Decolonizing Church: Mobilizing Missional Communities

by | May 23, 2022 | Uncategorized

“To those who need profound succor and strength to enable them to live in the present with dignity and creativity, Christianity often has been sterile and of little avail. The conventional Christian word is muffled, confused, and vague. Too often the price exacted by society for security and respectability is that the Christian movement in its formal expression must be on the side of the strong against the eak.” – Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited

Howard Thurman expresses a truth that his mentee Martin King also discerned in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” through this haunting question: “Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the status quo to save our nation and the world?” This continues to be one of the biggest challenges for the church to this day, perhaps more than ever. It is urgent for churches to move beyond conventional staff-centric and self-serving mission and discipleship models. Come learn about how the history of Black prophetic spirituality can shape a decolonizing model of mission and discipleship to unleash everyday dissident disciples* for spiritual formation and social impact in local communities.

  • This course is for pastors, church planters, faith-based nonprofit leaders, seminary students, faith-based activists and organizers, religious educators, congregational lay leaders, and any leaders who: Are looking for a fresh, decentralized, and decolonized approach to mission and discipleship.
  • Want to see how social justice and activism can be at the center of your church’s mission and discipleship.
  • Want to be inspired by stories of ordinary disciples growing in decolonized faith that informs their social action.
  • Are ready to take away tools and language to share with your church or organization to get started with developing leaders and communities of decolonized practice.

    • INSTRUCTOR: Rev. Brandon Wrencher