Christian racial reconciliation is about the ministry of reconciliation – loving our neighbor and serving as peacemakers (as God has done for us) in this multiethnic church and community.

(2 Cor. 5:14-20, Matt. 22:37-40, Ephesians 2:11-22, Col. 1:19-20, Acts 2:9-11)

• The mission of Lake Avenue Church is: “Following Jesus, we participate in God’s reconciling work by making disciples of all peoples and generations.” This work is firmly grounded in the work of the gospel. Jesus has broken down the barrier between humanity and God and destroyed the barriers between the tribes and tongues. In order to reach all peoples with good news we must understand how to love all peoples as God has loved us.
• Our core value of Kingdom Community says: “Reflecting God’s family in the church, we are unified across cultural, generational, socio-economic and racial / ethnic differences.” It is clear throughout Scripture that God’s Kingdom includes people from every tribe and tongue. The work of racial reconciliation is to make the church a safe place where that kingdom community can come together in community to worship and serve.

With humility and love, Christian racial reconciliation is about recognizing injustice and sin (e.g. racism) that causes pain and divides people.

(Micah 6:8, Isaiah 58:1-12, Luke 4:14-20)

• Our core value of Reconciling Community says: “Pursuing God’s justice, mercy and compassion, we are involved in His ministries of reconciliation.”

Christian racial reconciliation contains elements of both justice and peacemaking.

• Christian racial reconciliation is not just cultural competency or appreciation, which people in the majority culture can sometimes gravitate towards because it feels safer than addressing issues of pain and justice. True peace goes beyond harmony and requires addressing brokenness in people and worldly systems. But racial reconciliation doesn't just stop at identifying injustice, but works to serve, love, and do peacemaking among people and communities.

Not all language and rhetoric that addresses race and racism in the world today is consistent with God’s Word and heart

• We understand that conversations and issues around race and racism can be divisive and often categorized as political. For us, we desire to be found faithful as those who have been given the ministry of reconciliation. We see this as a priority of discipleship emerging from God’s identity and Word. We do not desire to support or champion any particular political persons, party, or perspective.
• Every person takes in sources of information and learning on racial reconciliation (and every topic in life) outside of the Bible every day (e.g. books, articles, news sources, entertainment). We need God’s discernment on what parts of these can be used by God for learning and growth, and which parts are worldly forces and systems that do not seek godly justice, peace, and redemption.
• Christian racial reconciliation will not create more division. It will not construct walls and assign labels but acknowledge who we are and remove the barriers to living out the Kingdom that have been created by race and racism.
• It is not a trend. It is at the heart of the gospel.

Christian racial reconciliation is always something that has been close to God’s heart

(2 Cor. 5:14-20, Matt. 22:37-40, Ephesians 2:11-22, Col. 1:19-20, Micah 6:8, Isaiah 58:1-12, Luke 4:14-20)

• However, we as humans haven’t always been able to see these things clearly, and live them out faithfully. Just as in the Bible (e.g. the opening of Saul of Tarsus’ eyes to Christians and Gentiles), many people are now beginning to see diverse beauty, and racial injustice and pain in new ways. We desire to choose faith and growth over fear or discomfort with change.

Christian racial reconciliation affirms the unique beauty and stories of diverse people in our own church and community.

• Ultimately, this is about loving the people in our own church and community, who are multicultural and diverse. While racial reconciliation might not be a topic some people would choose to focus on, it’s a lifeline for many others who haven’t always been seen, heard, or valued in the body of Christ and community. As Christ’s church, we seek to look not just to our own interests, but to value others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4-11). As we listen, learn, and serve, we ask God to bring love and hope to our diverse community.

Christian racial reconciliation is a specific part of how LAC is called to be the church in our time and place (our people, our location, this moment in history)

• God has placed this church in diverse and multiethnic Pasadena / Los Angeles for a reason, and He is doing something right now in the world and church in all the dialogue and attention to racial reconciliation. God calls us to be "not of the world, but in the world” so that the world will know God and His love (John 17:13-23). Rather than think anything “of the world” cannot be from God, we must stay centered on Christ as we engage, serve, and love people in the world.

