Gracism: The Art of Inclusion

Gracism, a word comprised of "racism" preceded by the letter "g" for God, encourages people to extend special favor to others based on their unique class, culture, ability or color and make that preference visible and apparent. In the preface the author writes [page 11]: "Gracism, unlike racism, doesn't focus on race for negative purposes such as discrimination. Gracism focuses on race for the purpose of positive ministry and service." However, race, gender and ethnicity form only a part of the gracism taxonomy, which also includes folks who are less educated, less physically or mentally able than some others, are lower income, less confident and/or posses anything else "different from." On page 20 Pastor Anderson further explains, "The positive extension of favor toward certain people does not have to mean favoritism." The liberation theology buzz-phrase of God's "preferential option for the poor" long ago made it into mainstream vocabulary; gracism is an expression of that type of preference. In what for me is an unexpected twist, Pastor David Anderson describes his church consciously configuring church staff, worship leadership, music group membership (and everything else) to appear visibly diverse rather than uniform. Like everywhere, in the town and in the venues where I usually hang out we're encountering and potentially meeting lots of assorted 'others' and need to learn not to retreat into righteousness other than Christ's and need to learn to make safe places and space for those unlike us." (this may be old news?) After his encounter with the Risen Christ, Paul, a Jerusalem-educated Roman citizen born in the Jewish Diaspora insisted no longer would people be defined by ethnicity, race, outward appearance, gender or such particular semi-accidentals (but hey, folks, this was not exactly emancipation proclamation...) can we, the church of Jesus Christ wherever circumstances have taken us live by not defining people as foreigner or native-born, green- or brown-eyed, straight or bi, military or civilian? Maybe in such an apparently gracist way so that our congregation and our community is visibly diverse and multi-everything? Can everyone be as equal to us as they are before God? So how do we start gracist living in our communities and in our churches? How can we bring others into our center and also receive their gifts of hospitality when they choose to invite us closer to their centers rather than leaving us on the margins of their worlds? We need to begin prayerfully risking to live out God's answers to those questions as we become Gracists and enable others to live Gracefully, as well!

I believe David Anderson has created one of the most important books a follower of Jesus Christ could read.

Our adult education class studied this book this summer. Half of us raised in the South - half raised in the North. It was a great vehicle to begin the conversation even if we were all white. Gave us a new perspective to the 1 Corinthians 12 passage. We all benefited from this study. I would recommend the book to any group who needs a graceful way to begin talking about racism, inclusion and Christ centered community.

David Anderson has pulled off a feat: he's written something accessible to newcomers and seasoned veterans alike. He can invite people to the table who would rarely otherwise break bread with each other. Anderson brings a wealth of real experience to this problem, as pastor of a multiethnic church. Drawing on the Apostle Paul's illustration from 1 Corinthians of the church as a single body with different body parts, Anderson discusses how to treat different parts in the most appropriate ways--protecting some, honoring others, treating some with special modesty, etc. The end result is common-sensical and practical while remaining visionary. As a long-term minority member of my own church, I tend to approach these books with skepticism--perhaps too much. But David Anderson impresses. This is a book for people who might no longer believe multiethnicity is possible this side of heaven: Anderson will remind you of the hope you once had. And for the countless numbers of us who are trapped in the shame loop, where we're told to simultaneously notice and ignore race--and to simultaneously act and restrain from acting on our beliefs about race, David Anderson provides a believable way out.

Pastor David Anderson builds a thoughtful, practical, balanced Christian approach to multiculturalism. He avoids the extremes of color-blindness and of affirmative action. Skillfully he explains the biblical injunction to care for the marginalized. "Gracism" is a must read for anyone who longs to build bridges leading to racial healing, harmony, and reconciliation. Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction, and Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care And Spiritual Direction.