The Raceless Gospel Initiative
INTRODUCTION
The Raceless Gospel Initiative is faith seeking understanding—without race. It is a didactic, multifaceted ministry that decenters the sociopolitical construct of race and its progeny through resourceful teaching and relevant preaching, prophetic witness, courageous conversations, experiential learning, community building, soul-bearing writing and publication for the sake of Jesus’ gospel and in hopes of practicing an inclusive hospitality for a raceless “kin-dom” of God to come.
The initiative seeks to ultimately undermine the credibility of the sociopolitical construct of race in all Christian communications and in all Christian communities so that Jesus followers can live more deeply into their baptismal identity
PODCAST
Rev. Starlette Thomas is a womanist in ministry and the host of “The Raceless Gospel.” In this ongoing conversation, Word meets Flesh. Thomas and guests talk about that taboo trinity — race, religion and politics.
This is Starlette Thomas, your podcast pastor, here to tell you that the doors of this church are open! In Season 1 of the Raceless Gospel podcast, me and my guests fleshed out that taboo trinity — race, religion and politics and everything in between and all that gets in between Christians. Bodywork, the theme of Season 2, addresses the damage that the church in North America has done to itself. Known for its finger-pointing, it is an invitation for us to take a long hard look at “Christ’s hands and feet.” No sweaty hands or cold feet, it’s an embodied conversation that is calling for a complete overhaul from the inside out. Not one part of the body, this body of believers needs work. Bodywork. It’s Season 2 of “The Raceless Gospel” podcast from Good Faith Media.
MULTIMEDIA
Request a Workshop / Presentation, Consultation or Preaching Opportunity
Starlette Thomas, director of The Raceless Gospel Initiative, is available to lead workshops, presentations or consultations for houses of faith and other organizations related to the Raceless Gospel. She is also available for preaching opportunities. To begin a conversation with Starlette, please complete the form below.
ARTICLES BY STARLETTE THOMAS
Church Hurts: Bullies Must Be Called to Task
Church members pick fights, bully and destroy the faith and spiritual lives of others, all to maintain power, to dominate the narrative, to control sacred space. The church has bodywork to do. It’s time to hold them accountable.
Look Back | How We Blame Race for Our Behavior
When it comes to race, we speak as if we have no say, no will, no power at all. Race is not all that there is to say about humanity. Each of us needs to be more fully in Jesus Christ and less as race’s color-coded bodies.
Why North American Church Has Work to Do
Inside our homes and turned inward during the pandemic, many of us reflected deeply on what the North American church is doing. Bungling social issues, like its silence on police brutality, the church has bodywork to do.
History is Not Dead and Buried
Three so-called residential schools for Indigenous children could possibly be the sites of mass murder, and churches may share in the blame. We don’t need more official statements. We need more shovels to dig up this dirt.
Quitting Church for Practicing Business as Usual
Young adults are opting out of church as it used to be. They’ve been denied authentic, equal and full participation. Refusing to be treated like children, they’re looking for and creating a better and healthier faith tradition.
Wanting a Faith that Makes a Difference
This can’t be what Jesus died for. Christianity has become another holier-than-them club with membership dues and weekly activities while women in ministry, slavery and LGBTQ+ inclusion keep dividing the North American church.
