The Open Table KC: Recent Episodes
The Open Table KC
The Open Table is a progressive church in Kansas City, MO that is a community of peace and reconciliation in a city divided. We are actively antiracist and queer celebrating, and meet second and fourth Sundays from 6-7:30pm for dinner, music and dialogue about faith, contemplation and liberation. We believe in being a people who are committed to each other's liberation until all are at the table together.
Jonathan Foster offers responses to the question, “Why faith?” They may not be sensible responses, but you may find them compelling.
Christian attitudes towards creation have led to many forms of violence over the years. Listen as Peter Francis discusses how indigenous perspectives and oral traditions approach relationships with the land and each other. We'll also look at the book of Genesis and compare attitudes toward creation as it relates to violence and war.
Racism is an act of war against BIPOC bodies; It is America's original sin, and the struggle for economic justice continues even today. Listen as Dr. Joshua Bartholomew offers perspectives on how the biblical concept of jubilee has been applied and can be applied today to achieve equity in our communities.
Jesus’s life, ministry, and execution occurred under the occupation and power of the Roman Empire who falsely proclaimed peace and prosperity. Listen as Rev. Jessica Willams explores the false narratives proclaimed by the Roman Empire and the counter-narratives of the movement Jesus built as we reflect on the false moral narratives of our day.
Throughout history, Christianity has been used both to justify and resist countless acts of violence and widespread war. How can the Christian wisdom tradition be a conversation partner for the questions we have today about violence and nonviolence? Listen as Rev. Tyler Heston explores four stories about Jesus from the Gospels and how they’ve inspired people to think about violence, non violence, and faithful resistance.
Each of us carries the divine feminine within us. The desire to nurture our loved ones, humanity, and the earth - to curate safe space, to be a prophetic voice, and to leave our communities and home better than we found it. Listen as Rev. Dr. Letiah Fraser, Pakou Her, and Stephenie Godfroy celebrate our maternal instincts.
Theologians have long debated which is more crucial - action or contemplation. Thankfully, we also have examples of action and contemplation happening simultaneously. Listen as Rev Eric Garbison discusses ways we can be people of both action and contemplation.
Mysticism is something to be practiced, experienced, or embodied. Listen as Kevin Kelley walks us through various contemplative practices that can create the environment necessary for intimate encounters with the Divine.
It is easy to operate in binaries: sacred vs secular, black vs white, good vs bad. Listen as Dr. Susangeline Patrick invites us to think about how physical material and spirituality intersect with each other, breaking down these binaries. She discusses how the material world can embody the mystery and beauty of life that draws us close to God in a suffering world.
Mysticism offers some very grounded ways to address trauma so that we can avoid its pitfalls and receive the gifts the mystic life offers. One such gift of mysticism is that it expands our language for God and helps us get rid of language that no longer suits the ways in which we relate to the Divine in and around us. Listen as Fr. Turbo Qualls of St Mary of Egypt Orthodox Christian Church explores God as Mystery.
Mystics are not just people who are religious hermits or people who live in monasteries. Mysticism can be cultivated by all in our everyday lives. Listen as we hear from Glenn Young, Assoc. Professor of Theology and Religious Studies. He will explore the history of mysticism through the voices of ancient mystics and give an overview of some of the principles of mysticism.
What if utopia isn't about a place of absolute perfection but is about what queer theorist Jose Munoz calls "an insistence on something else, something better, something dawning"? Listen as Rev. Tyler Heston leads a discussion exploring how queer thinkers and theologians say we can can insist on and practice "utopia" in our day-to-day lives in a way and how liberation theology is about more about orthopraxy (right practice) than it is orthodoxy (right belief).
The media often focuses on individual acts of violence, but seldom focus on the institutions that cause the vast majority of violence in our society. We recently welcomed Trinidad Raj Molina, board member of AIRR, and Samantha M. for a discussion about the liberation theology principle of calling out and addressing institutional violence.
Both religious and political structures are quick to blame the poor for their poverty, but the systems that produce poverty are seldom held accountable for wreaking havoc on millions. Listen in as Deth Im facilitates a discussion on structural sin, one of the core tenets of liberation theology.
Across the Americas in the 20th century, priests and theologians looked at Scripture through the eyes of the oppressed, and they rediscovered a gospel of liberation throughout the pages. Listen as Rev Letiah Fraser and Nick Pickrell lead a conversation about the tenets of liberation theology.
Healing and liberation are what social movements have been fighting for both in the past and the present. Listen in as we welcome Rev Dr Delesslyn Kennebrew, JD MDiv for a conversation about the intersection of healing, liberation, and spiritual communities.
