“What am I committed to? What am I concerned about? What will I change?” These are the three questions pastors and ministers should be asking themselves and seeking answers to, according to Pastor Neddie R. Winters, Executive Director of Mission Mississippi.  Winters spoke at the pastors’ and ministers’ breakfast on Tuesday, July 1, at the Days Inn of McComb. 

Winters is committed to racial reconciliation.  “We (blacks and whites) spend a lot of time together, but we don’t spend enough time getting to know each other,” Winters said.  “Blacks and whites come from different cultures, and have different ways of handling conflicts.  We should listen to others, rather than talk at them,” Winters suggested.  “If you listen and talk to others long enough, you’ll find the answer.”

The breakfast meeting of about a dozen church leaders was a true roundtable discussion.  The participants agreed that openness and honesty are prerequisites for a commitment to change.  “We are here to speak from our heart, not use platitudes, pontification, or platforms,” Winters acknowledged. “What are we doing to help eliminate barriers of distrust?”

Here are some ideas and suggestions from other participants:

*We need to talk honestly, come to the table, bring it to the surface, not sugarcoat it.”

*”I need to not blame (the other race) for what was done in the past.”

*”Don’t take rejection (of your race) personally.  Don’t let other people’s racist attitudes become your racist attitude.”

*”We have to get away from being afraid to go places to fellowship with the other race.”

*”I need to overcome ignorance of how other people are treated.”

*”I would like to think churches impact the community, rather than the community impacts the churches.”

*If it’s to be, it must begin with me.” And even “I’m going to make you love me!”

*”We’re here to listen to each other’s story, and find out how it can become our story.”

In his closing remarks, Winters said he is “not really looking for you to change; I’m looking for you to stay at the table, and allow God to move through us” to bring about change.  Winters encouraged participants to invite other church leaders to next month’s breakfast, and especially to bring someone of a different race than their own. He stressed that the organization is not looking for participants to take on new leadership responsibilities, but merely to be present, to not be indifferent, and to participate in discussions of racial reconciliation.  The breakfast is open to church leaders or church representatives of all denominations in Pike County.

The motto of Mission Mississippi is “Changing Mississippi . . . One Relationship at a Time.”  For more information, please visit www.missionmississippi.org .

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