REFresh Pastors Cohort
RACIAL EQUITY FLOURSHING

REFresh: Racial Equity Flourishing

Dates: September 9, 2022 - April 29, 2023

 

Application Deadline: August 26, 2022

 

 

We will be meeting in person once nationally and six times locally during this cohort experience (a total of 7 in-person gatherings). Please read our latest COVID-19 protocol before proceeding with your application.

 

The Faith & Prejudice REFresh Cohort is a 7-month curated experience for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and White pastors. This cohort will provide learning spaces designed to: (1) edify pastors in light of leadership fatigue, (2) distinguish the unique leadership challenges between pastors of color and White pastors and (3) build  connections and bridges to address racial equity.  We believe that in order to effectively get at the root causes of systemic racism we need to embrace the renewal of our minds and hearts, the unlearning of inaccurate teachings to move forward in truth and sound doctrine and humility for a Kingdom-driven agenda towards healing the broken (institutionally, systematically and corporately as the Body of Christ).

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The cohort will have different touch points, some together and some apart for the unique learning experiences. There will be  two tracks: one for White pastors and one for BIPOC pastors. The White pastors' cohort will focus on growth and capacity-building as it relates to addressing issues of race. The BIPOC pastors will have an emphasis on healing, renewal and restoration.

 

 

Participants will:​

• Explore the historical context of race and racism in the US

• Develop skills for communicating issues of race and racism across racial lines

• Reflect on the ways racism impacts pastoral and community care

• Accurately discern the role they and their  congregation will play in addressing racial inequity in their local community

• Develop skills and practices for leadership capacity building: organizing as a leader, effective communication, fundraising, and digital activism

• Foster a reset and joy (with an eye towards the emotional and spiritual tax BIPOC pastors bear)

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This cohort will also cultivate spaces for relationship-building, resource-sharing and health and wellness to help participants regain hope in their calling to serve. The experience will culminate in a transition to a local plan for addressing racial equity in the designated areas. 

 

 

Cohort Details

DATES

Virtual sessions:

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September 9, 2022- Cohort Orientation

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September 13, 2022 - Weekly Meeting

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September 20, 2022 - Weekly Meeting

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September 27, 2022 - Weekly Meeting 

 

October 4, 2022  - 6 week racial intensive 

 

October 11, 2022 - 6 week racial intensive 

 

October 18, 2022 - 6 week racial intensive 

 

October 25, 2022 - 6 week racial intensive 

 

November 1, 2022 - 6 week racial intensive 

 

November 8, 2022 - 6 week racial intensive 

 

November 15, 2022 - 6 week racial intensive 

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December 6, 2022 - Monthly Meeting

 

February 7, 2023 - Monthly Meeting

 

March 7, 2023 - Monthly Meeting 

 

April 4, 2023 - Monthly Meeting 

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In-person sessions:

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December 1, 2022 - Local Coalition Relationship-Building

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January 14, 2022  - Local Mid-Year Retreats

 

January 16, 2022  - Martin Luther King Jr. Local Coalition Day of Service

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Feb 21, 2023 , March 21, 2023 , April 18, 2023 : Local Relationship-Building & Community Action Planning

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​*April 29, 2023 -  REFresh National Gathering & Cohort Celebration *pending COVID protocols*

 

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APPLICATION DEADLINE

Friday, August 26, 2022

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*Admissions decisions will be communicated by Friday, September 2, 2022.*

 

 

 

 

 

FEES

Sliding scale contribution* of $250 – $3,000 (full cost).

*We believe congregations with more wealth, privilege, and access to money—and who benefit from systems of oppression—should pay more. Your choosing to pay the full amount will support the Flourishing Fund that exists to counter the uneven burden of pastors of color to be in this intensive. We know that asking pastors of color to be part of an interracial coalition costs them more- emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically.  As such we want to honor and acknowledge this burden and try to offset that through counseling opportunities, funding events for them that center joy and relationship building, and other mediums through which we can decrease this burden. 

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If your congregation would like to add to the Flourishing Fund to support your fellow pastors, please check the box here and add how much you would like to offer. In the spirit of Proverbs 3:27-28, you can also choose to sponsor a pastor’s experience in this cohort by paying for yourself and another cohort member.

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We know that this might be a new way of looking at things. Please reach out to imani@faithandprejudice.com if you have any questions.

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Who should apply?

• Pastors who believe in the mission of Faith & Prejudice

• Pastors who believe and want to grow in a Biblical mandate for justice and equity

• BIPOC and White pastors who are located in these priority cities: Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Dallas, Gainesville, Nashville, Bronx, NY. *We are also open to pastors in other localities across the country

• Pastors who have a desire to build a local coalition around the work

• Participants who can commit to attendance at 80% of the whole-group sessions *bearing in mind safe space, recordings for most sessions will not be made available

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Ideal applicants will come from varying denominations and also be non-denominational.  We are also looking for a balanced representation in the demographic makeup of the cohort, locally and nationally. White pastors should have a willingness to confront and address White supremacy both personally and vocationally. BIPOC pastors should have a foundational understanding that there are both unique and shared experiences amongst communities of color. All pastors should be passionate about and want to deepen their impact in the racial equity and justice arena, personally and vocationally.

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Additional Information

If you have any questions, please reach out to imani@faithandprejudice.com.

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FAQs

• Can a faith leader who is not a pastor apply?

We are prioritizing  Christian pastors that lead a congregation but if you are  a faith leader, you are welcome to apply.

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• What are the dates?

The cohort program starts with a REFresh Orientation on  September 9, 2022 and goes until April 29, 2023.

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• How much does it cost to participate in the cohort?

There is a sliding scale contribution of $250 – $3,000 (full cost) to participate in the cohort.

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• Are scholarships available?

We are creating a Flourishing Fund that exists to counter the uneven burden of pastors of color to be in this intensive. We know that asking pastors of color to be part of a multiracial coalition costs them more- emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically.  

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• Can you apply if you’re not from the targeted cities?

Yes, you can apply if you’re not from the targeted cities. If you know a pastor in one of the targeted cities, encourage them to apply.

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• What does BIPOC mean?

BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, People of Color. It aims to acknowledge that not all people of color face equal levels of injustice, recognizing that Black and Indigenous people are severely impacted by systemic racial injustices.

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• Why are there two different tracks for White pastors and BIPOC pastors?

We recognize that there are different intergroup ( occurring between two or more groups) and intragroup (being or occurring within a single group) experiences at work in racial equity, justice and reconciliation. As such, we want to provide the space for BIPOC pastors to be and  share transparently about their experiences with systemic and internalized racism, while also providing a space for White pastors to do parallel work. There will be points of coming together and points apart with multiracial local coalition- building in mind.

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