Disabled people come from a rich history of people who have had to be innovators, language curators and activists in an ableist world that pushes us to the margins. Disability theology is also part of our story. Join us on an accessible journey through our history and explore how hope for a more inclusive and accessible world can be realized in the present as we become acquainted with The God who became Disabled. Listen in as Rev. Hank Jenkins, Co-chair of the Association of Ministers with Disabilities shared with us on June 27th.
What does authentic hope look like in the midst of all the angst and fear that marks our current social dynamics? Is hope even a possibility now? What's the responsibility of people of faith and moral courage? Perhaps the prophet Ezekiel offers a perspective. Listen in from our conversation on May 23rd as Rev. Deth Im shares in conversation with us- If you squint, you can see it.
Is it possible to make a stranger into a neighbor? The journey toward kinship with someone who looks, thinks, votes, believes differently than you begins with the mutual sharing of our stories, and interacting and working together in community — putting our faith in action. Listen now to our conversation from 4/25 as we continue our series Hope Here and Now with Rev. David Fraccaro, Executive Director of FaithAction International House, and Chi Nguyen, a member of the Leadership Team at The Open Table and Board Member from FaithAction International House.
We began the Lenten season grounding ourselves in the reality that we are dust and are a part of the ecosystem of mother earth to which we will return. Listen in as we reflect on Palm Sunday through to Easter. The events from this sacred week remind us that political theatre and uprisings, caring for the earth as a project of survival, and planting seeds that will sustain the movement for justice began with Jesus, was carried forward by our ancestors, and will be carried forward by us until our ancestors' dreams of a resurrection city comes to life on earth.
As winter recedes, we explore the life and work of Assata Shakur and Fannie Lou Hamer as saints guiding us toward a new world. Listen as we welcome Kimmothy Cole as they facilitate an embodied ritual experience for leaving behind the season of waiting and moving into the rooting and opening of spring.
God uses all of the material of our lives for the healing of the world. Listen as we welcome Rev. Dionne Boyice (she/her/hers) who will explore the life of an unlikely saint, St. Julian the Hospitaller.
Won't you be my neighbor? And listen in as Rev. Letiah Fraser explores the life and wisdom of Rev. Fred Rogers. The life and work of Mr. Rogers invites us to wrestle with life’s essential questions through song, learn how to embrace our days with intention, approach learning with curiosity, embrace the hard realities of life with imagination and play, practice positive regard for self and others and develop a habit of gratitude.
What are the boundaries for “true” Christianity? Jane Schaberg was a feminist Biblical scholar who was willing to challenge Christian orthodoxy, and her study of Mary Magdalene led her to something she called “Magdalene Christianity,” a liberating alternative to the patriarchal tradition that has prevailed throughout the history of Christianity. Listen as Rev. Tyler Heston shares how Jane Schaberg is a saint to him and how her legacy can inspire us to conjure up new ideas of what Christianity might be.
Many saints are known by their interior spiritual practices, but often times the radical work they’ve done in the world gets whitewashed. Listen as we welcome Rev. Jeya So, co-pastor of Anchor City Church, a third culture church in San Diego, CA. She discusses the life and witness of Saint Yu Gwansun, a Korean freedom fighter and martyr from the Japanese Occupation of Korea, and invites us to reflect on how her story of fighting against colonialism and oppression can inform our own stories of moving towards God's love and justice.
The Advent season is the time when the whole community anticipates when justice and peace finally reign on earth. Listen to this interactive Christmas Eve service where we look at the communal implications of hope, peace, love, and joy. This gathering is co-facilitated by Rev. Letiah Fraser, Madi Parker, and Nick Pickrell.
What does ancestral lineage have to teach us about Sainthood? How might those of our own family line model the life of Jesus for us? Our Saint Series continues as we explore ancestral and family ties as a model of modern day saints in service and in love. Listen as Rev. Dr. Delesslyn Kennebrew, J.D., M.Div shares with us her own familial saints-- her paternal and maternal grandmother, Saint Theresa and Saint Mary.
What do the lives of various modern and ancient saints teach us about how to respond to the injustices we face today? How can their lives, and the life of Jesus, impact the ways we do hospitality and justice work in our current context? Join us on 11/22 from 6-7:30 online as Rev. Dr. Derrick McQueen shares with us the life and work of author and activist Alice Walker, particularly looking at her text, The Gospel According to Shug.
Our society is constructed around the white supremacy characteristics of power hoarding and paternalism. This causes many to believe the myth of scarcity. Remember the rush for toilet paper and hand sanitizer? This causes those with influence and positions to hoard power and resources. These false narratives foster white saviorism and creates an atmosphere where power dynamics can remain unchecked and unchanged. Listen in as Victoria Litardo and Jeremy Ruzich facilitate a discussion about sharing power and creating practices that help debunk the myths of scarcity and control.
