Thread by @lisasharper

Glad to be part of this convo! Need to define terms to begin:
Here are a few helpful ways I think of #racism:
Racism = Prejudice + Power to impact the lives and futures of the “other”. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 1/

https://twitter.com/Evang4Justice/status/1110934768323985408

Racism = the implementation of structural, systemic, legal and/or political hierarchy of human belonging based on arbitrary physical features. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 2/

Racism = the #racialization of society’s systems and structures by #intent OR by #impact. 3/#LiberatingEvangelicalism

Sexism = implementation of hierarchy of belonging according to gender identity. (Illustration by Chelsea Beck) 4/ #LiberatingEvangelicalism

Sexism = Structures, systems, laws, politics, practices, norms, values that protect the supremacy of men. 5/ #LiberatingEvangelicalism

Patriarchy places ultimate power in the males of a household. In US and in the Evangelical Church that power has been historically, structurally, systemically, theologically, ecclesiologically, and politically vested in WHITE men. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 6/

What do we mean when we talk about #Intersectionality? The term was coined by #kimberlecrenshaw. I like this Webster’s Dictionary Definition: merriam-webster.com/dictionary/int… 7/ #LiberatingEvangelicalism

I think of #intersectionality like this: The intersections of our overlapping identities and the cumulative oppressions heaped on our bodies, families, communities and futures because of those identities. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 8/

#Intersectionality demands that we understand the PARTICULAR patterns of oppression that occur when certain identities overlap. I’ve come to understand points of intersection as the places where modus operandi of #WhitePatriarchy are clearest. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 9/

To understand how White Patriarchy protects the supremacy of white men in #evangelicalism, let’s take a look at the power brokers and space shapers at the top of Evangelicalisms pillar institutions: #LiberatingEvangelicalism 10/

@CTmagazine (flagship institution of modern US Evangelicalism). Around since 1956–shaping the sensibilities and worldview of evangelicals for 63 years. This is its leadership team: 2/3rds male. White Men control content. White Women keep it going. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 11/

@BillyGraham Evangelistic Association: Look them up. One woman. Nearly all white. Plus, there’s this: billygraham.org/about/biograph… #LiberatingEvangelicalism 12/

Campus Crusade for Christ (Now, @Cru): Beautiful people with great hearts. This is not about the people. This is about the structure and how White Patriarchy works in evangelicalism: cru.org/us/en/about/ou… #LiberatingEvangelicalism 13/

@intervarsityusa. Its history of intentional struggle with race/gender have led them down a much different path. Next step for IVCF is to examine how wedded the POC at top are to European-male-centric theological authorities: intervarsity.org/leadership #LiberatingEvangelicalism 14/

And finally, ((drumroll)) @TGC (The Gospel Coalition): Leadership all white. All male. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 15/

So, @TGC shows a lot. They consider themselves the modern day protectors of the purity of Jesus’ good news. Here’s rest of staff: Operations: All directors White men. White women get to be managers. Alen, only POC (God love him) gets to assist. #LiberatingEvangelicalism #16/

The @TGC Editorial staff: 4 of 16 are women. Only 2 women are editors (both white). Another woman is director of women’s content (well at least they thought of us). The final woman (WOC?) is the only “Assistant” in department. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 17/

Then, of course there’s the @TGC Women’s Training Network: All White Women. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 18/

Almost done. @TGC International Outreach: Director is a White man. Two other women in department are White women. They get to manage and assist the #patriarchy as it spreads far and wide. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 19/

And bringing up the rear are the folks in charge of @TGC courses and expository preaching—the ones tasked with training the next generation of acolytes of White Patriarchy: All men. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 20/

So, there you see it. #THIS has been my experience of the intersection of racism and sexism in evangelicalism.
#LiberatingEvangelicalism 21/

Leadership demographics of Evangelicalism’s major institutions reveal beliefs about POC and women (especially WOC): We are NOT created w/ the call of God, nor the capacity, to exercise Genesis 1:26 dominion (stewardship) of the church or the gospel. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 22/

Of course, this is heresy. And my healing from this heresy has come from the scripture itself. Genesis 1:26-27 is clear. To be human is to be made with the call of God and the capacity to steward the world! #LiberatingEvangelicalism 23/

Also, check it out: When I study my Bible looking for Europeans, I come up empty. Every👏🏾single👏🏾person👏🏾in👏🏾the 👏🏾entire👏🏾Bible👏🏾is👏🏾a colonized POC—except one: Pilate. And he could have been a brother, too. We don’t know. I’m just being generous. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 24/

And Jesus breaks white patriarchy by being born of a woman of color! #LiberatingEvangelicalism 25/

And Jesus breaks #whitepatriarchy by commissioning a WOC to be the first evangelist in the Gospels! #SamaritanWoman 26/
(Illustration by Jesus Mafa)

And there’s the Syrophoenician woman with whom Jesus has coded theological discussion! #LiberatingEvangelicalism 27/

And... ok you get the point. But in case you don’t. You can read this #twittersermon I did last fall. twitter.com/i/moments/1106… #LiberatingEvangelicalism 28/

So, how to break #patriarchy in #evangelicalism, as WOC? Don’t wait for patriarchy’s affirmation. Stand on both feet, rooted in truth. Agree w/ God: I too am made in God’s image—called, w/ capacity to steward the world, the church and the #Gospel. #LiberatingEvangelicalism 29/29