The Faith and Race Project currently has six activities that are ongoing or schduled:
- Unity Walk on July 4th
- Presentations of The History of Race Relations in Livingston County:
- June 20th – Brighton Library
- July 15th – Chilson Hills Church
- August TBD – Grace Lutheran Church
- All are Welcome Here Initiative – Ongoing
- Faith and Race Book Club – Organizational Meeting June 18
- See below for details
- . Walk for Unity: On July 4th: The Livingston Faith and Race Project again invites neighbors to walk together in the Brighton parade in a statement of love for people of all races . . . a statement to reflect the growing support for diversity and welcoming throughout our county. Last year’s group is shown below.
A printable flyer for distribution in your churches, schools and community organizations. For a copy of that flyer just send an email to LivFaithandRace@gmail.com.
Register now for this year’s Unity Walk by emailing us at LivFaithandRace@gmail.com. Its a great way for you and your families to be the change that will transform our community into one that is known for loving all people.
NB: If you don’t register, we can’t tell you where and when we’ll assemble before the parade.
Whether you walk with us or not, you may can “wear our message” of love for all people. Order your shirt at faithraceprojectshirts.itemorder.com/
2. Presentations of The History of Race Relations in Livingston County
Author Dr. Leo Hanifin has spoken over ten times at Livingston County libraries, clubs, churches, schools and community organizations summarizing his book, A Brief History of Race Relations in Livingston County. His presentation also reflects on the social forces that influenced that history and brought us to where we are today and typically leads to a discussion of how we can become a diverse community that is known as welcoming and inclusive to all.
(Announcement of past presentation at the Howell Library)
Three presentations will be given this summer:
June 20 (1 pm) Indivisible Livingston at the Brighton Library, 100 Library Dr, Brighton, MI 48116
July 15 (6:30 PM) at Chilson Hills Church, 4440 Brighton Rd, Howell, MI 48843
August TBD at Grace Lutheran Church, 312 Prospect St, Howell, MI 48843
Dr. Hanifin is anxious to continue to tell this story at other venues, at no cost to the host organization. To schedule a date for his presentation, email LivFaithandRace@gmail.com
3. All are Welcome Here Initiative
If we value diversity and truly love and welcome all people, the first thing we should do is to SAY SO! To help businesses, churches, government offices and civic organizations to do just that, the Livingston Faith and Race Project will provide a free sign to post near their front doors.
Anyone wishing to obtain this sign can just email livfaithandrace@gmail.com and we will get a sign to you.
Already, over thirty signs have been posted in churches, businesses, civic organizations and libraries in our county.
4. Faith and Race Book Club
A team from our core group has created a book club where neighbors from our community can read books that deal with race relations and diversity and then share their reflections and views in small groups. As soon as the first book is selected and a schedule set, we will be inviting people to join this book club.
Recent Event: The Bible Beyond Black and White
You can view this entire event below. The various program segments start at these times:
Welcome and Prayer by Pastor McMunn: 1:50
Introduction to Event and Speaker by Leo Hanifin: 4:00
Dr. Ratzman’s Presentation: 6:40
Comments by Pastors Pastors Greble, McMunn and Howell: 34:30
Discussion and Questions by All Present: 50:40
Invitation to Action: Opportunities to “Do the Work”: 1:20:30
What does Scripture have to say about races, tribes, and coexistence? In a time of resurgent racism, antisemitism and nationalism, Dr. Ratzman explores the history of how some Christians and Jews have used and abused religion for violence and exclusion . . . and examine an alternative path forward defined by others who embrace love and diversity.
Following his presentation local religious leaders will reflect on how this guides our path forward today in our community.
Rev. Douglas McMunn, Pastor – 1st United Methodist Church, Howell
Fr. David Howell, Pastor Emeritus – St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Brighton
Rev. Ken Greble, Pastor – Grace Lutheran Church, Howell
If we value diversity and truly love and welcome all people, the first thing we should do is to SAY SO! To help businesses, churches, government offices and civic organizations to do just that, the Livingston Faith and Race Project will provide a free sign to post near their front doors.
Dr. Elliot Ratzman is a research fellow at the University of Michigan’s Raoul Wallenberg Institute. He teaches courses on modern religious thought, politics, and culture with an emphasis on race and ethics. He is finishing his first book, on issues of Jewish ethics and racism in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. Ratzman is also part of the national leadership of the Fellowship of Reconciliation USA, the oldest interreligious organization dedicated to war resistance and civil rights.