In our next to last gathering in our Antiracist Spirituality series, we will explore The Written Word and how white supremacy culture upholds the written standard of certain languages and credentials in our society. How can poetry and other verbal art forms take us out of our expectations and bring us an embodied way of connecting and communicating? How might we analyze our standards of being and expectation in the world to allow for more nuance and fluidity, honoring of more cultures? Listen in as poets Nika Renee and Madison Mae Parker share their own journey.
White Supremacy culture has an unattainable, always moving target in which to measure perfection. It has infused every structure of society from the family unit to the corporation. The clothing, make-up, health food industry bank on our desire for perfection. The trauma and shame this endless quest produces does harm to our bodies, minds and souls. Practices that cultivate radical self-acceptance, build resilience, healing and self-compassion help us challenge this toxic value of white supremacy culture. Listen to the conversation with Garrett Brown and Abhishek Dutt.
We have been conditioned by our educational, political and religious systems to believe that there is only one way to be “right” and that those who think and act differently than “us” are wrong. Our social media platforms and news outlets have taught us how to “unfriend” and argue with people whose voices don’t sound like those in our echo chambers. Dismantling white supremacy culture means actively resisting the fundamentalism that happens on the left and on the right and practicing embracing that many paths exist.
One of the ways white supremacy culture functions is by generalizing and universalizing the experience of the white individual. At the same time, individualism allows people to distance themselves from their racial identity group, with statements like "I'm not racist" serving as a way to avoid taking responsibility for the systemic ways the legacy of racism continues to wreak havoc on Black and brown bodies. Join Dachia Busch and Emily Bartlett for a conversation on Rugged Individualism and how Christian mysticism can serve as an antidote for white supremacy culture.
We live in a culture and a society that often values progress over people, time over relationships, and quantity over quality. This cultural norm is rooted in white supremacy. How do we allow stillness, embodiment, and rest to be antidotes to a production driven society that does not see the value of people? Join us in the continued conversation of An Antiracist Spirituality as we dive into Rhythm Over Time with Stephanie Briggs and Sarah Dunne Pickrell.
Our conversation with An Antiracist Spirituality series continues as we explore the ways white supremacy manifests itself through white defensiveness and the fear of open conflict. How might we hold space for tension while simultaneously unpacking where this defensiveness comes from? How can Christian mysticism guide us towards a non-defensive posture? Join us for a conversation with Angela Martellaro and Megan Black.
Join us for the start of our new series as we explore An Antiracist Spirituality. With the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many more– calls for an end to racist policing and other forms of systemic racism have reverberated across the globe. As the movements to end white supremacy and racism grow, it is important to reflect on how racism has been internalized by each of us. Using Christian Mysticism as the guiding antidote, we will explore how rituals and embodiment practices help us dismantle white supremacy in our bodies and dismantle racism in our communities and systems. Cecilia Belser-Patton and Nick Pickrell will be leading us in this important conversation.
We are closing out our Sacred Earth series by exploring the indigenous perspective on caring for ourselves, our bodies, and all of earth’s creatures, using the stories and myths of our ancestors and traditions as guides. Kelly Daniels, founder and director of Blue River Forest Experience, leads us in a conversation about the healing power of connecting to nature.
Our series on Sacred Earth continues with poet and environmental advocate, Mary Silwance, as we discuss what earth care looks like on a local level. Our city is home to many ecosystems from prairie to wetland to forest. How can we begin to consider our local landscape and responsibly care for this land that gives to us so graciously? How can caring for these natural spaces become an integral spiritual practice?
It’s no secret that COVID-19 has further exposed the underbelly of the beast in our nation— systemic racism. The ripple effects of this pandemic are layers deep, yet our nation’s response further perpetuates white supremacy culture. The Open Table Antiracism Trainings hosted a Facebook LIVE discussion on racial inequity amidst COVID-19 & the church’s role in addressing injustice during a humanitarian crisis.
April 22nd marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a day meant to remind us of the many gifts earth brings as we advocate for conscious environmental justice and protection. We will explore the intersections of earth care, self care, spirituality and the interconnectedness of all creation. What does the Buddhist tradition have to teach us about the interconnectedness of self and earth? Listen in as Sergio Moreno invites us into deep spiritual practices of caring for the world around us.
As we begin our Lenten series, Breaking the Cycle of Violence, we are starting with a conversation about what Jesus’ death on the cross meant 2,000 years ago. Was Jesus’ death really necessary to appease an angry God, or did it mean something else entirely? Join us as we welcome Dr. David May, professor of New Testament studies at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, who will lead a discussion on what Jesus’ death has meant to people experiencing oppression.
Every quarter at The Open Table we like to slow down, take a deep breath and recenter ourselves. Join us as we finish up our series, Embracing our Whole Selves, with a refreshing, contemplative gathering in the spirit of the Taizé community.
In order to adapt to the new realities given the COVID-19 pandemic, this gathering is offered online. Check out this blog post for a self-guided, contemplative liturgy. Also, we are including a guided meditation by Sarah Pickrell for you to participate in.
