Anti-Racism

Solidarity in Justice & Peace at the Bishop’s Forum

Announcements Published on
December 19, 2023

In a powerful and emotionally charged Bishop’s Forum, the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church came together with the Witness for Peace Solidarity Collective to host an event titled “Peace on the Land: The Campesinx Struggle for Reclamation and Healing in Colombia” on November 15 at the NC Conference Office in Garner, NC. The forum shed light on injustices endured in Colombia and the Church’s role in fostering peace, accountability, and solidarity.

A recording of the Bishop’s Forum on November 15

Colombia has a complex history marked by social and political unrest, with the Campesinx community, comprised of rural farmers, often at the center of struggles for land, justice, and peace. In hosting this forum, Bishop Connie Shelton of the NC Conference helped amplify the voices of those directly affected by these challenges and discern the Church’s role in advocating against these injustices that are often funded through U.S. foreign policy.

Members of the NC Conference traveled to Colombia to visit the Campesinx community earlier this year. Rev. Edith Salazar and Michele Vansteen from White Plains United Methodist Church spoke strongly about how the trip affected their understanding of migration and the role of the U.S. government in displacement. Rev. Mattheue Locklear, who also went on the trip, compared the experience in rural Colombia to that of his Native American ancestors here in North Carolina.

The highlight of the event was the emotional testimony provided by Briceida Lemos Rivera, a leader in the Campesinx community. Her story painted a vivid picture of their hardships and injustices, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and support from the international community. She shared experiences of displacement, violence, and the constant threat to their way of life.

With help from Tirzah Villegas and Jessica Garcia from Witness for Peace, the forum delved into the specific challenges the Campesinx community faces in their struggle for land reclamation. Many have been forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands due to armed conflict, illegal land seizures, and the expansion of industries.

Despite the hardships, the event also showcased the resilience of the Campesinx community. They have established a School of Agroecology, a Women’s Leadership School, and Campesino University as part of their commitment to reclaiming their land and creating opportunities for their community.

Forum participants pray over Briceida Lemos Rivera

The Bishop’s Forum served as a call to action for the attendees and the broader church community. Participants were encouraged to advocate for policies that protect the rights of the Campesinx community, support full implementation of the 2016 Peace Accords, and promote peacebuilding efforts in Colombia. Witness for Peace offered a petition that could be signed online along with additional action steps such as sharing the petition, contacting your elected representatives, and getting involved with future efforts. Bishop Shelton read from Resolution 6129 in The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church, reminding us how the Bible makes justice the inseparable companion of peace.

Thanksgiving Realities: Bishop Shelton’s Call to Remember

Announcements Published on
November 21, 2023

In this message, Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton addresses the inaccuracies and myths surrounding the Pilgrims and Native people narrative, urging us to confront the uncomfortable truths that history often overlooks.

View Video Transcript→

Stranger to Neighbor

Stories Published on
November 7, 2023

On September 19, the Center for Leadership Excellence hosted thirty laity and clergy for a Day of Learning with Daynette Snead Perez. The curriculum, Stranger to Neighbor, was designed to equip congregations to become diverse in a way that honors relationships and true Christian connection. The Stranger to Neighbor activities and the Day of Learning content help UMCs grow to be the open and hospitable churches we claim to be.

At the start of the time together, Daynette invited the group to engage in the ‘five friend challenge,’ asking participants to think of their five closest friends to chart similarities and differences across factors such as race, age, and socio-economic status. Using a scoring tool and charting scores on a number line, a surprising – and yet not surprising – trend emerged. Even among a group that gathered out of a mutual commitment to and desire for diversity, our closest friends are a lot like us.

Throughout the day, participants were encouraged to take concrete steps toward forming more authentic relationships across cultural boundaries and to rethink how we “do church.” As one participant remarked, “I appreciated the guided reflection on where we really are and the hard work needed to be truly more intercultural. I have a better understanding of the steps to take individually and within our ministry areas.”

Knowing that this work is not achievable in one day, the Center for Leadership Excellence is hosting three follow-up coaching conversations with Daynette 30, 60, and 90 days after the event. Intended for accountability, support, and deeper learning, these group coaching sessions are an opportunity for participants to share their challenges and successes as they put their new tools into practice. With the Stranger to Neighbor tools, our churches can build not only our cultural competency but our witness and impact as we seek together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

The Center for Leadership Excellence is committed to providing quality opportunities for church leaders to engage and grow. Consider bringing a team from your church for one of our future Days of Learning. On January 30, we are hosting Kenda Creasy Dean for The Good News of Shipwreck: What Does Church Look Like Now?, and on May 21, we are planning a Day of Learning focused on hope and improv with MaryAnn McKibben Dana.

Bishop’s Forum: “Peace on the Land: The Campesinx Struggle for Reclamation and Healing in Colombia”

Published on
September 25, 2023

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Peace on the Land: The Campesinx Struggle for Reclamation and Healing in Colombia

Witness for Peace Southeast and The NC Conference of The United Methodist Church are sponsoring a discussion between Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton and Briceida Lemos, an Environmental Activist from Colombia, on November 15th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the NCCUMC building.

We hope that you will come, learn, and join in the conversation about the land and people of Colombia.

