0012 - The Weight - Bishop James Swanson - “Race and Healing”

A serious dialogue on race and equity is imperative for the life of the church, a truth that we are painfully reminded of in the aftermath of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia. How can the Church do better in its pursuit of justice for all? How can we pursue reconciliation that isn’t shallow or even callous, but rather is honest about the work that still needs to be done to bring about substantive change? How can we posture our hearts, minds, and actions towards the vision of God’s creation where all are truly cared for, valued, and protected?

To engage this conversation, we talk to Bishop James Swanson, the Episcopal Leader of the Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Bishop Swanson honestly discusses issues such as white privilege, opportunity disparity, and how the Church should take an honest assessment of the need for repentance in terms of the ways we have discounted or disparaged the experiences of others for the sake of our convenience. As an African-American man who has seen racism in many forms throughout his life, Bishop Swanson opens up to us about his hopes for his children and grandchildren and the work that needs to be done to create a better world for them.