A Film-Based Dialogue Series on Race and Faith

Starts September 26th, 10:00a-12:00p in Magill Hall.

Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith.  Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity.

The 11-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as the intersect with European American histories.

Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, the Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society.  This series is open to all, and especially designed to help white people talk with other white people.  Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope and love.

The St. John’s group will meet once a week for two hours.  We will watch the videos together and then discuss them, breaking into smaller groups as necessary. Our series will run each Monday from September 26 to November 28. The 11th session will take place in December as a conversation with all other who have taken Sacred Ground before.

In addition, outside reading is required.  There are two books to be read during the course and several short articles to be read each week.  There is the opportunity to take a “deeper dive” and read additional suggested material.  The readings are all provided online.

This course is open to all. Though some of the material is specific to the Episcopal Church, people of all backgrounds can learn from the conversation and reading. Participants need to make a serious commitment to do the outside reading and to attend all the sessions.  Please contact Fr. Ben for more information. To read more from the Episcopal Church website, click below.