My good friend, Natasha Sistrunk Robinson (see above), recently introduced me to InTheCoracle.org and to their upcoming conference, “Do you want to be well?” Coracle’s mission statement is compelling and hope-filled.

“Coracle exists to inspire and enable people to be the presence of God in the brokenness of the world through spiritual formation for Kingdom action.  Since 2012, we have consistently sought to help people say ”Yes” to the amazing invitations that God makes to them through faith in Jesus – joining God’s mission of making God’s Kingdom more real on Earth and becoming more like Christ.”

Here’s the conference description:

“Over the past few years, people have paid increased attention to various dynamics afflicting the White Evangelical church in America.  The maladies that afflict this particular expression of the Christian faith have their roots in the movement’s formative years and continue through this day.  They need to be honestly identified so lament can be made and repentance committed to for healing to occur, so that Jesus can have a truer witness in this tradition, and so that folks within it can encounter him more fully.

We love the church and grieve for the church.  We love Jesus and want to make his love known.  For the sake of the church’s healing and care of her members, we are offering an online conference.

We will offer something constructive, something we hope can be at least deeply encouraging if not transforming.  While we will identify and explore the issues plaguing the church, we won’t stop there.  We’ll move towards hope and healing, with opportunities for spiritual practice along the way.  In view of the sicknesses afflicting the Body of Christ in America, we feel called to walk into the light and toward Jesus for our own healing and for the sake of others.” 

We are grateful for more conversations, increased awareness, and insightful analyses that are being offered about issues of Christian nationalism, racism and white supremacy, and patriarchy.  Still, we have noticed that these three threads are less often talked about in the same conversation. We have also noticed that most current conversations spend far more time on critique than on finding paths forward for healing.  We hope this conference and conversation can weave these threads together and offer more than critique. 

Natasha’s efforts led to an opportunity for me to participate and to present on patriarchy–one of the topics this conference addresses. I am looking forward to learning from what others will be presenting.

Go here to learn more and/or to register!

Do You Want to Be Well?  Diagnosis, Treatment, and Healing for the Church in America

Saturday, June 8 from 10am ET– 3pm ET.