Jun 9, 2020
In the past few weeks, our
country has been reminded of the reality of racism. As Christian
leaders, how should we as the church be responding? And what can we
do on an individual basis?
While some of us may not be
affected by or see racism on a regular basis, the issue was brought
to light in a significant way in recent weeks due to the death of
George Floyd (among other incidents). As I considered this issue, I
knew this was something I wanted to address on this podcast. Yet I
knew that I needed to invite someone who has the expertise
to speak to this topic.
In this episode, I’m talking
with my friend Dr. Shannon Polk. Shannon shares her leadership
journey and how she ended up as a lawyer, associate pastor, wife,
and mother. Despite being encouraged in her leadership gifts for
most of her childhood and young adult years, she still faced doubts
about her gifts and leadership ability later in
adulthood.
We also dive into the topic of
racism and how the church can and should respond. Shannon provides
both historical and personal insights into this issue, helping us
to understand the origins of some of the practices that still live
on today (even if they are no longer policies).
Finally, Shannon and I dive into
how we can practically respond as individuals, as well as one
caveat we should all be looking out for as we navigate this season.
This incredibly powerful conversation is a must-listen for all
Christian leaders (not just women), so I encourage you to consider
sharing it after you listen.
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Key Points
Discussed:
- Shannon’s current life & leadership
[4:06]
- Her
leadership journey [7:20]
-
- Natural gifting for leadership
- Encouragement from family and other
leaders
- When
Shannon faced doubts about her leadership [16:00]
- The
current events involving racism and the church’s response
[28:48]
-
- The
need to speak up if you see racism happening
- The
importance of listening
- Shannon’s own experiences
- The
issue of dehumanization
- The
issue of segregation of our churches & how it started
[40:00]
-
- Historical background
- Redlining and how this impacts the
segregation
- Look
at the message you are sending to the black community
- Dealing with the discomfort [50:15]
-
- Asking God to search our hearts
- Examining our own biases
- The
need to change policies and practices
- The
practical ways that we can do better as individuals (even if you’re
in a predominantly white area) [59:44]
-
- Educate yourself
- Adopt
a listening posture
- Speaking up vs. doing the inner work
[1:05:00]
-
- Communication is key
- Recognize you may not get it right
- Look
at your structures and see if you have people who can help you
craft the message
- Don’t
let the fear of saying the wrong thing stop you from saying
anything
- Build
the relationships
- Caution about the rush to normalcy
[1:11:20]
- Leaders are learners
[1:13:45]
Key Quotes from the
Episode:
Quotes are by Shannon Polk
unless otherwise noted.
- “We
are women and there's a place for us in the body and there’s a
place for us outside of the body.”
- “Go
where you’re celebrated, not where you’re tolerated.”
- “If
we want to really release women to do all that God has created them
to do, we need to let them lead with all of who they
are.”
- “Imagine living in that tension every day;
where the simplest encounter could escalate beyond your wildest
imagination.”
- “You
wouldn’t leave your sex education of your kids up to Netflix, so
why would you leave the education of race up to Netflix, up to the
media, up to the neighbors next door?”
- “We
have to ask ourselves: are we willing to be
uncomfortable?”
- “Are
you willing to lock arms with your black brothers and sisters in a
way that could inconvenience you, and could possibly even harm
you?”
- “Instagram activism is super easy.... Are you
willing to be that person to stand up and say ‘this isn’t right’ if
it could cost you your job?”
- “What
Christian authors are you reading that are not white?”
- “We’re not expecting you to get it right, but
we’re expecting you to participate in the journey.”
Links and Resources
Mentioned:
Connect with Dr. Shannon
Polk:
Shannon Polk, JD, DMin is an
associate pastor at Riverside Tabernacle in Flint, Michigan.
She is an attorney and consultant on issues of race, gender, faith,
and leadership.
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This episode was originally
published on estherlittlefield.com/episode103.