{"id":38510,"date":"2024-09-17T07:57:15","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T14:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=38510"},"modified":"2024-09-17T08:22:58","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T15:22:58","slug":"appreciations-and-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/appreciations-and-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Appreciations and Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dreaming in Black and White<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

First off, the vulnerability of Pastor Brett Fuller in telling his story is inspiring and courageous. I appreciate his heart and patience in helping me understand a lived experience so different than mine. Reading Dreaming in Black and White<\/em> is a reminder that those who experience suffering and oppression have much to teach us, and their stories need to be told, grieved, and held. The powers that perpetuate the racial injustices pervasive throughout our history need to be challenged for restoration, reconciliation, and change to take place. Fuller states, \u201c\u2026this book is largely written to help the black reader build a bridge to the white, and vice versa.\u201d[1]<\/a> I find that statement profoundly humbling. Building bridges is delicate and dangerous work. There is much at risk for my dear friends who have suffered much, while I and many others gain awareness.<\/p>\n

Two pivotal points from the book stand out. First, Fuller states \u201c\u2026we are using solutions that address the effects of our systemic issues, not the systemic issues themselves.\u201d[2]<\/a> My heart sank with that statement and has me wondering how we as a nation can be so slow to figure this out. Secondly, change comes through love. The mandate is, \u201cto love as God loves.\u201d[3]<\/a> This question broke my heart, \u201cWhy should any child\u00a0 be made to cry themselves to sleep because they are so despised, and merely for the way God made them?\u201d[4]<\/a> They simply should not! They should be loved.<\/p>\n

I will take to heart these three statements:<\/p>\n

I feel your pain. I Feel the horror and injustice of what you\u2019ve been through.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m sorry. I wish that it hadn\u2019t happened to you.[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

How can I help? I will ask first. Asking protects against assumptions about how to make a difference.[7]<\/a><\/p>\n

My question: In the political arena, can you give an example of love impacting a systemic issue? Where does your pursuit of a National Slave Memorial stand? How can we help?<\/p>\n

High Ceilings<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In High Ceilings: Women in Leadership<\/em>, Brett Fuller\u2019s goal is to highlight God\u2019s heart for women.[8]<\/a> He informs the reader that he aligns his thoughts of women in leadership with the Complementary-Egalitarian perspective. He notes that within the marriage and family context the husband is the designated leader, and that his leadership is used to serve, not to mistreat or subjugate his wife. Outside the marital context, Fuller clarifies that roles and positions of authority are equally available to both women and men.[9]<\/a> Regarding order within the context of the marital relationship, Fuller notes a\u2026\u201cslight distinction\u201d in responsibility before the fall versus \u201cgreater distinction\u201d instituted after the fall.[10]<\/a> I wonder if this is descriptive rather than prescriptive. I wonder about the unity and mutuality that prevailed in the garden before the fall and how God intends for us to restore it. This is not a criticism, but rather a curiosity in light of how often abuses occur in Christian homes in which leadership is not understood as loving and humble service to one\u2019s spouse and family.<\/p>\n

The pivotal point of the book for me was Chapter 3: Mom\u2019s, Ministry, and Church Government<\/em>. I appreciate Pastor Fuller\u2019s insights and recognize myself in his descriptions. I\u2019ve happily been active in all spheres primarily as a mom, then a mom in ministry and serving the community, and later within church government. I\u2019m grateful there is a place for me and an appreciation for all the stages and roles women play whether ministering in the home, society at large, or in the church.<\/p>\n

In his conclusion, Fuller states, \u201cWomen are graced by God just like men. They have gifts and callings just like men. They are as spiritually capable as men.\u201d[11]<\/a> I see clearly the truth of this statement.<\/p>\n

My question: Pastor Fuller stated, \u201cWithin the context of marriage there are limitations and allowances that are non-negotiable.\u201d[12]<\/a> Can you elaborate on what that means for both husband and wife? What are some practical ways Christian husbands and wives can live out Ephesians 5:21? Which states, \u201cSubmit to one another out of reverence for Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n

God\u2019s Politics<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this book was an inspectional read that I look forward to finishing soon. Though God\u2019s Politics<\/em> was written nearly twenty years ago, its central message remains vitally important and prophetic given where we stand today with the polarization, strife, and division we face in our country. Jim Wallis\u2019 premise is that God\u2019s politics is never partisan or ideological and challenges both the Right and the Left equally. He calls out the Right for using religion to support an agenda that favors the wealthy and the Left for alienating persons of faith who care deeply for social justice issues. \u00a0He writes, \u201cGod\u2019s politics reminds us of the people our politics always neglects\u2014the poor, the vulnerable, the left behind.\u201d He reminds us that as good stewards we are not to be users, consumers, and exploiters.[13]<\/a> One particularly important point that he makes is that no one should be left out of the conversation.[14]<\/a><\/p>\n

Back to my point that Wallis\u2019 central message is prophetic, he states, \u201cProphetic religion always presses the question of the common good.\u201d Wallis continues, \u201cTogether, personal and social responsibility creates the common good.\u201d[15]<\/a> I find connection to Wright and Bird, when they wrote, \u201cThe Church\u2019s mission is to be ambassadors of reconciliation, speaking the truth to power, and seeing the powers reconciled to God.\u201d[16]<\/a> Our personal faith can and should rightfully support and influence our political hopes for the common good of our nation. A pivotal point of the book is that a boundaried separation of church and state makes this possible.[17]<\/a><\/p>\n

My question: You ended your book with a list of 50 predictions for the new millennium. I found them inspiring, hopeful, and a few sadly accurate. Which one continues to motivate you the most? Who are the women leaders who have inspired you?<\/p>\n

I find a lot of resonance between these three books and look forward to more dialogue with all of you in Washington DC. Safe travels!<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Brett Fuller, Dreaming in Black and White <\/em>(2021), 8.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Fuller, Dreaming<\/em>, 159.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Ibid., 160.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Ibid., 28.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Ibid., 139.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Ibid., 140.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Ibid., 141.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Brett E. Fuller, High Ceilings: Women in Leadership <\/em>(2021), 1.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Fuller, High Ceilings<\/em>, 2-3.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> Ibid., 7.<\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> Ibid., 41.<\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[13]<\/a> Jim Wallis, God\u2019s Politics: A new Vision for Faith and Politics in America <\/em>(New York, NY: HarperOne,\u00a0 2005), xix.<\/p>\n

[14]<\/a> Wallis, God\u2019s Politics, <\/em>xviii.<\/p>\n

[15]<\/a> Ibid., 6.<\/p>\n

[16]<\/a> Ibid., 73.<\/p>\n

[17]<\/a> Ibid., 7.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Dreaming in Black and White First off, the vulnerability of Pastor Brett Fuller in telling his story is inspiring and courageous. I appreciate his heart and patience in helping me understand a lived experience so different than mine. Reading Dreaming in Black and White is a reminder that those who experience suffering and oppression have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":184,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2310,1],"tags":[2489,3208,3250],"class_list":["post-38510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctor-of-leadership-3","category-uncategorized","tag-dlgp02","tag-fuller","tag-wallis","cohort-dlgp02"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/184"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38510"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38523,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38510\/revisions\/38523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}