After farming full-time and teaching part time for 25 years, French worked as a Communication Specialist for the Kansas Rural Center, and then as the Senior Advocacy Adviser for Oxfam America. Before that he received degrees in English Language and Literature, and taught at the University of Nebraska. He and his wife, Lisa, attend Partridge Community Church-UCC where he has directed choir since 1980. Jim French is a 5th generation farmer and rancher in Reno County, KS. Pryor and French will share from their own experience and knowledge and draw on the larger shared experience in the group as well scripture to explore the path of acting with compassionate and effective courage in our communities. We must consider how brave actions can change hearts and not lead to an intensification of difference. But more importantly, we must share with each other the next steps that will lead us to act with more courage. The first step in overcoming fear, is to clearly identify what it is that generates it. In this workshop, attendees will grapple with these questions. What does it mean to live unafraid in our communities unafraid to speak our own truth even when it is different from what others may think? Unafraid to stand with others even when that means we are in the minority? What holds us back from saying an unpopular word or taking an unpopular stand when we feel deep in our hearts that it is what our faith calls us to do? What makes us afraid and how do we move to being unafraid?

A committed pastor, a nationally recognized higher education and immigration leader, and a sought after speaker, Vásquez-Levy leads at the intersection of faith, higher education, and social change David Vásquez-Levy serves as President of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California –a progressive, multidenominational seminary and center for social justice that prepares theologically and spiritually rooted leaders to work for the well-being of all. We don’t always have easy answers to offer. How do we lead in communities where phrases like “politics and faith don’t mix” are common? How can we be effective leaders in congregations that see themselves as far away from concerns that you may see and experience as urgent? How can we be effective leaders for all of our members when the perspectives of what is the “appropriate voice” are so varied and the needs for an alternative voice in the community is so great? Are we afraid to lead? Especially when we know that the church has to have money to pay the bills or nothing can be done where and how do we draw the line? This is an opportunity for authorized ministers to have a conversation about the challenges of leading in in real life situations. It can be especially difficult to be a UCC pastor in Kansas and Oklahoma where life is often more gray than black and white. Yes, we’ve noticed that it’s tough out here it’s not easy being a pastor! It’s a call, yes but that doesn’t make it easy.

Brave church staff