Brave Church / Hard Topics Archives

In the Fall of 2022, Grace started a new midweek offering called Brave Church/Hard Topics. Using the book Brave Church: Tackling Tough Topics Together by Elizabeth Hagan (2021), we explored topics that Christians often find difficult to discuss with each other, either because they are too personal or too controversial. The focus of the class is not to tell people what to think (or say) or to change minds, but to learn how to have productive conversations around hard topics.

This page includes an archive of the topics, background materials, and notes from the fall 2022 classes.

The schedule, topics, and materials for Winter/Spring 2023 session can be found at Brave Church/Hard Topics.

 

BC Book

Topics and Materials - Fall 2022

In 2022, our discussions covered creating brave spaces, sexual identity/orientation, mental illness/mental health, domestic violence, and Christian nationalism. The reading and resource materials, scripture passages, discussion questions, and chat logs from these sessions are included for each topic.

9/22/2022    Safe Spaces, Brave Spaces

Read: Chapter 1: Let's Talk in Brave Church

Scripture Passage: Acts 2:1-12

    • How might this passage guide how we become a community over these sessions?

Questions for Discussion (based on p. 16-17)

    • In what ways do you feel safe in your current faith community [Grace]?
    • In what ways do you feel encouraged to step into a brave space to engage in respectful, loving dialogue?
    • In what ways do you feel unsafe in sharing your perspective?

Covenant Rules: See p. 20-23 of Brave Church

    • “RULE 1: We will accept conflict and commit to the way of kindness.
    • “RULE 2: We will take responsibility for how our own words are received.
    • “RULE 3: We will ask permission before we challenge someone’s views on a subject.
    • “RULE 4: We will show respect for one another and graciously receive feedback if someone feels disrespected.
    • “RULE 5: We will use ‘I’ instead of ‘you’ statements. We will not accuse or attack.”
    • RULE 6: Give everyone who wants to speak an opportunity to do so.

You can download the covenant with more detail here:  Brave Church Covenant

Here is the chat log for the discussions on this topic: BC-HT Chat Log 9-22

 

9/29/2022  Sexual Identity/Sexual Orientation (Part 1)

Read: Chapter 6: Let's Talk About Sexuality in Brave Church

Resources on Sexual Orientation and Sexual Identity:

Questions for discussion:

    • Have you ever felt like you didn't fit in or were not welcome in your community, school, or church?

Read: What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality?

Bonus Material 1: Sermon "I'm Not So Sure About...Homosexuality and Gender", in which Rev. Amy Morgan, First United Presbyterian Church, Loveland, CO, addresses the scripture passages often used in judgment of homosexuality. If you want to follow along with the video, her sermon begins at 42:20.

Bonus Material 2: PC(USA) Presbyterian Mission's What We Believe › Biblical Interpretation

Questions for discussion:

    • How do make sense of the different interpretations of the Bible on homosexuality?
    • What guides you most? What do you struggle with?
    • Have you thought that your interpretation of the Bible was unpermitted or devalued by your faith community?

Here is the chat log for the discussions on this topic: BC-HT Chat Log 9-29

 

10/6/2022  Sexual Identity/Sexual Orientation (Part 2)

Read: Chapter 6: Let's Talk About Sexuality in Brave Church

Read these articles:

Selected Presbyterian (PCUSA) Resources:

Questions for discussion:

    • What "Christian message" do you think most people in the LGBTQIA+ community hear in the news today? Is that the message you support? If not, how do we change that narrative?
    • How can we have 'We choose welcome' on our sign and NOT act with inclusivity and embrace?
    • In what ways can we be a more welcoming, inclusive church?

Here is the chat log for the discussions on this topic: BC-HT Chat Log 10-6

Slides used for discussion, 9/29 and 10/6: Sexual Orientation Slides for Sep 29 and Oct 6 2022

 

10/13/2022  Mental Illness/Mental Health

Read: Chapter 3: Let's Talk About Mental Illness in Brave Church

Scripture Passage: Psalm 88

Additional Resources (we will update this list as we find resources):

Questions for discussion: 

    • Read the definition of mental illness in the book (from CDC). What surprises you about the definition? What surprises you about the statistics in the book about the prevalence of mental illness in the world?
    • What stigmas about mental illness do you recall from growing up? What stigmas exist today? What stigmas, if any, do you see at Grace?
    • How do we balance being a welcoming community for those wanting/willing to talk about their mental health vs. providing a smaller safe space for those less comfortable opening up?
    • What resources does Grace currently provide?
    • How can we at Grace demonstrate prayer in action related to mental illness?

