Racial Reconciliation
by Kris Whitnable
August 28, 2003

We are promised that the Spirit of God can break down the walls that divide us. The following are a few of stories of racial reconciliation.

Early in the decade of the 1990’s, Howie Meloch attended Washington University in St Louis. The majority of the student body was White with a sizable population of Asians and Jews. The InterVarsity chapter was primarily Caucasians. The Asians and the Blacks each had a separate fellowship. Howie was determined to bridge the ethnic and racial barriers in this community. He befriended the leader of the Black Christian group. They eventually roomed together. Howie also worked within the Christian community to help the various ethnic groups work together. This endeavor culminated in a large group meeting at which Whites, Blacks and Asians were all represented. When a member of a university-wide ethnic unity committee learned of the meeting, he was amazed. He said, "We have been talking about reconciliation all year, but never arrived at any real unity. The Christians have actually done it!"

When Howie graduated, he went on InterVarsity staff and was assigned to Arkansas State University. He was convinced that racial unity was needed as a testimony to the Kingdom of God, so he became intentional in seeking out opportunities to be involved with other races. "When I came to the University of Arkansas as an InterVarsity staff worker, I had a strong desire to develop relationships with people racially different from me…so I looked on campus for the most consistent gathering of students of other races that I could be a part of. This happened to be the Gospel Choir and it also happens to be the most diverse gathering of students on campus.… Most of the churches where we sing do not expect to see a racially diverse group. It is a testimony to the power of God every time we sing." Because of Howie’s example, several InterVarsity students are now members of the Gospel Choir.

Howie is even more committed to breaking down the walls between the races in the name of Jesus. This year the Black Christian Fellowship has asked to be affiliated with InterVarsity and that Howie be their staff member. This is another step toward unity in the Body of Christ. But much hard work remains. Howie is particularly concerned about how his fellow Whites respond to the call for racial reconciliation. It has often been his experience that they are blind to the effect of sin on their attitudes toward race. They are willing to say that they have to submit to the cleansing of Christ in their attitude toward work or family relations, but not in their attitude toward people of other races.

This concern has already been faced in another InterVarsity chapter, the Texas Christian Fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin. This chapter has also taken steps to be racially inclusive. Texas Christian Fellowship has three ethnic specific chapters and two multicultural chapters under its ministry umbrella. The leadership of these groups meets together, to work toward personal reconciliation and maintain administrative unity. At one leadership meeting the question was raised "Is Texas Christian Fellowship Racist?" The students of color and the Caucasian students first discussed the question within their respective racial groups.

The European American students were uncomfortable and a little on edge. They generally thought the question was irrelevant. They were doing good job of creating a loving community where everyone was accepted. They were not sure why the question was even raised. They shared as much when the groups came together.

The non-Whites, on the other hand, had definite concerns, which they shared. They felt that the values of hospitality, styles of worship and preaching that were so important to them were not affirmed in the fellowship as a whole. Individuals shared experiences of not being accepted for who they are. They loved their InterVarsity friends, but felt they had to leave their ethnic identity at the door when they came to the fellowship.

The Whites were shocked, hurt and defensive. The students of color were hurt by the defensiveness and concerned they would lose the friendship of these fellow Christians. But this was only the beginning. The groups then began to ask what God thinks of ethnicity and to allow Jesus to heal them and teach them to not be afraid.

Some of these lessons have been learned. The University of Texas recently experienced several racial incidences directed against black students. A statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. had been defaced and a fraternity skit had ridiculed Blacks. The Chinese, Indian, and White InterVarsity students responded to the pain of their brothers and sisters in Christ. As a group, they went to The Gospel Fellowship, InterVarsity’s Black chapter meeting, to show support. David Hanke, the InterVarsity Area Director, spoke a message of love and concern. "Part of reconciliation is saying that what you go through is what we go through. You are outraged. We are outraged. You are sad. We are sad. You cry for justice. We cry for justice.… We are here tonight to tell you we love you. Messages have been sent that you are not wanted at this university. We are here to tell you that we are thankful that God brought you here." Then the non-Blacks paired one to one with a Black student and prayed with him or her and offered a gift of a flower. The non-Black students then filed out.

This is what racial reconciliation looks like. It starts small with individual friendships and intentional interaction and grows to shared pain and joy within the Body of Christ.