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Seeking to Be Faithful Together
During a Time of Disagreement
Presbytery of the Miami Valley is assembling a list of resources to help equip churches to confront the challenge of polarization with a wider vision of what God intends for us.
“The American culture is becoming increasingly polarized, according to studies by the Pew Research Center and the Public Religion Research Institute. We often entrench ourselves in our own side of polarizing issues, widening partisan divides in our communities, congregations, and in our homes. Rather than seeking relationship, we’re not talking—or listening—to each other. Even worse, we hear in our neighbor’s words a different narrative imposed by the lens of our own opinions. Rather than seeking constructive dialogue, we recoil with contempt for those with whom we disagree.
“Through our scriptures and confessions, God calls us to a different way of life… We are remind(ed) that we are at our most faithful when we are working toward reconciliation with God and with others.” [From the rationale for “On Encouraging Our Churches to Counter Polarization in Our Society,” adopted by the 225th General Assembly (2022) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)]
Our Confronting Polarization list currently includes a number of Presbyterian and other faith-based resources, along with several relevant resources developed for more general audiences.
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