Cross-Racial and Cross-Cultural (CR/CC) appointments in the United Methodist Church bring both meaningful challenges and powerful opportunities for growth and transformation. While Christian Conferencing has traditionally been used as a tool for adjusting to assigned clergy, it has the potential to be reimagined as a proactive and transformative practice. This chapter explores how Transformative Community Conferencing (TCC) can reshape Christian Conferencing into a space that actively challenges white normativity and fosters true inclusion. TCC moves beyond passive discussions about race by examining the dominant narratives that shape congregations, inviting participants to reframe their understanding of power, culture, and belonging. By centering storytelling, deep listening, and collective discernment, TCC provides a pathway for both clergy and congregations to engage in meaningful self-examination and communal transformation. Through this approach, Christian Conferencing becomes not just a forum for conversation but a catalyst for change, helping faith communities move from assimilation toward a deeper, more equitable model of shared leadership and belonging.

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Addressing White Normativity at a Local UMC Congregation by Rethinking Christian Conferencing Utilizing Transformative Community Conferencing

  • Steve Young Dong Kim

摘要

Cross-Racial and Cross-Cultural (CR/CC) appointments in the United Methodist Church bring both meaningful challenges and powerful opportunities for growth and transformation. While Christian Conferencing has traditionally been used as a tool for adjusting to assigned clergy, it has the potential to be reimagined as a proactive and transformative practice. This chapter explores how Transformative Community Conferencing (TCC) can reshape Christian Conferencing into a space that actively challenges white normativity and fosters true inclusion. TCC moves beyond passive discussions about race by examining the dominant narratives that shape congregations, inviting participants to reframe their understanding of power, culture, and belonging. By centering storytelling, deep listening, and collective discernment, TCC provides a pathway for both clergy and congregations to engage in meaningful self-examination and communal transformation. Through this approach, Christian Conferencing becomes not just a forum for conversation but a catalyst for change, helping faith communities move from assimilation toward a deeper, more equitable model of shared leadership and belonging.