White Supremacy and the Experience of White Privilege: An Interior Journey
Saturday, March 18, 2023
1:00 - 4:00 pm Eastern
12 noon - 3:00 pm Central
11:00 am - 2:00 pm Mountain
10:00 am - 1:00 pm Pacific
This event was initially planned for September, but had to be cancelled as Jane suffered an injury and was unable to be with us then. We are grateful that she is well and able to provide this opportunity in March.
We live in a White supremacist culture that we didn’t create. It is our task to engage the inner work needed to be willing to take part in the dismantling of this racist system. As White people our first step is to turn inward to wake up to how we have been (often unconsciously) participating in White supremacy. This retreat is an invitation to begin or to continue to do this necessary inner work. The workshop is designed for White people. However, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) are most welcome to attend.
At the center of our time together will be story telling. By examining our own experience of White privilege and sharing it with others we can open our hearts as well as our minds to the reality of White supremacy. Jane will provide enough information to lead us into our own stories and ask open honest questions that can deepen our awareness.
During the day you are invited to participate in large group sessions, times of reflection, break out rooms, sharing, and a period of Q & A. You might want to bring a journal, not so much for taking notes of information, rather for recording your inner experiences. Jane will provide a list of resources for your ongoing journey.
Rev. Jane Vennard was called to the ministry of teaching and spiritual direction and ordained by the United Church of Christ in 1987. She is the author of eight books on prayer and spiritual practice. After retiring from her position as adjunct faculty in spiritual formation at the Iliff School of Theology, Jane has immersed herself in the study and experience of racism and White privilege. Jane now limits her teaching and facilitating to these topics.
Jane was the retreat leader for the Hearts On Fire retreat in 2018 at Trinity Center in North Carolina.