Mosaic of Grace:
Christ’s Vision for Justice
and Unity
A Five-Part Lenten Series on
The Confession of 1967 and The Belhar Confession
What do Presbyterians believe about social justice?
The Confession of 1967 and The Belhar Confession, which are included in the PC(USA)’s Book of Confessions, reflect the church’s understanding about its responsibility to respond to injustice in the world, and specifically to racism.
Kyle Anderson and Jeff Vamos will offer provocative and Biblically-based reflections on these two confessions that will help the congregation in a broader conversation about writing a statement on our church’s commitment to racial reconciliation. This congregational conversation will take place this spring, and will complement several Adult Education offerings on similar themes.
Sermon 1 (March 9): “On a Mission from God”
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 – “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ…”
– The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey A. Vamos preaching
The Confession of 1967 teaches that reconciliation begins with Christ’s work, not human effort. We ARE on a mission from God and should think and act like it. More specifically, “ambassadors” of the Jesus Administration, interpreting and cooperating with what God is doing in a messed-up world. This has personal and cosmic significance: we should embody this in our personal and corporate/communal relationships, and understand its unfolding through God’s action in the cosmos. How does this then relate to our current conversation about racism?
Sermon 2 (March 16): “Tearing Down Walls, Building Bridges”
Scripture: Ephesians 2:14-18 – “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”
– The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey A. Vamos preaching
The Confession of 1967 insists that reconciliation is not just a personal or spiritual matter but requires confronting systemic injustice, particularly in matters of race and economic inequality. The sermon will compare and contrast this mandate with modern theories about racial justice such as Critical Race Theory, the work of Ibram X Kendi, etc. How might those theories be helpful? How might they diverge? What then is our mandate as individuals and as a church? How do we leave our comfort zone to be reconcilers?
Sermon 3 (March 23): “Truth and Justice: A Church That Speaks”
Scripture: Isaiah 1:16-17 – “Seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
– The Rev. Kyle R. Anderson preaching
The Confession of 1967 emphasizes that reconciliation is not about ignoring injustice but confronting it. The church is called to truth-telling and justice as part of reconciliation. Some ideas for exploration:
- The relationship between truth and reconciliation — confessing sins of the past, addressing present injustices.
- How the church can be a prophetic voice in society.
- Examples of modern truth-telling — racial justice movements, economic fairness, peace initiatives.
Sermon 4 (March 30): “Mosaic of Grace”
Scripture: Revelation 7:9-10 – “A great multitude… from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne.”
– The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey A. Vamos preaching
The Belhar Confession teaches that reconciliation is not assimilation — God’s kingdom is a mosaic of cultures, languages, and people. We must resist a “colorblind” gospel, and celebrate diversity while we seek justice. How does this relate to our almost all-white congregation?
Sermon 5 (April 6): “Roots of Justice, Rivers of Peace”
Scripture: Amos 5:24 – “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.”
– The Rev. Kyle R. Anderson preaching
The Belhar Confession insists that there is no peace without justice — the church must stand for the oppressed. How is our worship “empty” if it ignores justice? What is “gospel driven action” as opposed to protest or activism? How does the church stand with the oppressed?
