Have you been looking for practical steps to live out Christ’s vision for the diversity and reconciling power of the kingdom?
Better Together 2019 has been postponed, due to COVID-19. Check back at the VUSA Events page for updates.
This unique conference is focused on the topic of diversity, as leaders gathered to engage in hard conversations* on issues of racial reconciliation, planting multiethnic churches, and the transitioning of less diverse churches into multiethnic ones.
| *NOTE: Due to the sensitive nature of these topics, please note that the views expressed are those of the speaker(s), and do not necessarily represent the views of Vineyard USA or any of its ministries/initiatives. |
Recordings from 2016 “Better Together Conference: Race, Reconciliation, and the Multi-Ethnic Church”
This unique and important conference is focused on the topic of diversity. Vineyard pastors and leaders gathered to engage on the issue of racial reconciliation, planting multiethnic churches, and/or transitioning current homogenous churches into multi-ethnic ones.
[Note: Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, the views expressed in these teachings are those of each individual speaker, and do not necessarily represent the views of Vineyard USA or any of its entities.]
HANDOUTS/TEACHINGS/REVIEWS
- Key Terms for Nurturing Reconciliation
- “Take a Step” An Exercise on Privilege A simple, disarming, and powerful exercise you can use in a small group or workshop setting to help anyone understand the power of privilege. (scroll to the bottom of the linked page)
- Hard Conversations › How do we talk to others about difficult issues without yelling or shutting down relationship? This booklet is written “for such a time as this,” training Christians to have hard conversations, live and online, that reveal Christ.
- “Together, for Ahmaud Arbery” > May 8, 2020 Letter from Black Vineyard USA Pastors
- The Asian-American Experience
- 2017 National Conference › Video and Audio from our 2017 National Conference, focused on training us to be a missional, biblical, Kingdom community in today’s diverse world.
- “Loving Across Our Differences: Great Lakes Regional Conference on Diversity Within the Church” teachings by Geno Olison, Jeff Heidkamp, Le Que Heidkamp, Vineyard pastors. Audio and Keynote files.
- Rich Nathan’s reflection › “Why must white evangelical leaders clearly and unequivocally speak about race and lead our congregations to be racial reconcilers?”
- “A House Without Walls” sermon by Charles Montegomery, a Vineyard pastor. He calls us to reach across racial lines as followers of Jesus – laying down our cultural hermeneutic, and picking up our Christian hermeneutic as we move in the world.
- “The Devil Does Business at the Crossroads” VJN blog on what we mean by “racism” and how God is not color-blind
- “Galatians and the Multi-Ethnic Church” VJN blog on how the book of Galatians helps us tackle racism
- “We Need a Civil Reconciliation Movement” VJN film review of Selma
- “Lessons from Frederick Douglass” VJN celebrates Black History Month. For other VJN blogposts celebrating Black History Month, search for “BHM” using the searchbox.
- Disunity in Christ by Christina Cleveland, VJN book review
- Missio Alliance › A Congregational Prayer for Churches
- Shane Claiborne, 2016 talk at Simply Jesus › “What if Jesus Meant What He Said?” + discussion questions
PRAYERS