This Good Word, Episode 45: Lament with Jon Huckins (ShowNotes)

In today's episode, I talked to Jon Huckins, Co-Founding Director of The Global Immersion Project, a peacemaking training organization that is activating the North American Church to be an instrument of peace. We talked about the massacre in Orlando, when 49 people were murdered. We talked about the response we're hearing from the LGBTQ and Muslim communities. We talked about how to process our grief, and how to attempt to lead others through it. We talked about not knowing how to talk about it. It was a brave and beautiful episode, and I'm very grateful to Jon for his wisdom.

Here is the Lament that Jon wrote for his church:

For the 374 mass shootings in the United States in the past 12 monthsLord, have mercy.For the way we use religion to sanction hate, judgment and violenceLord, have mercy.For the families and loved ones of each of the victims in OrlandoLord, have mercy.For the way the religious community has demonized, stigmatized, and dehumanized the LGBTQ communityLord, have mercy.For the fear those in the LGBTQ community have in the wake of OrlandoLord, have mercy.For the way the religious community has demonized, stigmatized, and dehumanized the Muslim communityLord, have mercy.

Here's information about the two webinars that The Global Immersion Project are putting on in response to the Orlando Massacre:

1. This Friday, June 17 at 10:00am PST, we'll lament and respond to the massacre in Orlando.Click here to register.

Sunday, June 12th was a historic day in America for all the wrong reasons. As of the time of this writing, there are 49 confirmed dead and dozens more injured in a mass shooting in a Orlando gay nightclub. The shooter claims to be Muslim, connected to ISIS and acting out of idealogical fidelity. The LGBTQ community is traumatized and in pain. The Muslim community is riddled with the fear of backlash in their schools, parks and workplace. In the meantime, many are using this moment to posture and promote their political, religious or ideological platform. The God that looked like Jesus is weeping and so should the Church.In this free Global Immersion one-hour webinar, we will host a panel of leaders who will offer us needed perspective on how to lament, accompany and move toward those impacted by this tragedy as instruments of peace.Facilitator: Jon Huckins, Co-Founding Director, Global Immerse @jonhuckins @globalimmersePanelists:Shane Claiborne - Author of Executing Grace and Co-Director of Red Letter Christians @ShaneClaiborneDr. David Gushee - Author of Changing Our Mind and professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University @dpgusheeSarah Merk-Benitez - Coordinator of Volunteer Resources at San Diego LGBT Community Center @smerkbenitezAni Zonneveld - Founder and President of Muslims for Progressive Values @AniZonneveldJohn Cunningham - Executive Director of National Aids Memorial GroveTime: Jun 17, 2016 10:00 AM (GMT-7:00) Pacific Time (US and Canada)Click here to register.

2. Next Friday, June 24th at 1:00pm PST, we'll explore race, power, privilege, and the criminal justice system in conversation with ESPN's 30-for-30 documentary event ‪#‎ojmadeinamerica‬. Click here to register. 

As racial tension surges, three media events have broken open a national conversation about race, power, and privilege.

1. The History Channel took a contemporary, deeply emotional, and jarringly realistic perspective on the original Roots miniseries.
2. The legend, Muhammed Ali, passed away exposing a legacy of activism and creative resistance that was more powerful than his boxing career.
3. ESNP is currently premiering its first major documentary event.  O.J.: Made in America is a saga of race, wealth, media, violence, and the criminal justice system that uncovers “a collection of indelible, unshakeable, and haunting truths about US America and about ourselves.”

In this free Global Immersion one-hour webinar, we will host a conversation with national black and white faith leaders who are leading within the collision of racism, power, and privilege.  With O.J.: Made in America as our backdrop, we’ll discuss how this particular story exposed, again, the painful reality of racism in our country.  Then, we’ll learn about some necessary next steps we can and must take toward the restoration of broken relationships and unjust systems. Panelists include Rev. Ben McBride, activist and Founding Director of The Empower Initiative, and others.

Register now. If you are not able to join either of the live streams, The Global Immersion Project will be sending a recording to those who are registered following the webinar. 

Oh, and here is the audio of when Jon interviewed Morgan Freeman (like you do).