Conversations that Build Bridges

Wednesdays, 6:30pm | Green room

When a community or nation feels divided, how can the church help bring people together? Can we help people hear each other, and find common values of inclusion, grace, and community? MUMC member Melinda Moats-Mulvaney, a licensed therapist, has developed a class that will help us have conversations across differences, emphasizing working together for the benefit of all in the community. Areas of discussion include:

• Parameters for calm, clear, courteous, and curious conversations

• How to clarify the values that inform the discussion

• Practicing conversations and role playing to move beyond road blocks.

This class is not a discussion of issues, but an exercise in understanding the person across from you. It might get into political issues, but they are not the main focus.

Pastor Meredith will assist Melinda, bringing in stories from the Bible to add perspective to the conversation. Jesus responded to people from a variety of circumstances and backgrounds, and found a way to build bridges around things that mattered. She will also lead a session of the class about Christian Nationalism: what it is, why it divides us, and how to have conversations about it.

Melinda believes that what people need is a good listening to. We all need to remember that we are better off with each other than without each other. Can we follow Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbors when the conversations are difficult? Melinda says yes, and will help us do just that.