Diversity

The EDTF (Ethnic Diversity Task Force) recently met and are hoping in the months to come to be able to bring you stories and interesting resources that you can use to start conversations within your church, with your friends, with your leaders, whatever your situation may be, that could be helpful in moving us toward greater understanding of one another.

A provocative question, asking which race a person prefers.

I have just finished a book by Malcolm Gladwell called "Blink" which I found a fascinating read, and I was captured by this question in one section of his book where he talks about a test a person can take to show what they unconsciously feel toward African-Americans and European-Americans.

This year, at the Vineyard 2009 National Conference, we on the Ethnic Diversity Task Force used it as a place to introduce ourselves the larger Vineyard movement -- and we had a great time doing it! Every conversation I had felt like I was making friends with a kindred spirit on this journey toward a multi-ethnic community of believers.

The Ethnic Diversity Task Force would like to invite any ethnic minority pastors and their spouses to attend a luncheon on Tuesday, May 5, during the National Conference in Galveston, TX. This lunch is open to associate and senior pastors.

We would love to take the opportunity to meet you and hear about your interest in the area of ethnic diversity in the Vineyard.

Please just RSVP with an e-mail to leque@mercyvineyard.org so we can be sure to have enough lunch!

An intriguing challenge that often arises when we have conversations about ethnic diversity is the challenge of what words to use.

Case in point, our upcoming Diverse Pastor Projects had a subtitle using the phrase "people of color" which is a hotly debated phrase. Some people love it. Some people hate it. Some people are indifferent because even if they are an ethnic minority, the color of their skin is white and not a color. But then, isn't white a color too?!

We are excited to say we've identified the threads we want to use to begin putting together the tapestry of how greater ethnic diversity might come about among Vineyards across the country.