Grief manifests in more ways than just as a response to death. Our lives are made up of many moments of ambiguous, unnamable loss. In a culture where emotions are expected to be contained to certain events or locations, how do we allow ourselves to feel and move through this grief? How does it live in our bodies and communities? Listen in as we discuss the varying forms of grief and spiritual practices for grounding within it.
Art can be used as a tool of empowerment and identity formation. Join us as we explore art as community, identity and empowerment through the lens of developmental disabilities. Imagine That!– a local art studio that serves creative individuals with developmental disabilities– shares how they provide artists with the space and tools to define themselves.
Advent is a season of awaiting change: awaiting the birth of Jesus into a world of oppressive power; awaiting the birth of a renewed spirit & hope. The queer story is not unlike the story of Advent. To be queer is to be something outside of the world’s norms— to await a changed world that reflects the peace and power found in the Divine, through us. Tune in for our Christmas gathering!
Hope is inauthentic when we fail to acknowledge the oppression and trauma that exists in the world. Listen as we discuss how to embody a more grounded and authentic hope this holiday season.
Visual storytelling has been utilized throughout social movements as a means of documenting reality and disrupting systems. Stories invite us towards empathy, which has the power to shift narratives and change communities. It reminds us of our shared humanity, and calls us into deeper work together.
Join us as we hear from KC Tenants the important role visual storytelling has played in their work of building a multiracial tenant-led movement.
Public art plays a significant role in our world. It is an invitation for community involvement— where one is encouraged to question and discover. In light of our current immigration crisis, we have seen art used as a form of protest in public parks, urban spaces, and even along the US/Mexico border. What may seem like a paradox of hope & despair, actually engages us in reimagining another narrative where human dignity can be restored.
Join us for a conversation with artists Israel Alejandro Garcia Garcia and Enrique Javier Chi as they share how their art reflects the immigrant experience and the fight for justice.
The world is rapidly changing and disappearing at the hands of humans. Our easy consumption driven lifestyle has resulted in communities, such as those in the Amazon, being destroyed and ravaged. In the face of fast production and convenience, how can humanity participate in healing mother earth and one another? Join us as we hear from local poet & activist, Mary Silwance. She will be sharing the power behind lament as a means of activism– the work of grieving & healing our planet.
Throughout history, art has been used to tell stories, disrupt reality, celebrate identity, and invite us into a new consciousness. Art has become a sacred expression of liberation and freedom in social justice movements, which has inspired a paradigm shift in how we reclaim narratives today. It reminds us we’re not alone and that there is more to be seen and healed. All it requires is for humanity to be willing to connect and communicate more deeply.
Listen as we kick-off a new series on Art as Activism. We will be exploring various mediums in which artists tell change-making stories that speaks truth to power and calls us to action towards the mending of our world.
We will be hearing from various local artists who will share why the intersection of justice & art matters now more than ever.
Our current political climate has become a breeding grounds of fear & hate towards immigrants and refugees. In the face of xenophobia, we must ask ourselves if our country’s history ever reflected a welcoming spirit to our immigrant neighbors.
Listen to the second installment of a two-part series as we hear from local organization, IJAM on ways we can effectively disrupt & respond to the current crisis on the border.
Our current political climate has become a breeding grounds of fear & hate towards immigrants and refugees. In the face of xenophobia, we must ask ourselves if our country’s history ever reflected a welcoming spirit to our immigrant neighbors. Listen to the first installment of a two-part series as we hear from local organization, AIRR KC on ways we can effectively disrupt & respond to the current crisis on the border.
Indigenous spirituality is deeply tied to the earth. Through ritual, song, and dance, this connection to the earth is nurtured and sustained. Join us for an interactive conversation about Chickamauga Cherokee spirituality with Robert Francis, Uku ᎤᎫ at Daksi Gatiyo ᏓᎧᏏ ᎦᏘᏲ. Through discussion, song, and ritual, we will explore ways to reconnect with the earth, our communities, and ourselves.
Our bodies are communicating with us all of the time, but we are often taught to ignore these messages or not trust what our bodies are telling us. Join us as we reclaim the body as an integral part of life and spirituality. Shana Puckett, local spiritual director, and Madi Parker, local performance artist, will facilitate conversation and experiences to help us restore the connection to our bodies.
Throughout Celtic poetry there is an emphasis on liminality and blessing, thin places and thresholds. This spirituality invites us to find God in nature and in those around us as we embrace our interconnectedness. Join us for a conversation about Celtic spirituality, led by Rev. Kristin Riegel and Rev. Paul Rock from our parent church, Second Presbyterian.
