new life into its fullness.nurturing new life into its fullness.

I thank God for the experiences and I thank God for the experiences and wisdom gained through friendships with wisdom gained through friendships with

my sisters of faith.my sisters of faith.

Praise the Lord, O my soul!Praise the Lord, O my soul!

OUR RESPONSIBILITYOUR RESPONSIBILITY

One by one relationship buildingOne by one relationship building Attend one another’s churches and Attend one another’s churches and

eventsevents Make everything we do inclusive of 100% Make everything we do inclusive of 100%

of the people in our areaof the people in our area Find our voices and use themFind our voices and use them TeachTeach Be the role model for othersBe the role model for others

A Dazzling BouquetA Dazzling Bouquet

Mine is the church Mine is the church

where everybody’s welcome.where everybody’s welcome.

I know it’s trueI know it’s true

‘‘cuz I got through the door.cuz I got through the door.

We are a dazzling bouquetWe are a dazzling bouquet

of every kind of flower.of every kind of flower.

Jump in the vaseJump in the vase

‘‘cuz we’ve got space for more.cuz we’ve got space for more.

Come here all you six foot gladiolas,Come here all you six foot gladiolas,

Come, all you purple lilacs shining bright.Come, all you purple lilacs shining bright.

Come, let us all bloom together in the Come, let us all bloom together in the garden:garden:

A carnival of fragrance and delight.A carnival of fragrance and delight.

Mine is the church Mine is the church

where everybody’s welcome.where everybody’s welcome.

I know it’s trueI know it’s true

‘‘cuz I got through the door.cuz I got through the door.

We are a dazzling bouquetWe are a dazzling bouquet

of every kind of flower.of every kind of flower.

Jump in the vaseJump in the vase

‘‘cuz we’ve got space for more.cuz we’ve got space for more.

We don’t simply We don’t simply

tolerate each other;tolerate each other;

We ask and tell; We ask and tell;

we don’t just turn away.we don’t just turn away.

We give attention We give attention

to every bud and blossom.to every bud and blossom.

Let every face come Let every face come

grace the grand bouquet.grace the grand bouquet.

Mine is the church Mine is the church

where everybody’s welcome.where everybody’s welcome.

I know it’s trueI know it’s true

‘‘cuz I got through the door.cuz I got through the door.

We are a dazzling bouquetWe are a dazzling bouquet

of every kind of flower.of every kind of flower.

Jump in the vaseJump in the vase

‘‘cuz we’ve got space for more.cuz we’ve got space for more.

Our demons keepOur demons keep

trying to divide us;trying to divide us;

They document their liesThey document their lies

to make them true.to make them true.

Today we’re freedToday we’re freed

from our judging and excluding.from our judging and excluding.

Just look around,Just look around,

enjoy the lovely view.enjoy the lovely view.

Mine is the church Mine is the church

where everybody’s welcome.where everybody’s welcome.

I know it’s trueI know it’s true

‘‘cuz I got through the door.cuz I got through the door.

We are a dazzling bouquetWe are a dazzling bouquet

of every kind of flower.of every kind of flower.

Jump in the vaseJump in the vase

‘‘cuz we’ve got space for more.cuz we’ve got space for more.