by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Jul 22, 2020
Racism is deeply intertwined with law, custom, and even religion. It’s so pervasive that it’s not always easy to identify, let alone dismantle. So constructive conversations about racism must be approached with emotional intelligence. Elsewhere I have written about...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Jul 14, 2020
Emotional intelligence is a soft skill often prized in the world of interpersonal relationships. Can it be used as a tool to dismantle something as hard and ingrained as systemic racism? My answer is a resounding yes. In fact, I don’t think that the structures,...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Jul 6, 2020
As conversations about race, racism, and racial justice heat up, you may be wondering what you can do to engage your congregation and your community on these topics. Where should you begin? March for Black Lives Matter? Write letters to the editor? Support people...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Jun 9, 2020
Over the last three months, the church pivoted quickly to be able to serve people in a new way. You have made changes that needed to be made for years. You have moved from being building-bound to offering online worship, from attendance-based giving to online...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Jun 1, 2020
“What should we focus on during our first Sunday back in the building?” someone recently asked me. “Celebration,” I said, without thinking. “Celebrate who you have become through this pandemic. A crisis of this proportion has expanded your capacity. Own it....
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | May 27, 2020
As churches prepare to re-open, it’s fair to ask if COVID has undone church decline. Over the last two months your congregation has gone through a transformation. You have created new forms of worship, established new means for people to give, and launched new forms...
