Mission: to Amplify Compassion by amplifying marginalized voices in our community, including those marginalized by their race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, or any others searching for equity. We will help challenge our congregation to amplify justice, mercy, and humility to create a more compassionate church.
Reflection – by Betsy Scott
When the Amplify Team chose "Caste" as our most recent Amplify book study, I sent the invitation far and wide because I knew two things:
1. I was proud of my church for creating a safe space to have difficult conversations and
2. I believed in the necessity of sharing the difficult content this book would hold
So I was thrilled when friends (and even some former church members!) accepted the invitation and jumped in to study Caste in America. One of those who said YES was my dear friend Betsy Scott. No, not the dear friend Betsy Scott we all know and love. But my other dear Betsy Scott, who is the Godmother to one of my children, a longtime friend from college and lives out of town. Betsy was so moved and energized by being a part of the Amplify book study that she said YES again…this time to writing a reflection on her time with us. I am grateful Dilworth continues to provide opportunities to build community in the midst of a pandemic. And I'm also grateful for the conversations Betsy and I have been able to have on issues of justice, history, Christianity, and our own role in caste in America. – Alison Busch
Betsy Scott -
Hello, members of Dilworth United Methodist Church. I am writing this to thank you for the opportunity you provided. I joined your Amplify group to study the book "Caste: The Origins of our Discontents." With the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement this summer, a limited understanding of history from school, and living in a mostly white neighborhood, I wanted to better understand my brothers' and sisters' daily life experience in Christ are African-American. What an eye-opening experience!
To begin with, Cade is a kind and gentle leader. He seems to understand that everyone comes at this topic with their own opinions and life experiences. He is understanding but also very good at keeping us on topic and learning. We get together every two weeks to discuss the book. It is a friendly and welcoming group. They were all open to learning and admitting they don't know everything. I felt comfortable revealing my ignorance to them and feel like we all moved forward together in new knowledge. So, I want to thank you for providing this opportunity and highly recommend you come along on the journey with the next book, "Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S." by Lenny Duncan.
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Join A Tu Lado - a ministry opportunity through the Migrant Assistance Project in which houses of faith partner with an immigrant family and walk with them on their journey through the immigration process in the U.S. If you are interested in joining an A Tu Lado team at Dilworth UMC please reach out to Pastor Cade for more information.
Suggested Resources
Listen: America's Caste System is 400 Years Old. That Doesn't Change Over Night.
Read: From MLK to #BlackLivesMatter: A Throughline for Young Students
Check Out: The Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University
Join the Amplify Book Club as we read and discuss "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson. If you are interested in participating in this opportunity, click here to purchase a copy of the book, and please reach out to Pastor Cade to express interest.
Are you interested in sharing a reflection in the Amplify newsletter? If you feel called to share a story, testimony, or devotion related to diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation, please reach out to Pastor Cade. The Amplify Team is open to all members who feel passionate about shaping our conversation and working for justice in and through Dilworth UMC. Please contact Pastor Cade to become a part of this important ministry.
