Course Description
This course is an introduction to the origin and history of race in North America, and how narratives around race/ethnicity/culture have impacted the American Church involving a research project and three on-site visits. A concerted effort will be made to show the common humanity of the people of all ethnicities through exposure by various means including reading, personal interaction and a panel discussion. Co-learners will guard against viewing people from other ethnicities as the "excluded other” by understanding our human commonalities and celebrating our differences.
Course Learning Outcomes
Ours is a nation founded on inter-ethnic strife. From its inception the view of European supremacy has dominated the cultural and religious landscape. Narratives of race have a big impact on theology and practice in the American church. Fifty years ago the average person in America took it for granted that they would not encounter people of other cultures within their houses of worship. Since that time more churches have attempted to build multi-ethnic congregations to varying degrees of success. Today people wonder whether it’s possible, or even appropriate, to maintain these attempts without addressing the long history of our nation’s racial and ethnic divides.
It is within this context that we conduct our discussion of Race in the American Church. The purpose of this course is essentially twofold: (1) to give contributive learners a better grasp of the history of race in American churches and (2) to help contributive learners develop a sensitive and sensible theological understanding of our responsibility as Christ-followers to honor the Imago Dei in every person.
- Teacher: Charity Sandstrom
- Non-editing teacher: Trisha Welstad