Brave Spaces

Neighborhood Conversations are "brave spaces" to have tough conversations. These spaces are opportunities to build deeper relationships with our neighbors so that we can move into greater understanding about how we experience the world. With Neighborhood Worship's focus on baptism, it seems appropriate to revisit out baptismal covenants. The United Methodist baptismal covenant asks this particularly poignant question: Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?

Because of this baptismal vocation, we are called into brave spaces and subsequent action, specifically regarding issues of race and white supremacy. These conversations are not easy, but they are necessary. These conversations will not be for the faint of heart. The goals of Neighborhood Conversations are: to have a more expansive worldview, a greater understanding of neighbor, a richer historical grasp, and to take steps to eradicate racism from the neighborhood.