We ask that you share the following flyers with your congregation and community.

North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church

View Organizer Website

Stranger to Neighbor (Limited Spaces Available)

Events Published on
July 24, 2023

The most effective outreach ministries are grounded in relationship. But how do we engage in outreach in our communities if we don’t know our neighbors?

The Center for Leadership Excellence presents a Day of Learning (plus three follow up Zoom conversations) with Daynette Snead Perez. Join us and learn practical steps for reaching beyond your comfort zone to form genuine relationships with people in your community.

Stranger to Neighbor
Presented by the Center for Leadership Excellence
with Race Equity & Justice Ministries
and Daynette Snead Perez

Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 9:30am – 3pm ET
NC Conference Building (Garner, NC)
$40 (includes lunch, a book, and 3 follow-up Zoom sessions)

Note: Capacity for this event is limited to 30 participants. As such, we ask that churches/groups send no more than 3 people. A small group who attends the Day of Learning together could then bring back their learning and use activities from the book to share in their congregation.

About this Day of Learning:

The Stranger to Neighbor Day of Learning offers church leaders new ways to foster awareness, knowledge, and skills for diverse and inclusive ministry outreach and growth.

During this full-day intensive, participants journey for ten badges and arrive at their final destination as more fully formed and inclusive disciples in life and ministry. This gospel-centered workshop is based on Dr. Daynette’s book, CHURCH: What To Do When Everyone Is Like You, a best-selling new release for Christian church growth.

All registrants will receive a copy of this book in the mail to review in advance of our time together. In addition, after the initial Stranger to Neighbor Ministry™ Event, participants are encouraged to participate in three Group Coaching Sessions via Zoom 30 / 60 / 90 days after the sessions. The specific dates will be determined by the end of the event.

Take Aways:

To equip participants on how to grow new intercultural relationships and social networks.
Reveal strengths, challenges, and opportunities between churches and their communities.
Breakthrough new outreach ideas and the differences between culture and community.
Communicate gospel-centered solutions to discuss and implement intercultural church growth.
Identify and break through human roadblocks through five types of discipleship.
Understand ten strategies to grow a Stranger to Neighbor Ministry ™ in life and ministry.

About Daynette Snead Perez:

Dr. Daynette Snead Perez is an ordained minister and a successful model entrepreneur. While building a six-figure business, she served as the missionary pastor for a refugee congregation in North Carolina and founded DIASPRA, an intercultural-focused ministry dedicated to equip churches for growth by building new relationships in their own communities. Her personal mission is leading churches across cultural boundaries of race, gender, generation, and social class.

Using her authentic experiences of encountering people from all walks of life, she guides church leadership and congregations to move from mission to ministry and from strangers to neighbors. With her program Stranger to Neighbor Ministry, she ushers the local church out of congregational sameness and into welcoming intercultural relationships for growth and outstanding discipleship outreach.

Dr. Snead Perez serves as the Domestic Disaster Response Manager for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and holds graduate degrees from Regent University (MDiv) and Gardner-Webb University (DMin). She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband.

Stranger to Neighbor

Published on
June 8, 2023

The Center for Leadership Excellence, in partnership with Race Equity & Justice Ministries, presents a Day of Learning with Daynette Snead Perez…

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(Doors open at 9am)

After the initial Stranger to Neighbor Ministry™ Event, participants are encouraged to participate in three Group Coaching Sessions via Zoom 30 / 60 / 90 days after the sessions. Please save these dates in your calendar:

October 10, 12pm-1pm ET
November 14, 12pm-1pm ET
December 12, 12pm-1pm ET

(includes lunch + book)

**All registrants will receive a copy of Daynette’s book, CHURCH: What to Do When Everyone is Like You in the mail prior to the event.

About the Day:

The Stranger to Neighbor Day of Learning offers church leaders new ways to foster awareness, knowledge, and skills for diverse and inclusive ministry outreach and growth.

Take Aways:

To equip participants on how to grow new intercultural relationships and social networks.
Reveal strengths, challenges, and opportunities between churches and their communities.
Breakthrough new outreach ideas and the differences between culture and community.
Communicate gospel-centered solutions to discuss and implement intercultural church growth.
Identify and break through human roadblocks through five types of discipleship.
Understand ten strategies to grow a Stranger to Neighbor Ministry ™ in life and ministry.

Ready to save your seat?

*This event is limited to 30 participants. If the event reaches capacity and you would like to be added to the waiting list, email us at cle@nccumc.org.

We are sorry. This event has reached capacity. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please email us: cle@nccumc.org.

About Daynette Snead Perez

Dr. Daynette Snead Perez is the Founder and CEO of DIASPRA (diaspra.com), a relationship development ministry equipping Christian leaders for intercultural outreach and growth. She is the creator of Stranger to Neighbor Ministry TM (the core program of DIASPRA) and author of CHURCH: What To Do When Everyone Is Like You. An ordained minister, Dr. Snead Perez served as Missionary Pastor of a refugee congregation in Eastern North Carolina.

Leading with practical solutions, Dr. Snead Perez is passionate about guiding Christians to build and share relational capital with people from different cultures as God’s actors for reconciliation and love.