January 25thSigns of the Times
Stepping into an Intercultural Future
On a warm July afternoon, I sat across from one of the many young Black leaders in our MCEC congregations, discussing both the opportunities and challenges #blacklivesmatter presented to the church.
“If this was happening to your people, would it take this long for the church to respond?”
The question arose from our attempt to respond to the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. It was a call – a plea – for action. The question both stung and haunted me throughout the summer. At the same time this question filled me with hope and promise – here was a young adult willing to challenge a church they claimed as their own. How does a church that has for centuries defined itself as on the margins and “other” than the mainline Protestant and evangelical churches of the west, respond to the pain and anguish of young leaders carrying the burden of 400 years of systemic racism? How does a church whose membership is increasingly diverse and yet still predominantly white and middleclass, empower a generation of young black leaders who are acutely aware of the opportunity gap that exists in Canadian culture?
These are not new questions for MCEC. In the past nearly two decades we have slowly, meticulously, intentionally welcomed and invited relationship with refugee, immigrant, marginalized and under-resourced populations in Eastern Canada. These relationships have stretched our ability to listen and learn, pushing us to encounter the unique challenges faced by populations who are not able to rely upon inheritance, generational wealth or simply (and sadly) the colour of their skin to provide a head start.
“You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:3)
In March, we were pleased to welcome Fanosie Legesse to our staff team in a new role as Intercultural Mission Minister.
When we called Fanosie, none of us knew how this strange year would unfold and how powerful a spotlight would shine upon issues of race, diversity and inclusion. The passion with which Fanosie engages the ministry opportunities set before us will do much to “spur [us] on toward love and good deeds,” to quote the writer of Hebrews (10:24). However, to grow as an intercultural church will take more than the efforts of one gifted leader.
In Matthew 16, Jesus challenges the religious leadership of the day saying, “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (16:3). Today we are being challenged to action by the call of #blacklivesmatter coming from among us – from leaders within MCEC. Listening, learning, and responding will take “courageous imagination” to borrow a phrase from our new Executive Minister, Leah Reesor-Keller.
The stories and articles in this issue of Sprout, are one step of many we are being called to take together into an intercultural future.
- Norm Dyck