Two years ago, the pastors of the South of the River Mission Network in the Scenic South District chose to do a study together about racism, implicit bias, and racial relations. The focus was on racial relations because at the time, the Mission Network covered an extremely large geographic area, and the clergy leadership felt this was a matter that was relevant across the network and in each of the communities where they had a local church presence around the downtown Chattanooga and Eastern Hamilton County areas. To guide the study, they used F. Willis Johnson's book, Holding Up Your Corner. Over the course of about six months, the pastors of the network read and studied together. They "dove" deep in exploring their own experiences and truths and had wonderful conversations every time they met. Several of the pastors also led this study with members of their congregations.
After concluding the study, the Mission Network pastors felt it was time to bring the laity of the churches together so they could begin getting to know each other as the Network began to really think about the missional work they might do together to serve their community. It was agreed the best way to do this was through worship. They planned a worship experience specifically designed to highlight their unity, and to celebrate diversity. Nearly every church in the network had a leadership role in the service. They gathered at Eastdale Community UMC, which hosted them well with a fried chicken luncheon prior to the service. The Choir of St. Elmo UMC, and the gospel praise band from Bethlehem-Wiley UMC (led by Willie Kitchens) shared amazing music. The Rev. Charlotte Williams of Eastdale brought a passionate and powerful message. They collected an offering to support the youth mission outreach work of Eastdale Community UMC and heard from a young girl about what that group has meant to her. Nearly all were moved to tears.
The power of the shared worship experience was best encapsulated in the words of a now retired clergy person who had been appointed at Eastdale in the 1970s. After trying unsuccessfully to "integrate" the church as the community around it changed in the 70s, he eventually left, frustrated. Following the "We Are One" City Worship Service in the Spring of 2019, this same pastor said, "This was what I always dreamed Eastdale would be." Indeed, the diversity of God's people came together as one to worship and praise our Lord.
It was just after that worship service the Scenic South District began conversations to realign the mission networks, and so the worship service that was intended as sort of a beginning actually ended up functioning more as a culmination. Either way, it was a wonderful celebration.
After concluding the study, the Mission Network pastors felt it was time to bring the laity of the churches together so they could begin getting to know each other as the Network began to really think about the missional work they might do together to serve their community. It was agreed the best way to do this was through worship. They planned a worship experience specifically designed to highlight their unity, and to celebrate diversity. Nearly every church in the network had a leadership role in the service. They gathered at Eastdale Community UMC, which hosted them well with a fried chicken luncheon prior to the service. The Choir of St. Elmo UMC, and the gospel praise band from Bethlehem-Wiley UMC (led by Willie Kitchens) shared amazing music. The Rev. Charlotte Williams of Eastdale brought a passionate and powerful message. They collected an offering to support the youth mission outreach work of Eastdale Community UMC and heard from a young girl about what that group has meant to her. Nearly all were moved to tears.
The power of the shared worship experience was best encapsulated in the words of a now retired clergy person who had been appointed at Eastdale in the 1970s. After trying unsuccessfully to "integrate" the church as the community around it changed in the 70s, he eventually left, frustrated. Following the "We Are One" City Worship Service in the Spring of 2019, this same pastor said, "This was what I always dreamed Eastdale would be." Indeed, the diversity of God's people came together as one to worship and praise our Lord.
It was just after that worship service the Scenic South District began conversations to realign the mission networks, and so the worship service that was intended as sort of a beginning actually ended up functioning more as a culmination. Either way, it was a wonderful celebration.