A Conversation about Advocacy and Racial Equity for Churches
Many congregations have been dialoguing in the wake of racial violence in the United States this past year about what it looks like for us to work toward racial justice and equity. Mission and advocacy work has long been a part of the DNA of Williamsburg Baptist Church, but our church still struggles like so many to figure out how best to serve and work toward a more racially just world. Listen in as our pastor, Art Wright, dialogues with Mark Snipes about what it looks like for predominantly white churches to become advocates for racial equity in our communities and nation. We think you’ll find Mark’s stories and ideas tremendously helpful!
Rev. Mark Snipes is the Associate Coordinator for CBF Virginia.
Rev. Dr. Art Wright is the senior pastor at Williamsburg Baptist Church.
To find out more about CBF Virginia, visit cbfva.org.
To find out more about Williamsburg Baptist Church, head over to www.williamsburgbaptist.com.
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43:12
Churches, Pastors, and Politics in the Wake of January 6, 2021
The violence in our nation’s capital on January 6, 2021 was jarring for so many of us. It has been a particularly difficult moment for churches and pastors as they try to figure out how to understand and respond to this shocking and politically divisive moment. In this podcast, Barrett Owen and Art Wright discuss the violence, how they responded (or struggled to respond) as pastors, how members of their congregations reacted, and how they imagine moving forward as people of faith in the context of this difficult moment in American history.
Rev. Barrett Owen is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Waynesboro, VA.
Rev. Dr. Art Wright is the Senior Pastor at Williamsburg Baptist Church in Williamsburg, VA.
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1:05:50
Nurturing Faith in Community (with Terry Maples)
Art Wright talks with Terry Maples about Nurturing Faith in Community, a new CBFVA resource for congregations. Nurturing Faith is a curriculum written by Terry, in which he proposes a paradigm shift for the way in which Christians and congregations approach spiritual formation. In this conversation, Art and Terry reflect on the nature of faith, the role of the congregation in faith formation, and what it will take for churches to break out of older, patterned approaches to discipleship. It is a wonderful, rich conversation. We hope that once you’ve listened, you will also take a look at the Nurturing Faith curriculum available for download on CBFVA’s website and consider how you might use it in your congregation! Click here to access the PDF.
Terry Maples is the Field Coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia.
Art Wright is the Theologian in Residence for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia.
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1:01:52
Anxiety, Faith, and Caring for Ourselves and Others in the Pandemic (with Jason and Dena Hobbs)
In this podcast, Art Wright is joined by Jason and Dena Hobbs, authors of the new book, When Anxiety Strikes: Help and Hope for Managing Your Storm (Kregel Publications, 2020). They discuss what anxiety is, the intersection of anxiety and faith, and how we can care for ourselves and others in this anxiety-prone time. It is a wonderful conversation, and the book is a fantastic resource for clergy, lay persons, and congregations.
Jason B. Hobbs (M.Div., LCSW) has been in private mental health practice for fifteen years, assisting people through their journey with anxiety every day. Jason teaches widely on mindfulness, anxiety, and the intersection of religion and mental health, and recently trained as a spiritual director at the Shalem Institute. Jason has also written Unless a Grain of Wheat Fall. Find him at jasonhobbslcsw.com.
Dena Douglas Hobbs (M.Div.) has been learning to tame her own panic and anxiety for decades. She shares her expertise by leading retreats, speaking, blogging at denadouglashobbs.com. Dena is now the Episcopal and Lutheran campus minister at Mercer University. Her previous works include Lighten the Darkness. Dena and Jason currently live in Middle Georgia.
Art Wright (M.Div., Ph.D.) is the Theologian in Residence for CBFVA.
Recommended Resources and Links:
https://www.facebook.com/WhenAnxietyStrikes
When Anxiety Strikes Youtube Channel
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Faithnet
NAMI: Tips For How to Help a Person with Mental Illness
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1:00:34
Racial Reconciliation and the Church (with Michael Cheuk)
Rev. Dr. Michael Cheuk joins Art Wright for a conversation that centers on racial reconciliation and the church. This topic is especially timely for congregations right now, as many (especially white congregations) are wondering how to engage in working toward racial justice.
Michael Cheuk is currently serving as the Moderator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia (CBFVA) advisory council. For over 20 years he has served congregations and denominational organizations as a youth pastor, a campus minister, an associate and senior pastor in Virginia and elsewhere. Michael is a founding member and current Secretary of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, an interfaith group of clergy and interested lay persons working to address racial justice and equity in the Charlottesville and Albemarle region of Virginia. He is also a church consultant and certified leadership coach.
Art Wright is the Theologian in Residence for CBFVA.
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