Papal Penance, “Anti-White” Publishers, Utah Has a Problem
KTF Weekly Newsletter
Hi everyone,
We hope that wherever you are, this message finds you better than well in a world not quite organized for our flourishing. Perhaps you feel today the world is organized against it. Prayerfully these resources help nudge us and those around us a little closer to what God intends. Now, let’s get to it!
Suzie’s recommendations:
The Associated Press and Frontline are compiling evidence of war crimes perpetrated by Russia in Ukraine. This is in response to the vast number of devastating reports of attacks targeting civilians, particularly children, the elderly, and the sick. Thus far, the database contains proof of 367 incidents potentially in violation of international law. As followers of Christ, we must refuse to look away when we see our neighbors suffering. While the numbers and accounts can be overwhelming, we must be willing to enter the lived experiences of those who are tormented by a different reality. We suggest you use this resource as a prompt for intercession and prayer, and we hope that time with God in contemplation will be your foundation for seeking justice.
This week, Pope Francis is on a “penitential pilgrimage” through Canada to apologize for the corporate sins of the Catholic Church in implementing the policy of residential schools for indigenous children. At an event on Monday near the site of two of the former schools, the pontiff sought forgiveness for the “colonizing mentality” behind forced assimilation and the “deplorable evil” to which it led. While Pope Francis is the first pope to issue such a statement (his initial public apology was to an indigenous delegation at the Vatican), some of the victims see it as an excuse to move on and further sweep their pain under the rug. This response highlights the importance of seeking an approach to repentance that moves beyond apologies towards restitution for what has been lost. While we know that full healing of that which has been broken will never be complete this side of the eschaton, as followers of Christ we must always center the oppressed as we work towards restoration and shalom.
Decolonizing our faith requires a greater awareness of the power dynamics that shape our world, particularly when it comes to knowledge production and the privileging of certain voices and experiences over others. This includes a basic understanding of the vast racial disparities that characterize the US publishing industry, and the white gatekeepers that authors of color must pass through to even get their words in print. As this helpful Twitter thread by NYT bestselling author Frederick Joseph shows, pushback at representation by esteemed authors like Joyce Carol Oates is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the systemic barriers that authors of color face.
Jonathan’s recommendations:
We consume natural resources at a rate that leads to environmental destruction. Yet rarely are the effects of this destruction felt most directly by the ones who cause it. And even less often does any of this receive prominent media attention. That’s why the disappearance of the Great Salt Lake in Utah as highlighted by The Daily from The New York Times is a critical listen for those who desire to uncouple their faith from ideas of infinite growth. God designed the world with shalom in mind and with that interdependence comes limitations. So a lake that feeds people, industry, and the foundations of the food chain is a perfect microcosm for the problems we face considering our lust for endless economic growth and inability to say “no” to more.
In 2 Timothy 4:12, Paul encourages Timothy to not allow people to look down on him because of his youth. I think implied in that is to not underestimate the potential of young people to lead us, especially when it comes to issues of racial justice. As the Proud Boys move into Long Island, NY, it is younger activists like Nia Adams and those at The Gathering for Justice who are organizing to peacefully oppose them. They reflect the powerful reality that leaving colonized faith includes empowering and equipping young people – not just for tomorrow, but for today.
Antiblackness is a global reality. Five hundred years before enslaved African people were brought to the Americas they were taken to China, and the horrid stories of violence and exploitation that are associated with European conquest occurred at the hands of the Chinese. This is not to minimize European imperialism or further foment division between two communities. What this article should prompt those leaving colonized faith to do is consider afresh 2 Corinthians 5 in which Paul writes that Christ has given us the ministry of reconciliation. And to leave colonized faith, that reconciliation is deeper and more nuanced than simply black and white. Similar to how history is whitewashed in the United States, the same scrubbing occurs in Chinese history. The kingdom of God desires for all people and relationships to be made whole, and that includes every ethnic group. So we should educate ourselves on this history, pray for shalom, and work to reflect His kingdom across historical divides for His Glory.
Shake the Dust preview
This week, the three of us share our perspectives on queer Christianity and why transparency in expressing where we stand on this topic is so important. Our journeys are different and so are the places we land. We hope that this episode encourages you to press into difficult conversations with compassion and love as we seek to center those on the margins, including our queer siblings in Christ.
Thanks for reading, and see you next week!
The KTF team