Racial Justice Assessment<\/a>, it includes a brief video message from NAE President Walter Kim.<\/p>\nMekdes Haddis, director of NAE’s Racial Justice & Reconciliation Collaborative, told The Christian Post that the assessment derived from conversations with people on the topic of racial justice.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we talked with both leaders in the racial justice space and with others who are not as engaged, we recognized a need for a tool that would help direct people to resources in areas of interest and growth,\u201d Haddis said.<\/p>\n
The assessment takes approximately three minutes to complete on average, with the questions divided into the four categories of “Building Foundation,” “Cultivating Curiosity,” “Pursuing Justice” and “Embracing Reconciliation.”<\/p>\n
Haddis told CP that these four categories were selected for the test because they \u201crepresent a learning experience that people can engage as they grow in pursuing justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout building a historical and biblical foundation of race, one will not have the ability to sit and listen, empathize and engage with people from different experiences and backgrounds,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout curiosity, we won\u2019t be able to see our blind spots. Once our eyes are opened to the realities of our brothers and sisters, it\u2019s easy to engage in pursuing justice and reconciliation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The assessment also includes a list of recommended resources, including the books Beyond Racial Gridlock<\/em> by George Yancey, Generous Justice<\/em> by Timothy Keller, How to Heal Our Racial Divide<\/em> by Derwin Gray, and White Too Long<\/em> by Robert P. Jones.<\/p>\nIt also includes other writings by Keller, Kim, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Martin Luther King Jr., Marlena Graves and Frederick Douglass.<\/p>\n
Haddis told CP that the list of resources was \u201cnot an exhaustive list\u201d but that it did highlight a \u201cdiversity of perspectives\u201d on the topics of racial reconciliation and justice, including those not coming from a Christian worldview.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Christians, we are called to share the Gospel with the world. In order to do that, we must understand how the world sees racial justice and reconciliation so we can present the Gospel in a winsome manner,\u201d Haddis added. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we lose the ability to have a broader understanding, then we silo ourselves and become ineffective in disciple-making. We also specify that these resources are recommended learning resources, and unless they\u2019re produced by the NAE, they\u2019re not endorsed by the NAE.\u201d<\/p>\n
Haddis believes the assessment and resources will help respond to a reportedly overwhelming sentiment within the Evangelical community of \u201cwe don\u2019t know where to begin.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope this gives Evangelical Christians a place to start,\u201d she added, \u201cto be challenged and to seek continual growth through resources and by connecting with other organizations who are engaged in this work.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
Founded in 1942, NAE is an association of churches from more than 40 denominations representing millions of people, along with dozens of schools and nonprofits.<\/p>\n
In 2019, Kim was elected<\/a> president of the NAE, replacing Leith Anderson, who had served since 2006, and becoming the first racial minority to hold the office.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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