With Emmanuel Denguessi. Emmanuel provided the following script for you to follow along with his reflections:
Hello Church,
I am Emmanuel Denguessi!
More than a month ago, the deacons and council took on them the responsibility to call every church member to inquire of their wellbeing. We were recipients of one of these phone calls, which left us with a sense of belonging. So, Eleni, the children and I were grateful.
As a family, we are thankful that we were able to keep our jobs and have the kids back to school on a part-time basis.
We also have experienced a mild and severe case of COVID in our extended family. My younger brother in France became seriously ill, and my sister in Cameroon tested positive. Both recovered well.
As a biracial family and members of EMC, the past weeks have been difficult for us. We have struggled to find ways to address issues of systematic discrimination. Seeing the image of Mr. Floyd, a human being suffocated by another human being despite the words, “I can’t breathe!” troubled us.
Listening to my better half who happens to be a Caucasian woman struggling with what she can say and do gave me a sense of the struggle many of us in the church and outside the church are experiencing.
After careful reflection, I concluded that the better way to address this specific issue of systematic discrimination is not about the black race vs. the white race, but about power. How do we use the power conferred to us by our race, gender, socioeconomic status, and level of education? Do we use it as a hammer or as a life jacket toward people?
Scriptures tell us that God became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory (John 1:14), manifested through his power in the person of Jesus Christ. What was the glory and the power of God manifested through Jesus that we read in the Bible?
First, Jesus shared his power with his disciples by entrusting them to perform miraculous works (Matthew 10:1-40). Second, He used his influence to reform theological constructs around tradition such as the sabbath (Matthew 12:1-13), and capital punishment for women caught in acts of adultery (John 8:1-11). Third, He honoured the social outcasts by eating with them, recruiting them in his team (Mark 2:13 -17), and even leaving them taking care of him by anointing his feet with perfume (Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8). I can go on and on! The bottom line is that Jesus used his power to give power to others.
As Caucasian people living in Canada, it will be appropriate to start thinking of ways we can use our power to promote a more culturally inclusive curriculum in our educational system (church and school) so that aboriginal children can strive and have the requirements to become police officers, teachers at MEI or CBC if they choose to. So that our children not only learn about, but also learn amongst aboriginal children.
As African males, we can start advocating for better roles for our women in African society so that their voices are not just heard, but influence our decision making processes.
As Christian Mennonites, perhaps it is ok to have a land acknowledgement statement read as a part of our worship service.
Focusing on skin colour will not help but promoting power-sharing will enable racial and cultural inclusion.
I would like to conclude by addressing my sympathy to all our senior citizens in care homes and their families that cannot be with them in these difficult times. I want you to know that your pain is not lesser than anyone’s pain.
And as a church, we can do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8) at the same time.
Blessings on you!
Click this link passed on by Emmanuel to obtain a free book that’s intended to “help you care for yourself while caring for others”: https://ideas.bkconnection.com/traumastewardship2020?utm_campaign=BK%20Broadcast&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=89017620&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_u7ejsjVYzkqoD0tnQBRjRk9SAVLD9UfFq57diHuhg-GHP4p_KYSJ0KiBcDKjNoEucEmOvz2prSjrZ9V1kPZh41-0KPu3npOSRTBRNzBQ0AKUjV-k&utm_content=89017620&utm_source=hs_email
Thanks for these carefully considered thoughts and helpful tone.
Thank you Ed
I appreciate your pastoral and prophetic words to us. Power-sharing is a practical step that all of us can contemplate in our own spheres. We all have power and white males have the most power. Your words make me now think: How will I use and share the power entrusted to me?
Thank you Gareth!
You have given us a well considered reflection on power in relationships. How can we put wheels on it at Emmanuel? Thank you.
Thank you Allen!