Experiencing Lent and Holy Week with old and new traditions
Lent has always been considered an important time in the worship and discipleship life of a community of faith. Lent is a time for the church to journey together towa…
The Northern Illinois Conference Anti-Racism Task Force is pleased to present our 2023 Film Discussion Series.
Last year in our Speaker Series, we journeyed together to prayerfully learn, engage, and tackle our personal and corporate role in addressing racism. For the 2023 Film Discussion Series, we are focused on increasing cultural competency and dialogue as a means to increase advocacy and participation in the spaces around the contexts, causes, and impacts of racism.
Our 2023 goal is for a deeper growth and exploration of our commitment to reduce implicit bias and increase critical thinking about personal and systemic racism. We seek to do this by focusing on the challenges, issues and perspectives of four diverse cultures that experience racism in unique circumstances. This year’s Film Series consists of participants viewing a documentary film or movie each quarter before the event, followed by a presentation and expert-led discussions. These discussions will emphasize Dr. Andrew Hart’s challenge from our 2022 Speaker Series—to witness “Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love, and Deliverance.”
2022 Speaker Series Recordings and Resources
The 2023 goals of the Film Discussion Series are:
- Increase cultural competency and dialogue as a means to increase advocacy and participation.
- Reduce implicit bias and increase critical thinking.
- Ignite activism for God’s justice, love, and deliverance.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
-Micah 6:8
We invite you to this year’s discussions in the homes, centers, and our churches to discuss and have fellowship. Food and culture of that quarter’s Table Discussion will be highlighted.
First Quarter: Black History & Culture Presentation and Discussion
Saturday, March 25, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Illinois Holocaust Museum, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL 60077
Docent-led tour of The Negro Motorist Green Book exhibit and a discussion at the Illinois Holocaust Museum.
Presentation and discussion available for online participation over Zoom.
Before visiting the exhibit, it is recommended to read the book Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America by Candace Taylor, as well as watch the documentary The Green Book: Guide to Freedom (2019), and the Award Winning movie The Green Book (2018).
Learn more about the presenter, Dr. Richard Guzman, the panelists, Rev. Tennille Power, Dann Gire, and Dr. Larry Murphy as well as the moderator, Rev. Megan Tobola, here.
Second Quarter: Asian History & Culture Presentation and Discussion
Thursday, May 25, 6:00 - 8:30 pm
Locations, TBD
Cost $5
Meal, presentation by Dr. Wonhee Anne Joh, panel discussion and table discussions around Asian History and Culture.
Before attending the event, it is recommended to watch the documentary Being Asian in America by Pew Research Center. In a new Pew Research Center analysis based on 66 focus groups conducted in the fall of 2021, Asian American participants described navigating their own identity in a nation where the label “Asian” brings expectations about their origins, behavior and physical self. Learn more here.
Third Quarter: Privledge, Power and Race Presentation and Discussion
Thursday, September 21, 6:00 - 8:30 pm
Locations TBD
Cost $5
Meal, presentation, panel discussion, and table discussions around Privledge, Power and Race.
Before attending the event, it is recommended to watch the documentary The Long Shadow documentary directed by Frances Causey. In The Long Shadow, filmmaker and investigative journalist, Francis Causey explores the roots of racism and the shameful legacy of American slavery from the founding of America to its insidious ties to racism today. Learn more here.
Fourth Quarter: Latinx History & Culture Presentation and Discussion
Thursday, November 30, 6:00 - 8:30 pm
Locations TBD
Cost $5
Meal, presentation, panel discussion, and table discussions around Latinx History and Culture.
Before attending the event the, it is recommended to watch the documentary The Bronze Screen directed and produced by Susan Racho, and Alberto Dominguez. The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in Hollywood is a 2002 documentary on the 20th Century representation of Latinx in American motion pictures.
2023 Anti-Racism Film Series Looking for Host Churches for Table Discussions.
To assist with the 2023 Film Series, the ARTF is looking for local churches in each district to host sessions for each of the second, third, and fourth-quarter events. The host churches will receive a small stipend to purchase food for the location that is related to the theme of the quarter. Each participant will be asked for a $5 fee to help the host church offset costs above the stipend from the Task Force. The events will include a time for fellowship over the meals, a panel discussion (streamed over Zoom) to review and comment on the film selected for the quarter and answer questions from the participants. Additional time will be allowed for the local group to "go deeper" in exploring the topic. The event is planned to last from 6 to 8:30 pm on a weekday evening. Interested churches may reach out toTim Alexander, Tim@osumc.org, for more details.
NIC Anti-Racism Task Force Series Committee Members:
- Tim Alexander, Chair (Schaumburg: Our Saviors UMC)
- Jenny Graham (Rockford: Aldersgate UMC)
- Dr. Betty Hart, Northern GA Conference (Acworth, GA: Acworth UMC)
- Rev. Toni Lucas (Albany UMC)
- Consultant: Dr. Richard Guzman (Bolingbrook: Friendship UMC)
- Project Manager: Amania Drane (Bolingbrook: Friendship UMC)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. - James 1:22-25
Questions about the 2023 Film Series can be directed to Tim Alexander tim@osumc.org