While there’s been a lot of talk about diversity and inclusivity, the one conversation that is needed is how often diversity is mistaken for inclusivity. The two are not the same.
As Presbyterians seek to create spaces where diverse voices can seek God’s will together, one cultural default often stands in the way: implicit bias.
Confronting implicit bias—which the National Institutes of Health defines as “bias that occurs automatically and unintentionally, that nevertheless affects judgments, decisions and behaviors”—is the focus of the upcoming “Practicing Inclusion: A Leader Formation Webinar,” on October 13, 2022. The webinar, for ruling elders and deacons, will last from 7:00 to 8:30 pm (eastern time). REGISTER HERE by October 5, 2022 to attend.
The Rev. Dr. Letiah Fraser’s recent dissertation is on understanding disability as a culture. “We reach out to so many cultures,” Fraser told the Rev. Lee Catoe and Simon Doong during this week’s edition of their podcast, A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast. “If we understand disability as a culture with its own history, languages, worldviews and theology, then perhaps the voices of people with disabilities would be lifted up as well.”
A mostly-white congregation took a public stand against structural racism and its activism is attracting new families.
One of three featured workshops Friday night at the 2021 Moderators’ Conference focused on the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), a tool being used by the national church and mid councils to increase individual and group cultural understanding and effectiveness.
As the Rev. Shanea D. Leonard began to talk about radical welcome from Montreat Conference Center, they put on an apron and began to reflect on childhood holidays.
The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has won a 2020 NACD NXT award, a national honor recognizing it for making diversity and inclusion a priority.
After three site visits, 17 focus groups and several agency and entity-wide surveys, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has completed a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Audit as recommended by the 223rd General Assembly (2018).
The audit, conducted by the Washington Consulting Group (WCG), included data from the Presbyterian Mission Agency, Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Foundation, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc., Administrative Services Group, Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, Inc., and the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s ecumenical, faith-based Young Adult Volunteers (YAV) program is taking steps to embrace equity and inclusion in its recruitment and programming. As part of this endeavor, YAV teamed up with World Mission from April 30-May 3 to hold a consultation with people of color at the Ghost Ranch Education & Retreat Center in New Mexico.
When leader Nick Pickrell heard that The Open Table KC, a worshiping community in Kansas City, Missouri, that gathers for dinner and fellowship, would receive a $25,000 1001 New Worshiping Community growth grant from the Presbyterian Mission Agency, he thought, “What? What!”