2 Authors -1 Week- and Several Questions!
As all eyes are on Washington D.C. in November, next week’s trip to the nation’s capital will be highly anticipated. We have had debates, lobbying and all the political accoutrements that accompany a historical Presidential race. Partisanship, personality, and the press have helped to galvanize our gaze on 2 people, but at heart the fate of both candidates and millions of Americans will ultimately come down to votes and an electoral college.
As we navigate this season, those of us in the faith community are also challenged to find our footing at the intersection of faith and politics. More importantly, how do we find our voice and take our rightful place at a time such as this? These two authors and keynote speakers bring valuable expertise, which I eagerly hope to learn from.
Dreaming in Black and White- Brett Fuller
Brett Fuller, a prominent Black pastor, gives a first-hand account of how he has traversed through White spaces, offering a look through his lens of personal experience at his encounters with racism and how we can work to overcome it. With alienation and pain as his primer, he takes readers through the dark times but also shines the light on a new path forward.
Fuller compares and contrasts between the Black and White race, offering insight and a unique perspective with a call and a challenge toward reconciliation. Reconciliation is a great weapon in the fight for peace and justice. Admittedly, at times, I am flustered when I hear the word reconciliation thrown around haplessly without integrity because too many falsely perceive that this feat can simply be accomplished with minimal effort. In his writing Fuller gives what I feel to be a proper gut check for those who seek to engage in the work of authentic reconciliation.
“True reconciliation is expensive.” Not primarily financial, though it may include a monetary cost, but “the cost to what we hold dear about our culture, our traditions, our way of doing business.” [1] As reconciliation is costly, he evenly distributes the perspective of Blacks and Whites highlighting the disparity and conflict that lies within both races but also presents practical insights such as Faith being the pathway to healing and the importance of cultural competence and cross racial relationships.
Among the questions I would ask Brett Fuller is:
- What was the catalyst for continually engaging in a climate where you felt unwelcomed and uncomfortable?
- How can we improve the dialogue in racial sensitivity, when American culture has grown so divided?
- What are three immediate practical steps churches can take in bridging this ever increasing divide?
High Ceilings: Women in Leadership
High Ceilings explores the plight surrounding women in Leadership. Here Fuller details how women from different sectors of society face a myriad of issues in the fight for leadership positions. Addressing common factors such as women’s roles in leadership to gender inequality, he also demonstrates how women can overcome these barriers, which he dubs “ceilings,” giving practical advice on overcoming the systemic sexism displayed in corporate settings.
Fuller does not just diagnose the problem but presents tangible solutions through the leadership styles women implore, making them an equal asset at the table. He advocates for diversity while simultaneously speaking to the high hurdles women persistently climb in a male-dominated society. Fuller’s writing is not just practical but also analytical when speaking to the issues of diversity and equality.
He interweaves scripture as a supporting argument bolstering his theological positions by taking a look at four critical positions which women must wrestle and compete against. They are complementarian, egalitarian, complementarian-egalitarian and suppressionist. Fuller argues for a complementarian position, neither had greater or lesser ability to reflect perform God‘s will in the earth both needed the other to perfectly complete God’s mission. [2]
Among the questions I would ask Brett Fuller is:
- How forthcoming were those involved in his case studies? Was it easy or hard to elicit responses?
- What is the primary thing a woman should keep in mind when aspiring to leadership, particularly as it pertains to the church?
- If you were to sit down with male leadership, what would be your primary advice for embracing women in leadership?
God’s Politics- Jim Wallis
Jim Wallis illuminates the polarization of American politics while synchronously taking the left and the right to task. He argues that the religious right is far from center because of its laser-sightedness on certain moral matters while failing to bring to attention equal matters of importance, such as the pursuit of peace and justice. He meshes faith and politics in such a manner that all are guilty while citing areas for improvement.
Suggesting the right has gotten lost on the moral compass, he asserts the left is guilty in its abandonment and alienation of people of faith. The religious Right went wrong by forgetting its religious and moral roots and going for political power; the civil rights movement was proven right in operating out of its spiritual strength and letting its political influence flow from its moral influence. [3} Wallis is a proponent of biblical justice and highlights the call to meet underserved and overlooked while calling for compassion and peace. Wallis asserts the key to success is also found in achieving balance while dispelling the notion that scripture can support one particular political party.
Among the questions I would ask Jim Wallis would be:
- When it comes to the issue of biblical justice, are people more blind or ignorant?
- What are ways churches can use their voice to become more centered?
- What is the biggest mistake you feel both sides are making at this time in America?
[1] Brett Fuller, Dreaming In Black And White (BookBaby, 2021).
[2] Brett E. Fuller, 2021. High Ceilings: Women in Leadership (Independently published, 2021).