Slides used for discussion, 10/13: BCHT Mental Illness October 13

Here is the chat log for the discussions on this topic: BC-HT Chat Log 10-13

 

10/20/2022  Domestic Violence

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 5:22-33

Read: Chapter 4: Let's Talk About Domestic in Brave Church

Additional Resources (we will update this list as we find resources):

Questions for discussion:

    • Why do you think you are shocked when you learn that someone you know is experiencing abuse? What can your disbelief tell you about the nature of domestic violence?
    • If someone from Grace Church told you that he or she was in an abusive relationship, how would you respond?
    • How can Grace Church provide more support to people experiencing intimate partner violence?

Slides used for discussion, 10/20: Domestic Violence 20October2022

Here is the chat log for the discussions on this topic: BC-HT Chat Log 10-20

 

Christian Nationalism

This 3-part discussion uses a combination of the 3-essay series from Diana Butler Bass [Understanding Christian Nationalism: An invitation to explore the movement shaping American politics], Vote Common Good’s 3-lesson series on Confronting Christian Nationalism, and Michael Gerson’s Washington Post opinion piece Evangelical Christianity, MAGA, and democracy. Additional supplemental materials and discussion questions will be added each week.

10/27/2022  Christian Nationalism: What it is, how it got here

Scripture passages:

Reading/Listening Materials:

Additional Sources and Materials (for those who want to go in more depth):

Possible discussion questions/questions to ponder:

    • As you prepare for the class, what words or images come to mind when you think of Christian nationalism? Where have you seen examples on display? Does the term evoke emotion for you?
    • Why is it detrimental to merge Christian and American Identities? How does this effect American Democracy?
    • Christian Nationalism is ultimately about privilege. How does this impact one’s relationships?
    • Is it possible to RESTORE America in light of a global economy & increasing diversity?
    • What is your reaction to the characterization of Christian nationalism as a “political ideology” rather than a religion in the video definition of CN?
    • What do you think about the central claim of Diana Butler Bass's essay: “Both of these things are true: America is not a Christian nation. And the United States was shaped by Protestantism.” 

Slides used for discussion, 10/27: BC-HT Christian Nationalism Pt1 10-27-2022

Zoom Whiteboard brainstorming: What does Christian Nationalism mean to me?

Here is the chat log for the discussions on this topic: BC-HT Chat Log 10-27

 

11/3/2022  Contrasting the characteristics of Christian nationalism with Christianity

Scripture passages (a sampling):

What does each passage say about how we embody the life of Jesus in our lives? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus?

What scripture passages, lessons, examples are important to you in living out your faith? How does that show up in your everyday life? How do you share that with others?

Reading/Listening Materials:

A deeper dive (for those who want to explore more):

    • White Christian Nationalism: What it is, and how it threatens our democracy – Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice, 10/26/2022. Long video (1hr, 48min) of a question/answer session with Rev. Jim Wallis (Chair in Faith and Justice, GU), Rev. Michael Curry (presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church), Amanda Tyler (exec. director, Baptist Joint Committee), and Dr. Samuel Perry (U of Oklahoma Sociology Dept., co-author of Taking America Back for God). The session begins at 14:07 in the video and the panel discussion runs for an hour, with the remaining time for audience questions).
    • During the discussion, someone mentioned a recent Pew Research Center survey on American views regarding Christian nationalism. Here is a link to the results of the poll: 45% of Americans Say U.S. Should Be a ‘Christian Nation’

Possible discussion questions/questions to ponder:

    • Rev. Michael Curry said, "Lift up the four Gospels. Let Jesus speak. Lay Jesus beside anything that claims to be Christian. And if it doesn’t match up, then we say that’s not Christianity." How do the ideological principles of Christian nationalism compare with Jesus in the Gospels?
    • How would you describe your faith to someone whose impression of Christianity is based on signs/actions of the January 6th insurrection or the rhetoric of those who espouse a Christian nationalist ideology?
    • What might “an outbreak of discipleship” look like today [see Michael Gerson’s article]? Where do you see signs of it today? How does that provide a counter-narrative to the political ideology of Christian nationalism?

