Reflections from the Journey

Over the last year or so I’ve done some reading and reflecting on recently published material on anti-racism topics. Some of the reading has been invitational and reflective. Some has revealed how little I’ve known about depth of the racial injustices perpetrated against persons of color in our nation’s history. Some of it has shown me how the US churches themselves have put up barriers and acted in discriminatory ways. All of it has been challenging in one way or another. Part of the challenge is to do more than read - to move to take action, to live differently, to be transformed into an agent of change in the world.

My most recent book acquisition is “The Spiritual Work of Racial Justice: A Month of Meditations with Ignatius of Loyola” by Patrick Saint-Jean, S.J. As a native of Haiti, he speaks as a person of color and frames this book in material of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Believe me, it will take me more than a month to pray my way through these reflections, poetry, and journaling exercises. The material of the Ignatian Exercises is designed to help us ground ourselves more deeply in God so that we are transformed to follow Christ more closely in our everyday life. So here are some challenging words quoted from Deborah Cohan in the very first day of the materials:

“If I truly want to be part of the solution,
I need to explore those parts of me
That are most unwholesome, embarrassing, unflattering,
….My goal is to dismantle the insidious thoughts
That reinforce a hierarchy based on race,
Education, and other markers of privilege
That separate me from others.
These thoughts, fed by implicit bias,
Are more common than I find easy to admit.
Although I know not to believe everything I think,
I also know that thoughts guide attention,
And attention guides actions.
Until I bring to light and hold myself accountable
For my own racist tendencies, I am contributing to racism.”

It’s a tall order to go about this work. And we are called to undertake this challenge in the ways that we are able, in our own circumstances, with as much honesty as we can muster, and with compassion for ourselves and others on the journey. It is the work of a lifetime. And the work of each day as we live into our faith in Christ, the one who welcomed all.

Blessings for the journey,

Connie R. Burkholder
Interim District Executive

Interim District Executive’s Schedule

June 27 – July 4 Connie Burkholder will be attending the Council of District Executive meetings and Annual Conference meetings, all online.

Connie will take a week of vacation July 5 – 11. During this time, please contact Andrea Garnett, our Administrative Assistant for the District Office, if you are in need of assistance.

Information about the Interim District Executive Position

Connie lives in McPherson, Kansas, so her ministry will be done by email, phone, and Zoom. Since her ministry is to be ¼ time and she has responsibilities as part of a pastoral team in McPherson, she will generally not be available for Sunday morning commitments. Special circumstances would be negotiated. Her contact information is:

Email: crburkholder56@gmail.com

Cell phone: 620-245-4600