Mosaic Mennonites

Missional - Intercultural - Formational

White Caucus

What Color Am I? 

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I was intrigued by zinnias on the buffet table when I arrived at Mosaic’s first White Caucus on July 30 at Salford Mennonite Church (Harleysville, PA).  A new variety with speckles was mixed in with the brilliantly colored flowers. I am drawn to color, and yet here I was at a White caucus group.  What was I doing?  

(L-R) KrisAnne Swartley, Berdine Leinbach, and Emma Frederick enjoy good food and fellowship at the White caucus gathering at Salford on July 30. Photo by Jordan Luther.

Andrew Zetts (Salford) made the most of the amazing weather by hosting the gathering outside.  First, we savored a potluck meal with special music provided by local birds. Facilitators Jordan Luther (Methacton; Norristown, PA) and KrisAnne Swartley (Doylestown) created a friendly, safe space for this small gathering of participants from Plains, Souderton, Doylestown, Methacton, and Salford congregations.   

Next, KrisAnne Swartley shared how this gathering grew from a request of Mosaic’s Intercultural Committee.  Each race and ethnic group within Mosaic Conference meets as a caucus for encouragement, growth, and accountability, so it seemed like a White group should meet, too. Meeting in a caucus can prepare us to interact in a multicultural environment with more cultural awareness and mutual respect.  

After prayer, we collaborated on a memory-based retelling of the story of Peter and Cornelius from Acts. We noticed long-held traditions being challenged, personal emotions, and people listening. God felt the need to repeat the message 3 times. The Holy Spirit falling on this diverse group was powerful. The gospel is for all! 

Jordan Luther then invited us to reflect on our experiences as White people in a race-based society. How/when did you become aware of your race? Was there a time you learned about your race from an uncomfortable experience? The conversation flowed easily even though I had never met any of these people before.  Each of us had different experiences and perspectives on being White. Points of connection were made, and patterns were noticed.  The time was blessed. 

While counterintuitive, meeting as a White caucus for reflection shows respect for our brothers and sisters of color. Whites need to intentionally do some antiracism work on their own.  I know I have much to learn.  Current society gives me the choice to think about my race or not. Others are forced to deal with it every day.  

I don’t like clicking a box saying I am just White. My identity is so much more in Christ. However, I can grow in awareness, consider new perspectives, and seek mutual transformation with all of God’s family.  

Who knows what Mosaic’s mutual transformation will eventually look like, but maybe we will be like a colorful garden with some speckled zinnias! 

Speckled zinnias. Photo by Jordan Luther.

If you would like more information about joining the White caucus or another caucus, contact Danilo Sanchez, Mosaic’s Leadership Minister for Intercultural Transformation.  

Mosaic Conference Launches a White Caucus 

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The Mosaic Intercultural Committee is starting a White Caucus for active, inactive, and retired White credentialed leaders. A White Caucus is a dedicated space for White people to talk openly about Whiteness, White privilege, and White supremacy culture. The purpose is to counsel one another on how to live into more mutually transformative relationships across racial, ethnic, and cultural differences. As followers of Jesus, we desire to share in Peter’s declaration in Acts 10 when he was changed through his encounter with God and the Gentile Cornelius “that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another…He is Lord of all!” 

The first Mosaic White Caucus will be Sunday, July 30 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. The group will meet in the fellowship hall at Salford Mennonite Church for a potluck meal and a group discussion. Salford Mennonite Church is located at 480 Groff Mill Road, Harleysville, PA. KrisAnne Swartley (Doylestown) and Jordan Luther (Methacton) will serve as facilitators. 

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help you learn more about the White Caucus and what to expect: 

What is a caucus? A group of people coming together around a specific topic/issue, for discussion and counsel. Our topic is White culture. It is a place of healthy accountability rather than a place of blame or shame. It may even be fun! This caucus is an extension of the Mosaic Intercultural Committee’s work. In intercultural relationships, we periodically meet within our culture so that we are equipped to better relate to others outside of our culture. Caucusing is one tool we have, among many, for deepening our relationships both within and beyond our cultural background. 

Why a White caucus as opposed to a diverse group? It provides a place where White people hold one another accountable for their own responsibility to organize and take action as they are willing and able.  It frees people of color from the burden of educating and helping White people to learn and grow in the areas of anti-racism and mutual transformation. People of color are always welcome to come and observe and offer observations after the meeting. 

What will happen at a meeting? We will build relationships of joy and trust by meeting regularly (every 6 weeks to start). We will center our anti-racism and mutual transformation in our Christian spirituality and discipleship. We will reflect on what we want to learn about anti-racism and ways we desire to practice it. We will learn and grow as we share openly our successes and shortcomings from our everyday intercultural relationships. 

What will the meetings be like? We will begin with food and games, pot-luck style, during the first hour. At the beginning of the second hour, we will gather with a simple centering practice, followed by reflective sharing around our anti-racism theme. We will close the second hour with prayer and singing. 

For questions or more information regarding the White Caucus, please contact Danilo Sanchez, Mosaic Leadership Minister for Intercultural Transformation.