Slides used for discussion, 11/3: Comparing Christian nationalism to Christianity 11-3-2022

Zoom Whiteboard brainstorming: What guides you in your faith?

Here is the chat log for the discussions on this topic: BC-HT Chat Log 11-03

 

11/10/2022  Engaging in conversations about CN ideology and responding to Christian nationalism

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." - Albert Einstein

Opening Prayer/Meditation: Resting in Love, from Richard Rohr's Daily Meditations [Video]

Scripture passages:

Reading/Viewing Materials:

A deeper dive (yes, the same one as last week):

Possible discussion questions/questions to ponder:

    • How effective is your current approach to engaging someone who strongly disagrees with you on a challenging topic, such as Christian nationalism? If you want/need to change your way of thinking, what options might you consider? [Examples: the opening prayer/mediation above; Philippians 2:1-8, VCG's Six Commitments of Common Good Communication]
    • From Stephanie Spaulding's video 13 above: How do you determine whether another person is ready for a meaningful discussion about Christian nationalism? How do you move someone into a more meaningful conversation about what they believe and why they believe it?
    • From Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's video 16 above: What does it mean to ‘remake the conditions’ in which Christian nationalism thrives? How do we change the underlying culture? How can the church interrupt the “moral lies?"
    • From Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's video 17 above: How can the Christian church ‘reclaim the Jesus that disturbs the peace’? How should a church intent on this type of reclamation begin to think or act differently? How could you church begin to stand against Christian nationalism?
    • Rev. Michael Curry says that when exclusionary ideologies of Christian nationalism, arise, "people of decency and good will must stand up. Silence is complicity." Christians need to "reeducate ourselves to this Jesus of Nazareth and his way of love as God’s way of life." In what ways can we counter the exclusionary rhetoric or Christian nationalism in the ways we respond and live our lives?

Slides used for discussion, 11/10: Conversations on Christian nationalism 11-10-2022

Here is the chat log for the discussions on this topic: BC-HT Chat Log 11-10

 

11/17/2022  Let's Keep Talking: What's Next?

Read: Chapter 7: Let's Keep Talking in Brave Church

Questions for Discussion:

    • What did you learn from this fall's sessions? What did you like? What would you like to see us do differently?
    • Are you interested in continuing next year?
    • If so, what topics would you like to see us discuss (or revisit in depth)?
      • What topics do you think might interest others in the church?
    • What day(s) of the week (evenings) work best for you?

A deeper dive:

In chapter 7, Elizabeth Hagan gives two examples of next steps other churches have taken. One is a Braver Angels program hosted by Lewinsville Presbyterian Church (one of our PCUSA congregations in Fairfax County). Below is a link to the Braver Angels organization and to the current iteration of LPC's program. These are examples of different ways we at Grace could extend our discussions.

    • Braver Angels: This national organization works in communities to bridge the partisan divide. They are equally balanced between conservatives and progressives at every level of leadership.
    • Lewinsville (VA) Presbyterian Church's Faith & Public Policy: This ministry examines "the economic, social and spiritual implications of significant issues facing our local and global community in a non-partisan and fact-based manner."

Outcome of discussion:

    1. There's interest in continuing in the coming year (2023).
    2. Participants suggested a wide range of potential topics (see Future BC-HT Topics Whiteboard below). We likely won't cover every one of them - and some are likely to run multiple weeks - but we have plenty to draw on.
    3. By process of elimination (choir on Thursdays, bells on Mondays, too much going on on Sundays), the most likely evenings for BC/HT would be Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. Stay tuned.

Zoom Whiteboard brainstorming: Future BC-HT Topics

Chat log for the discussions on this topic: BC-HT Chat Log for 11-17

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