“Well behaved women rarely make history.” The same seems to be true for Biblical history as well. Biblical women, starting with Eve, rarely fit the meek and mild definition that patriarchal standards put forth. The Open Table, as part of the Sacred Feminine series, looked at the ways women have subverted patriarchal structures. The Open Table turned to one of its own to moderate. Cecilia Belser-Patton is the Kansas City Champions Organizer for Missouri Jobs With Justice, as well as a veteran educator, community activist and consultant, focusing on the issues of restorative practices, diversity, inclusion & equity. She is also a member of the Open Table antiracism cohort.

There are times in the Open Table when a reflection does not come close to capturing the essence of the evening much less offer something that is close to the depth of the live experience. This reflection will be one that falls into that category. Alex Kimball Williams joined the Open Table to explore aspects of First Nation or Native worldviews as they intersect with the Sacred Feminine.

The Gospel of John tells the story of Jesus sitting in the temple courts when a woman was brought to him by strict followers of the law. They accused her of adultery and demanded that she be stoned in accordance with the law of the time. Jesus wrote something on the ground and then said, “You who are sinless cast the first stone.” No one threw even the smallest of pebbles. They wanted Jesus to accuse and condemn her, but instead, he broke the law for her. It’s an affirmation of her humanity.

For the opening of The Open Table KC’s series on the Sacred Feminine, Eve and Mary, and the mythos around them became the focus. We discussed the harmful ways Eve is portrayed as a vixen and Mary as a virgin. To help folks unpack these archetypes, various images and icons of both women were distributed on each table, and people were encouraged to pick one that stood out to them. The story of Eve from Genesis and Mary’s Magnificat were read as the congregation pondered over the images.

“Maybe stories are just data with a soul.” Brene Brown’s statement came alive in our gathering this week as we shared our stories of what it feels like not to belong and what it means to belong to ourselves. This week Core Group member Garrett Brown and resident Tony Beyer shared with The Open Table some of the work of Brene Brown. Both come from a very different perspective on Dr. Brown’s work on vulnerability and yet, we find themselves in a very similar position: we find this body of work transformative. The amount of wisdom in Brene’ Brown’s cannon is vast but, for the night we took a snapshot look at “Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Walk Alone.”

Flannery O’Connor wrote, “There is something in us, as storytellers and as listeners to stories, that demands the redemptive act, that demands that what falls at least be offered the chance to be restored.”

There is something in the act of listening and telling stories that have the power to transform us. To tell our story requires vulnerability and courage and we saw both in abundance from our two speakers in our series on Breaking the Cycle of Violence. Two of the Open Tables Core Leadership Team, Micah and Amanda, took to the microphone to share their own experiences.

Peacemaking is a skill that requires practice and repetition. Without it, it is difficult to know how to respond when encountering racism in Kansas City, in our families, and wherever we find it. At our last gathering, Nick Pickrell and Iman Al-Hassan led an interactive workshop aimed at equipping people with practical tools to disrupt, distract and diffuse tense situations, especially when race is involved.

As more white folks are drawn back to the city, individuals and developers are buying up land, businesses, and housing stock. This development displaces people of color, resulting in a cultural & historical loss and perpetuating economic disparities. Are we breaking down the Troost divide in Kansas City, or simply pushing it further east? Last week we shared a conversation about gentrification and gentrifiers, the seventh of eight gatherings in our series on race which began last fall. We were honored to have with us the following guest teachers.

Institutional discrimination and systemic oppression negatively impact marginalized people in myriad ways, from racism to sexism and classism to heterosexism. It can be dizzying to sort out all of the ways in which dominant groups leverage power that damage disenfranchised groups. It can be even more challenging to build connections between different oppressed groups. Because of these concerns, last Sunday we had an important conversation about racism and intersectionality–and what we can all do to challenge the status quo. Our guest facilitator was PaKou Her, a local community organizer and anti-racism trainer/facilitator.

This Advent season, we have been reading the Christmas story through the eyes of the oppressed, which continued on Christmas Eve with a service of music and meditations focused on reading the Christmas narrative through the lens of Jesus as liberator.  We gathered for a simple worship service at the beautiful Pilgrim Chapel in midtown KC.

For a prelude, we listened to the recording of Simon and Garfunkel’s “7 O’Clock News/Silent Night“, a piece which has an old news recording layered over the music of a familiar Christmas carol.  The juxtaposition and tension of the two was a reminder of how our world sings songs of peace, yet allows war and injustice to go on. 

Jesus was a person of color who was born under an oppressive Roman regime, and when Jesus launched his ministry at age 30, he started by declaring freedom for the captives! This message of liberation and hope has animated the church in poor and marginalized communities all over the world. This Advent season, we are continuing our series on race with a conversation about liberation theology and reading the Christmas story through the eyes of the oppressed.

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 is and how it is expressed in order to move forward in the work to undo structural forms of racism.

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 several months. This series is a continuation of various conversations we’ve been having for a year now, but in more detail and depth because we believe the church needs to be talking about race in sustained and honest ways.

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 lot of shared wisdom, so if you didn’t get the chance to join us, listen here.

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 worldviews and perspectives. We find that when we are present to God and each other, we are able to reorient ourselves to those things of ultimate concern and are sustained for the work we are doing to make the world a more just and peaceful place for everyone. But how can we create environments where collaboration and empowerment take place, even across cultural boundaries?

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.

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.

At our recent Taizé gathering, Andrea and Abhi Dutt led us through a beautiful reflection based on a book by Mark Nepo. Our theme that night revolved around conflict, and how it can be difficult to navigate. The author used the imagery of the sea – the waves, the swells, the break, and the shore – to highlight how we can navigate conflict well and experience peace. Read the excerpt below, and reflect on how you can experience peace in the midst of pain.

On Sunday, The Open Table discussed the ways we can deepen our welcome of LGBTQIA folks, even as an open and affirming community. We had a really beautiful discussion with Rev. Donna Simon from St. Mark Hope & Peace Lutheran* on Troost. Her wife Colleen and the baby who lives with them came with her. Our discussion covered pronouns, denominational politics around sexuality, healthcare, church, and relationships. Several who attended asked questions about gender pronouns, Bible interpretations, and how to help loved ones. In case you weren’t able to attend, you can listen to our discussion here. Additionally, below are helpful resources for further learning and support.

Environments speak just as loudly as words—just because we have a wheelchair ramp doesn’t mean we are truly accessible for persons with disabilities. At our last gathering, Rev. Letiah Fraser, local pastor and disability rights activist, facilitated our conversation about how we could grow in becoming the kind of people and church who invite all into community, engagement, and leadership. Throughout her talk, Letiah offered several questions for reflection which helped us process how people with disabilities are perceived in the world.