Often the experience of the queer community is one of being hidden from view. In some cases, sexual and gender identities are completely erased. What does it mean to reclaim our story? When we own our stories we empower ourselves to be seen and known. Join resident Tony Beyer as we explore the spirituality inspired from the wisdom of the queer community. Warning: this will be an open and frank discussion. Because of the more provocative nature of this topic, discretion is recommended.
One of the challenges of the spiritual life is society’s pressure on us to become the most powerful, productive, and spectacular—often communicating that the number of followers we have determines our worth. God’s story calls us to a different way of life which instead emphasizes community, transformation, and authenticity. Listen in on a conversation about the spiritual practice of simplicity with Rev. Eric Garbison from Cherith Brook Catholic Worker.
When doing the work of justice and peace, we require a rootedness of purpose which helps sustain our attention and channel ourselves towards the good. A growing body of research shows that mindfulness can promote empathy, reduce stress and anxiety, help address depression and addiction, and teach us to respond with intention whenever we come up against difficulty. Listen in as we have a conversation about the practice of shamatha, a form of mindfulness meditation which means “calm abiding” or “tranquility.” Sergio Moreno, a hospital chaplain and meditation instructor at the Rime Buddhist Center, will guide us through the practice together.
The overarching narrative of Christianity’s practices of Holy Week and Easter is one of speaking truth to power, bringing that power to the marginalized, and a life-and-death commitment to Love. Listen for an interactive, story-based celebration of Jesus’ journey and the message of Easter, as The Open Table KC community celebrates this important season in the church.
When whiteness is centered in contemplative spirituality, the contemplative practices of black, indigenous, and other communities of color are minimized and ignored. Join us for an experiential conversation about contemplative practices of the black church with Dr. Amy Hartsfield, Counselor and Assessment Consultant at Central Baptist Theological Seminary.
The season of Lent begins this week, bringing with it the opportunity to reflect on the themes of death and life, in ourselves and the rest of the world. Join us for our next gathering as our Curator, Wendie Brockhaus, facilitates a conversation on Jesus’ journey into the desert and the spiritual practices which can help sustain us on our own journeys.
In early Christianity, the desert taught the early church mothers and fathers many lessons about the spiritual life. Join us as we welcome Fr. Turbo Qualls, St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church, as he explores the spiritual practices of the desert mothers and fathers, and discusses how these ancient practices are needed today.
True contemplation leads to action, and action can only be grounded by a rich contemplative life. Join us for the first installment of our winter/spring series, Local Spirituality. The Open Table’s Organizer, Nick Pickrell, will facilitate a conversation about balancing and integrating both action and contemplation. We will be having a potluck for dinner, so bring a main or side dish to share.
As we anticipate and reflect on the story of Christmas, we want to take time to honor Mary’s life and wounds as the mother of Jesus. Through her lens, we can be inspired to reimagine the story of Christmas. Join us for an evening of reflection, music and silence as we celebrate her wisdom.
Artwork by Claudia Talavera Artworks IG: @pintandovirgenes FB: Pintando Vírgenes
When we talk about feminism, it’s important to ask whose power and liberation is being centered. White feminism focuses only on the comfort, empowerment, and freedom of white, middle to upper-class women at the expense of others on the margins, and doesn’t take responsibility for its own part in the oppression of Women of Color. We can’t engage with the Sacred Feminine without naming this injustice and imagining a better way. Join us for this important conversation about racism and feminism with PaKou Her, co-founder of the Community Alliance for Racial Equity, and Digital Advocacy, Growth and Innovation Campaigner at ParentsTogether.
The recent shutdown of Free Hot Soup has sparked an important dialogue about how we should serve and support the homeless in Kansas City. Nick Pickrell’s sermon, “Getting Our House in Order,” will help us consider “the feeding of the 5,000” — when Jesus and his disciples fed a large crowd with five loaves of bread and two fish. As we hear Jesus’ message in this passage, we will consider how it might inform our response to homelessness in Kansas City. You can also view the sermon video here.
We have much to learn from our wise foremothers– mystics, organizers and women of the Bible who have not been celebrated for the ways they’ve challenged patriarchal systems throughout history. It is through their work of resistance that we’re able to reimagine an alternative way, letting their stories inspire us to continue their legacy and spiritual work. Join us for a conversation and meal on November 11th at 6:30pm with Cecilia Belser Patton, co-founder of Community Alliance for Racial Equity and The Open Table antiracism trainer, as we explore the stories of our foremothers, and have the chance to share our own.
Societal expectations can shame women for their sexuality. It is important to challenge these unhealthy narratives and reclaim them in a restorative and liberating way. Join us for a conversation with Jeanne Hoeft, Ph.D., professor at Saint Paul School of Theology. Rev. Dr. Hoeft’s works include pastoral care, human sexuality, feminist and womanist issues, queer theory, violence against women and children, gun violence, and rural communities.
