Colin Kaepernick took a knee on an NFL field to protest structural racism, which sparked a national debate about what racism is, especially in the post-civil rights era. We recognize that taking a knee is not about the flag, or veterans, but about “liberty and justice for all”. It is vital for communities to have a common understanding of what…
Racism has been deeply embedded in both society and religion, so how can we take part in the righting of the wrongs of generations both past and present? At our last gathering on Sunday, Oct. 22, The Open Table community began a series of conversations on race, which will feature diverse voices from the greater Kansas City area over the next…
We had a powerful gathering on Sunday, Sept. 24, as we welcomed Rev. Dr. Vernon Percy Howard Jr, Rev. Nia Chandler, Rev. Susan McCann, and Rev. Eric Garbison to share their own theology of protest, and what practices keep them going in their peace and justice work. The night was filled with powerful stories and challenging words, and quite a…
We had many things to pray for last weekend at The Open Table’s gathering: hurricane Harvey and Irma victims; wildfires in California; an earthquake in Mexico; the recent announcement about the plan to rescind DACA; as well as many personal concerns from our community. Our nation has seen a marked increase in division in recent months, fueled by radically different…
Sr. Therese Elias joined us on Sunday to discuss how Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, influenced the larger activist community from within the walls of the monastery. Merton saw solitude as a crucial component to the life of an activist/advocate. If you weren’t able to join us for the gathering, check out the podcast here. Below is a prayer by Merton,…
Adam Campbell, founder of the Peace and Permaculture Center and friend/former member of the Possibility Alliance, joined us on Sunday to speak about the Gandhian program and how it can inform Christ followers who want to live lives that look increasingly like Jesus. If you were unable to join us, you can check out our podcast here. The Gandhian program…