Discipling 4 Complicated Emotions: Fear, Grief, Anger & Shame

Conversations in the Church around race, class, and culture are important but often uncomfortable. They can bring up strong and unexpected emotions. If dismissed or handled inappropriately, these emotions can create deeper divisions. Pastors need the wisdom and skills for how to view these complicated emotions as opportunities for discipleship. By discerning the sources of these emotions and acknowledging them in both the private and public setting, these emotions can lead to richer discussions and prompt people towards meaningful action!

Join Arrabon leaders David Bailey and Elena Aranson for this four week series which will feature one hour of content each week followed by thirty minutes of processing and application in smaller learning communities facilitated by For Richmond. A description of each of the four weeks is below.

This series is part of For Richmond's ongoing commitment to helping Christian leaders address the sin of racism in all its forms by creating spaces for relationship building, learning and accountability.

A special thanks to our generous sponsors who are helping make this valuable training accessible to as many churches and ministries as possible:

Third Church, St. Giles Church, Second Baptist Church River & Gaskins, Hill City Church, Mechanicsville Christian Center, Cornerstone Assembly of God, and Hope Church

Registration Pricing is Based on Your Church's Annual Budget*

Less than $500,000: $25

$500,000 - $1,000,000: $50

More than $1,000,000 : $75

*Honor System/Price Includes all 4 Sessions

Curriculum

Week 1: Fear (July 15th)

While fear is a familiar emotion, we may struggle to name our fears in the context of conversations around race and culture. We often cover over our fears with a variety of other emotions. However, naming and addressing our fears is critical if we want to push past our fears rather than have them used against us to manipulate us towards inaction or denial. This workshop will help you recognize fear-based reactions in yourself and in those around you so that you can acknowledge real fears and help disciple people past fears that are keeping them from growing and responding in obedience to the Spirit’s leading.

Week 2: Anger (July 22nd)

Anger is a very common emotion and lately it seems to be a reflexive one, especially in view of the racial tension in our country. Many of us have been conditioned to see anger as negative and therefore something to avoid. Scripture, however, both warns against anger as a tool used to destroy and shows us how to productively use anger to fuel change and expose sin. This workshop will equip participants to listen and respond well to expressions of anger as well as provide insight on how to steward righteous anger towards Kingdom purposes.

Week 3: Shame (July 29th)

Shame, unlike guilt, makes a statement about someone's identity and worthiness. While guilt can help us move towards transformation, shame is crippling and often results in unhealthy coping mechanisms. It questions the image of God in each person and often prevents them from experiencing and participating in transformation. In this workshop, we will explore why shame has become such a problem around conversations on race and culture, particularly for White Americans. We will look at Western narratives of individualism and the white church's tendency to focus on triumphalism rather than cultivating a practice of lament. This workshop will equip participants to recognize shame triggers, uncover the root causes of shame, and help people develop healthy practices that move them past shame.

Week 4: Grief (August 5th)

When doing the work of racial healing in America, grief is an unavoidable emotion that we will encounter either personally or in those around us. We tend not to make enough room for grief about matters of injustice and the impact of racism because 1) we don't understand the issues, 2) we don't understand the people who grieve and how they do it, or 3) the grief is so deep and so painful that it feels overwhelming. Nevertheless, when grief is allowed to be expressed, healing can begin. Conversely, unattended grief can negatively impact the physical and spiritual health of individuals and communities. This workshop will equip participants with practical ways to walk with those who are grieving and a biblical vision of healthy and productive expressions of grief and lament.