Instead of an ecology of domination and subjugation, Native worldviews point us towards an ecology of interconnectedness. Join us as we welcome Alex Kimball Williams, multicultural musician, writer, teacher, scientist, and a graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University, as they facilitate a discussion on how ecology and the sacred feminine are connected.
“[Humanity] has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” – Chief Seattle
Efforts to recognize and experience the sacred feminine are tangled up in the destructive epidemic of patriarchal masculinity that is revealed through male violence, misogyny, and sexism. This dehumanizing ideology is lived out and reinforced across every facet of society, including communities and institutions of faith. Join us as we welcome John Tramel, founding organizer of SURJ-KC and former trainer of Men Stopping Violence, who will help us explore the ways patriarchal masculinity is perpetuated through individual male behavior, communities, institutions, and beyond.
Eve and Mary, the mother of Jesus, are well known people from the Bible, but do we really know them apart from the archetypes placed on them by certain Christian perspectives? How do we read their stories and let them speak for themselves, without the harmful stereotypes of “vixen” and “virgin”? Join us for the first night of our Sacred Feminine series, as we explore their narratives and discover a wisdom that pushes the boundaries of the unknown. The Open Table Curator, Wendie Brockhaus, and Resident, Victoria Litardo, will be facilitating this hands-on experience.
The human spirit is beautifully resilient, but that doesn’t mean we live a life free from suffering or pain. However, in the midst of our struggles we can experience a liberating shift within ourselves– one that embraces our imperfections, sheds our narratives of shame, and frees us to live wholeheartedly. Come join two of our leaders from The Open Table, Tony Beyer and Garrett Brown, as they lead a conversation that takes us through Dr. Brene Brown’s work on how we can build empathy, self-compassion and vulnerability in ways that empowers us to live authentically.
Jesus’ ethos broke the myth of redemptive violence, and offered humanity an alternative way forward. He centered his life’s work around telling stories of redemption. Our storytelling hour will feature ways we have broken the cycles of violence in our own lives, and how that led to hope and resurrection. We’ll hear from several people in our community and then have some time for small group sharing!
The Poor People’s Campaign was formed in 1968 because Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others saw how poverty was interrelated to both racism and the war economy. His analysis was that in order to remake the whole of American society, the nation’s poor would need to come together to tackle the triple evils of poverty, racism, and the war economy. Today, nearly 140 million people are either poor or low income, and this touches all demographics. Rev. Dr. Tex Sample, pastor at Trinity United Methodist and professor Emeritus at Saint Paul School of Theology, will facilitate a discussion about poverty, faith, and the need to come together to fight poverty, not the poor.
Racism is the United States’ original sin, and it continues today, but in different forms. Slavery, lynching, segregation, Jim Crow laws, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and unjust policing practices are just some examples of how systemic racism has shifted over time. Today, 23 states have adopted voter suppression laws, 25 states have pre-empted cities from raising the minimum wage, and the prison population has ballooned to 1.5 million people, with people of color accounting for 66% of the prison population, despite making up only 39% of the total population. Rev. Rodney Williams, pastor of Swope Parkway United Christian Church, will facilitate a discussion on the long-lasting effects of racism, and the work that is being done to undo systemic racism in all its forms.
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.” The current annual military budget, at $668 billion, dwarfs the $190 billion allocated for education, jobs, housing and other basic services. Out of every dollar in federal discretionary spending, 53 cents goes towards the military and only 15 cents is spent on anti-poverty programs. Sr. Barbara McCracken, from Mount Saint Scholastica, will join us for a discussion on this evil the Poor People’s Campaign seeks to address.
Did you know that low income households spend seven times as much of their paycheck on water bills as wealthy households? And in areas like Flint, MI, the water that is getting piped in is still toxic? The Poor People’s Campaign recognizes that ecological devastation is ruining our planet and has a disproportionate effect on poor communities and communities of color. Jordan Schiele and Sunny Hamrick of Jerusalem Farm will join us for a discussion on why the Poor People’s Campaign is tackling ecological devastation as one of this national movement’s goals. We will also be looking at Pope Francis’ encyclical on climate change, Laudato Si, as a way to talk about how climate change intersects with poverty, racism, and the war economy.
50 years ago, Dr. King launched a human rights movement that brought together folks around a common cause, to end the various forms of racism, economic exploitation, and militarism that kept many from living a life of abundance. This year, the Poor People’s Campaign is being resurrected! Join us for an evening of discussion, storytelling, and calls to action around these important issues. We will be joined by members of Stand Up KC, Rev. Eric Garbison, and more.
We often miss the political nature of Jesus’ actions on Palm Sunday, and the ways Jesus flipped the script on what a messiah looked like. Rev. Dr. Wallace Hartsfield II, professor of Hebrew Scriptures at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, will join us for a discussion on the nature of Jesus’ actions on Palm Sunday and the message those actions hold for us today.
