SERF Reconciliation Letter September 2009

							The Anti-Racism, Reconciliation Ministry of the Southeast Regions of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) US and Canada is actively continuing the journey started by many faithful
Southeast Disciples and sparked by our Regional Ministers. Praise God! By God’s grace, as of
this one-year anniversary of this ministry, I have been in all eight Southeast regions. In
particular, I have visited all eight regions this year meeting with church leaders, preaching,
presenting workshops, and just sharing faith and life among Disciples. It has been a blessed start
to this new ministry which officially began September 1, 2008.


Now here is a praise report: We have noticed a sizeable increase in the Reconciliation Offering
giving in the regions where faithful Disciples have opened themselves to the vital church-wide
priority of becoming an Anti-Racist/Pro-Reconciling church. Again, I say, praise God! The key
learning here is this: whenever we worship God together and commit our best energy towards
anti-racist analysis, related institutional transformation and ministries of social justice beyond
our church settings, participation and offerings increase.


In July and August 2009, I was blessed to have visited congregations and church events in North
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, and the historically African
American Piedmont District Convention Annual Meeting in Virginia and Kentucky Christian
Missionary Convention in Paris, Kentucky. Of course, my ministry was punctuated by
participation in the 2009 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in
Indianapolis.


Another key learning has been that one size does not fit all. Accordingly, as I build relationships
with people in each ministry context, listen to the Spirit, and pray for each scheduled visit, I am
better prepared to offer leadership that is contextually appropriate. It has been observed that this
approach has helped participants begin an anti-racist journey that introduces them to concepts,
language, and a framework for institutional change and societal engagement.


Linking God’s anti-racist vision to the day-to-day realities of churched and unchurched people is
an extremely hopeful expression of evangelism. This became abundantly clear to me church
members and non-members alike have responded to God’s vision of an anti-racist church as
expressed through this ministry. Upon hearing a sermon outlining the anti-racism vision, one
exuberant worshipper exclaimed, “I am just on fire for Jesus and want to be involved!” How is
that for a testimony?


As effective information sharing is important to any ministry, I invite you to make contact with
our office as we will be grateful to communicate with you. You may email us at
serf.arpr@gmail.com or dial our office at 336.617.8269. In addition, we are excited to announce
the creation of a SERF Anti-Racism Ministry website! Although still under construction, the
website, www.serf-arpr.org., contains SERF-specific resources and vital links that will help
planning for the upcoming 2009 Reconciliation Ministry Offering set for two Sundays,
September 27 and October 4, 2009. All given through this historic offering will help fund anti-
racism ministries in the Southeast Regions and its congregations, and those across the whole
church. Please give faithfully and generously to this important offering. If your congregation
needs help in interpreting the Anti-Racist/Pro-Reconciling vision of the church and the
Reconciliation Ministry Offering, please contact our office as we will be glad to offer help.


On behalf of the many SERF Disciples who have committed to God’s vision of becoming an
Anti-Racist/Pro-Reconciling Church, I ask your continued prayers and openness to God as we
plan to work more directly with the congregations in the Southeast Regions. My heart and my
faith tell me that as we increasingly position ourselves to experience God’s transformative work
among us; our best and most credible signs of transformation include becoming an anti-
racist/pro-reconciling church. I am convinced that as we speak and actually live out our faith
through this great Christ-centered anti-racist vision, we will find the diversity with integrity we
seek, yea, that seeks us. Amen!

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way
in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

From the heart, Rev. Sèkinah Hamlin




Minister of Anti-Racism and Reconciliation for the Southeast Regions of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ)