Theological Reflections with Teenagers in the Wake of Charlottesville

Description

Dietrich Kirk and Andrew Zirschky are "white youth workers working in predominantly white contexts, where discussions of racism are all too rare (something that must change)." They denounce silence about white supremacy and encourage conversations about race. They have put together a 5 step Biblical resource that can help guide conversations about race with teenagers.

Travis Garner, pastor of The Village in Nashville (a predominantly white congregation) wrote what the authors believe is an inspired post in the aftermath of Charlottesville titled, “I’m not being Political, I’m being Theological.” Garner says, “When I became a follower of Jesus, I pledged to follow a leader whose love and grace transcend the borders of nationality, race, gender, ethnicity, and any other human category. When I became a follower of Jesus, I gave up my ‘freedom of speech,’ and I made a vow instead to speak life, truth, grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness, even when it’s difficult, even when it doesn’t serve my own interests.”

The resource uses the Practical Theological Reflection Method (PTRM), which involves posing a series of questions in five steps that lead a group of teenagers through the four moments of practical theology. The five steps are: Step 1: Telling the Story; Step 2: Why That Moment; Step 3: What Culture Says; Step 4: God's View (which is filled with Bible verses for the teenagers to look up and consider) and Step 5: Aligning with God's View.

Subject

Racial Justice

Creator

Dietrich Kirk
Andrew Zirschky

Date

August 18, 2017

Format

Text

Language

English

Type

Text

Coverage

United States

Comments

Citation

Dietrich Kirk and Andrew Zirschky, “Theological Reflections with Teenagers in the Wake of Charlottesville,” Antiracism Digital Library, accessed March 29, 2024, https://sacred.omeka.net/items/show/231.