As more white folks are drawn back to the city, individuals and developers are buying up land, businesses, and housing stock. This development displaces people of color, resulting in a cultural & historical loss and perpetuating economic disparities. Are we breaking down the Troost divide or simply pushing it further east? Join us for a conversation with Hakima Payne, director and founder of Uzazi Village, Sandra Enriquez, Director of Public History and Asst. Professor of History at UMKC, and Angela Martellaro, local real estate agent and SURJ member, for a conversation about gentrification and gentrifiers.
Institutional discrimination and systemic oppression negatively impact marginalized people in myriad ways, from racism to sexism and classism to heterosexism. It can be dizzying to sort out all of the ways in which dominant groups leverage power that damage disenfranchised groups. It can be even more challenging to build connections between different oppressed groups. Join us for an important conversation about racism and intersectionality–and what we can all do to challenge the status quo. We will be joined by PaKou Her, a local community organizer and anti-racism trainer/facilitator.
Jesus was a person of color who was born under an oppressive Roman regime, and when Jesus launched his ministry at age 30, he started by declaring freedom for the captives! This message of liberation and hope has animated the church in poor and marginalized communities all over the world! This Advent season, we are continuing our series on race with a conversation about liberation theology and reading the Christmas story through the eyes of the oppressed. Father Turbo Qualls, Deacon of St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Christian Church, will be our guest teacher.
Many in our country deny being racist, but our speech and actions can communicate a different message. Join us as Rev. Jose Martinez, founder of Missio KC, facilitates a conversation about the ways our language and actions can perpetuate unhealthy narratives and racism.
Colin Kaepernick took a knee on an NFL field to protest structural racism, which sparked a national debate about what racism is, especially in the post-civil rights era. It is vital for communities to have a common understanding of what racism is and how it is expressed i?n order to move forward in the work to undo structural forms of racism. Join us as we welcome Kiku Brooks, co-chair of MORE2’s Criminal Justice Task Force, for a primer on what racism and privilege are, as well as why the Christian community needs to be active in the work against racism.
Racism has been deeply embedded in both society and religion, so how can we take part in the righting of the wrongs of generations both past and present? Join us for the first installment of our fall/winter series on race, a conversation about how racism has evolved over time in both the church and society. We will be joined by two Saint Paul School of Theology professors, Dr. Angela Sims and Dr. Nancy Howell, for this important conversation.
Social movements have dramatically changed how governments operate around the globe, yet some question the use of grassroots organizing and protest to achieve reform and revolution. Join us for a storytelling hour where we will be joined by Rev. Susan McCann, Rev. Nia Chandler, Rev. Dr. Vernon Percy Howard Jr., and Rev. Eric Garbison who will speak about their experiences behind bars, their theology of protest, and how they stay grounded through the practice of Sabbath.
Wendie Brockhaus, Riley Brown, and Nick Pickrell shared stories of how music served as a source of resurrection, of new life, at various stages of our lives.
Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk, deeply cared for those affected by war, poverty, and marginalization. From the walls of his monastery, he influenced a generation of Christians to walk alongside the poor while maintaining one’s inner life through practices like solitude. Sr. Therese Elias, OSB, will offer her reflections on Thomas Merton’s life and spiritual practices, from solitude to solidarity.
Nick Pickrell recently spoke at Redemption Church in Olathe, KS. Listen to hear about how humanity’s propensity to categorize people is actually a double-edged sword.
Seventy years ago, Gandhi inspired a nation under occupation to gain its independence through noncooperation and nonviolence. What lessons can we learn from this historic social movement, and how can the Gandhian program inform our own spiritual formation in the Christian tradition? Join us for a conversation with Adam Campbell, founder of the Peace and Permaculture Center and member of the Possibility Alliance, as we explore the ways Gandhi balanced political action and constructive social programs with a deep commitment to mindfulness self-transformation.
Many mystics were once labeled as outcasts and rebels because they went against the norms of their time, but today we celebrate them as spiritual giants. Come take a journey with us through the history of Christian spirituality. Wendie Brockhaus, Assistant Curator of The Open Table, will kick off our summer series as we explore both old and new ways to practice an ancient faith in today’s context.
Why does “all are welcome” only seem to apply to straight people in many churches? We all need a community that will welcome and support us throughout our life’s journey, but unfortunately the church has not always been a safe place for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+). Join us for dinner and conversation with Rev. Donna Simon from St. Mark’s Hope and Peace, as she discusses how the actions of the church have affected the LGBTQ community, and how we can create a space where people feel welcome no matter who/whom they love.
Environments speak just as loudly as words—just because we have a wheelchair ramp doesn’t mean we are truly accessible for persons with disabilities. How do we become the kind of church which invites all into community, engagement, and leadership? Join us as we welcome Rev. Letiah Fraser, local disability rights activist, who will challenge us to rethink what our words and actions communicate.