As followers of Christ, we need to learn to engage difficult and important issues like Christian racial reconciliation with maturity.

• Race can be difficult as a topic, but rather than bypass or minimize it, we need to learn to engage it well, for the health and love of the family and body of Christ. This is not about just skin color and not about intentionally creating barriers between people, but about addressing real issues of pain and justice, and following God's leading in how to be a reconciled people and family. For some, racial pain and injustice has been part of their very experience within the walls of LAC, so reconciliation is not just "out there" in the world, but vital to the everyday experience of LAC congregation members. As the body of Christ and a witness to the world, we are called to love one another and bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).

Towards growth and obedience to the Lord – not seeking neatness, comfort or uniformity, but deeper discipleship.

• Especially in a diverse and large church, we expect differences in backgrounds and perspectives, and we affirm that these differences can exist within the same church and body for our edification – which is a broader reflection of the image of God. Our goal is to increase understanding and love across these differences out of care for the body of Christ, and the community.
• Racial reconciliation work frequently surfaces many emotions and questions. What are those emotions and questions really about, and what should we do with them? For instance, sometimes they are pains from our personal past, or they may relate to an interpersonal relationship inside or outside the church. Sometimes they may be a systemic concern that is broader than what only one individual can address. Sometimes it is a combination of these things. Regardless, the work of discipleship is to first take personal ownership by bringing these emotions and questions to the Lord, then to our local/group leaders to grow and discern any next steps. Sometimes we feel an urgency to solve problems quickly, but with racial reconciliation, spending an extended period of time in humble listening and learning is often the most important first step.

Not just like how anyone in our culture that talks about and engages racial reconciliation - we are held to God's standard, to be patient, kind, not easily angered, not self-seeking, not arrogant, and to point people to God in our behavior and posture.

(1 Corinthians 13, Galatians 5:22-26)

• In reflecting patience (1 Cor. 13:4, Gal. 5:22), we understand that people are on a journey, even if they are not where we would always like or want them to be. We seek to listen with curiosity, rather than defensiveness.
• In reflecting kindness and gentleness (1 Cor. 13:4, Gal. 5:22), we seek to connect with people in a way that makes them feel heard and seen. We also know that language around racial reconciliation can be used to degrade, label, dehumanize, shut down conversations, or minimize peoples’ views and experiences. We seek to be respectful and honoring in our language, tone, and dialogue.
• In reflecting slowness to anger and self-control (1 Cor. 13:5, Gal. 5:23), we seek to avoid swift blaming or name-calling. We do understand there is a time for godly anger at sin and injustice.
• In reflecting love that is not self-seeking (1 Cor. 13:5), we seek to consider others’ realities and needs, not just our own frustrations. We give and invest in developing others, rather than seeking power and control for ourselves and our own agenda.
• In reflecting love that’s not arrogant (1 Cor. 13:4), we desire humility to not assume we know everything, and to not look down on other people, but to recognize that we have a lot to learn and grow ourselves.

By understanding the experience of people of color is not the same as that of the majority culture – desiring that all the people of LAC feel understood and supported in their own discipleship journey in racial reconciliation.

• Our racial reconciliation journeys began many years ago, and we all have formative influences. We are not just an intellectual "position" that is set in stone, but God has given us a past that shaped us, a present where we can choose growth, and a future where He is leading us. Each of us has a valuable story that includes challenge and pain, as well as perseverance and God’s grace.
• People of color and the majority culture are not on “equal ground.” The history of people of color in the United States is intertwined with injustice and unspeakable pain. This history still impacts communities and individuals today, nationally and in the city of Pasadena and Los Angeles. We are living with the fruit of years of injustice. We must listen humbly to these stories, so our hearts can align with God’s and we can better love God and our neighbors in this church and community.