[3] Jim Wallis, God’s Politics: Why The Right Gets It Wrong, And The Left Doesn’t Get It, (San Francisco: Zondervan, 2005).
About the Author
Daren Jaime
16 responses to “2 Authors -1 Week- and Several Questions!”
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Daren,
Looking forward to spending time with you in DC next week. As we intertwine racial issues with political issues, I am wondering with your being both Black and a Christian, do you feel society pressuring you to align with one side or another? If so, do you have ways to justify your political decisions that calm down or quiet those who might criticize your choices?
Hey Jeff, Great question, and I am also looking forward to connecting. I don’t feel political pressure now, however in my early years, I was almost expected to be on one particular side; when it comes to political viewpoints, there are personal views and pastoral views. At times, the two may align and differ. As a pastor, I tell those in political circles that I have no party preference but seek the best candidate who would serve our congregation and community’s best interest.
Daren, I appreciate your inspectional review of these books and look forward to catching up in DC. I am especially interested in Fuller’s potential responses to your questions, should you ask them.
Hi Chad! The same here. We shall see there are a lot of great questions posed from this group.
Hi Daren,
I’m looking forward to seeing you next week. On a question that you have for Wallis, I am also curious what your response would be:
What is the biggest mistake you feel both sides are making at this time in America?
Hi Christy, In my view, both sides have lost their perspective on compassion. This has fueled senseless debate and the lack of compromise prevalent in the political world. The need to be right while highlighting each other’s wrongs has stifled progress while promoting partisanship. This is our modern day climate.
Hi Daren,
As you travel around, what observations have you encountered according to Fuller’s perspectives on the disparities and conflicts between races? What have you personally experienced?
Hi Shela! See you real soon. Fuller also describes incidents of racial prejudice in his professional in the workspace and yes it is something I can testify to. My experiences reflect the broader structural and institutional challenges that many Black professionals often face, such as being overlooked for promotions as I’m equally or more qualified or being judged more harshly than white colleagues. My first instinct was to downplay it, but little subtle things started adding up and then were topped by microaggressions. The institutional challenges are visible, but complaints and justice fall to the ground because of allies and accomplices who turn a blind eye and choose to mute their voice.
Hi Daren,
Looking forward to seeing you next week. The question about being blind or ignorant surprised me. I’m curious about your take on that.
Hey Julie, Yes, I am looking forward as well to my comment. There is scriptural evidence that supports biblical justice, but I have been in spaces and conversations where scholars and others flat out disagree that there is a call to biblical justice. I shook my head because the bible is replete with references. The book of Micah, or Jesus in “whatsoever you do to the least of them” were misinterpreted in ways where you had to be blind not to plainly see it and read over it. Also, there is a population of bible readers that is unfamiliar with biblical justice and what it calls for. If you were to ask them they could barely tell you the definition or cite ways they have been personally or corporately pursuant of it in their walk with Christ.
Hi Daren,
I asked Graham a similar question from an international perspective (he lives in Canada) that I want to pose to you. In America, what role do you think the U.S. census labels have in defining our view of one another, and how does that affect our feelings about each other?
Hi Jennifer.
I feel as though census labels have overlooked races of people, forcing many to be unable to define their true selves, leading to a misrepresentation of actual numbers that people exploit for their group or cause.
I think the census labels have successfully worked towards widening the gap between the haves and have-nots. As I remember your passion towards prison and I am mindful of one such example. Some may not know In many locations where prisons exist, there is exploitation by the local population by including incarcerated inmates from other communities as part of their local community population. This has led to higher population numbers, consequently boosting funding in that area while depriving an inmate’s home area of necessary resources, furthering the economic divide.
I don’t know how it may always transcend into feelings, but instances such as these have bolstered the haves and the have-nots.
Hi Daren, I completely agree with you that the word “reconciliation” is being thrown around haphazardly but with little substance. This flusters me, too. I think there are times when people mean well but don’t know how to take action. In your opinion, what do you think a substantive effort toward reconciliation looks like? I have been asking myself this in my context in North Africa.
Hi Elysse. Your answer requires a dissertation. Three up front things that comes to mind is Intentional listening, authentic dialogue and compromise. once these have been placed on the table and enacted, we can make sufficient progress.
Thanks Daren. As the faith community navigates the intersection of faith and politics, particularly in such a polarised environment, how do you think leaders like Fuller and Wallis help individuals find a balanced and unifying voice that advocates for both reconciliation and biblical justice without being pulled into partisan divides?
Hey Glyn. These authors hold accountability for all parties involved. Some use a geopolitical quote to avoid the trap of partisanship, saying there are “no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.”
These authors give some in the faith community practical insight and examples on how to speak truth to power.
I honestly believe many don’t want to be partisan but elect to stay on the sidelines for fear of such, although their heart is attuned to unity, peace, and compassion.