God has called on Christians over the ages to welcome the stranger, but today our airwaves are filled with a narrative of exclusion and hate. Join us as we welcome Rev. Orlando Gallardo, Associate Pastor of Trinity Community Church in Kansas City, KS, as he shares with us about his own journey as an immigrant in America.
With the recent Muslim ban and attacks towards Jewish centers around the country, it is vitally important for people to come together to show how we can be in mutual, positive relationships with people of different religious and nonreligious traditions. Join us for a panel discussion where we will explore the ways faith traditions perpetuate division, and how we can build a path toward peace and reconciliation.
Most faith communities say they welcome all, but is that really true? Does there come a point when our welcome runs out? Join us as our Curator, Nick Pickrell, kicks off our spring series about various way folks have and haven’t been welcomed in the church. He will offer a reflection and facilitate dialogue about the welcome people offered Jesus on Palm Sunday and how that relates to the welcome church offers today.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America. 50 years after those words were spoken, his words still ring true as churches across the country remain segregated. Join us for a conversation about why this trend has persisted, and how the church can work toward being the multiracial, multicultural community that is reflective of God’s welcome of all. Our conversation leader for the evening will be Associate Pastor Chris Logan from The Keystone Church in Waldo. As a spiritual leader he is very interested in manifesting the claims of the gospel on earth, particularly for the poor and marginalized as well as for those who have been excluded from the communion of faith.
We often have one way of viewing things, be it a passage of scripture or a group of people. Listen as we review the Parable of the Talents and how through studying the context of the first century, our single story turns out to be inadequate, and possibly wrong, just like what can happen when we refuse to review the single stories we have about other people.
Our faith calls us to be our sister’s and brother’s keeper, but many times people find that call to be a difficult one to live up to. Even as we walk alongside people seeking recovery from addiction, it can be a confusing ride if we don’t know how addiction works as well as how to offer care. Join us as we welcome back Andrea “Andy” Garcia-Ruse, MA, LCPC, Treatment Consultant for KC Region of American Addiction Centers for a conversation on how we can best walk alongside people who are addicted.
Faith plays a role in many people’s struggle with addiction. It is something that can aid folks in recovery, but it can also be an obstacle. Merritt Benz, LCSW, Certified Daring Way Facilitator and owner/director of the Bedford Therapy Group, will facilitate a discussion around the ways faith can help and hurt in the midst of recovery.
No one treatment method works for all people, but so many think only one path to recovery exists. Join us as we engage in a dinner discussion with these panelists about various new and old treatments that have helped lead people to recovery. On the wagon or off the wagon, let’s support each other and create a safe and compassionate space for all.
Our guest speakers this Sunday will include:
Dr. Bob Prue, UMKC School of Social Work Associate Professor, Chair and MSW Program Director Sr. Melissa Letts, OSB, Pastoral Care Coordinator for the Dooley Center and spiritual director Andrea “Andy” Garcia-Ruse, MA, LCPC, Treatment Consultant for KC Region of American Addiction Centers Sarah Pickrell, local artist and leader at The Open Table
Addiction is something that affects many in our society, yet many people lack the understanding to be a good partner as someone walks the path toward recovery. Join us in the first of a four part series on addiction as we learn about the science behind addiction and why addiction can be so hard to break. We will be joined by Taylor Johnson, LCPC, who is currently a counselor and associate professor at MNU in Olathe.
With the election cycle coming to a close, we gathered to share stories of orientation in a time that is so disorienting for many. People shared favorite texts and how it had impacted them.
To close out our political series, we looked at ways the church’s practices can transcend the narrower political systems that end at every nation’s geographic boundaries. Rev. Dr. Mike Graves, Professor of Preaching and Worship at Saint Paul School of Theology, led us in a discussion about the political power of common practices like Communion.
In every political system, some people have more access, power and privilege than others. Rev. Dr. Wallace Hartsfield II joined us to discuss the United States’ recent political history, citing various ways our political system works (and doesn’t work) for white folks, black folks, and other minorities living in our borders. Dr. Hartsfield is Pastor of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church and Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Rev. Eric Garbison leads a discussion that seeks to expand our view of what can be considered political. ***NOTE: There is some digital distortion on this track so please accept our apologies for this.
Dr. David May helps us understand the first century political scene and how Jesus critiqued those in power.
Listen in as we have a discussion about America’s politic and narrative and contrast that to God’s politic and narrative.
This is a quick who, what and why of The Open Table. We talk about the past, present and future of our new community.
Our political climate is putting people into two camps: idealists and realists. Is one really better than the other?
We are all on pilgrimage, but can we see the poetry in the journey during the good times and the bad?
We celebrate our independence every year, but is independence what we actually want or need?