Chandra Irvin provided insight about individual freedom and commitment to ethical, spiritual relations during the Plenary Keynote Session from 1:30-3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, in the Nave for the 189th Convention. The session was “Setting the Context for the Work of Reconciliation: Training in Active Listening.”
Irvin is president and founder of Irvin, Goforth & Irvin LLC, and she is director for Peace and Restorative Services at Spalding University. She is a certified facilitator and minister for peace with expertise in cross-cultural relations and conflict resolution. Irvin has helped in the U.S. and abroad to simplify complexity, resolve conflicts, and build meaningful relations. She has previously lead racial reconciliation facilitator training at Trinity Church Wall Street and shared work with Heidi Kim, Missioner for Racial Reconciliation for the Episcopal Church.
Irvin’s experience through her firm and the Spalding campus, fostering all-inclusive environments, develops her role as a trailblazer for racial reconciliation.
Canon for Congregational Vitality, Jason Lewis said he looked forward to being in attendance because the workshop’s message is crucial.
“Racial reconciliation is an important work for our society,” he said. “This is a central issue that, as an American citizen, I’m concerned about. I think we need to be concerned about this as a society.”
Lewis said racial injustice was built into our system and its legacy unfortunately continues today.
“It’s part of who we are as a society I’m concerned about,” he said. “As a Christian, I believe the Episcopal Church is uniquely positioned to provide help.”
Lewis said Irvin’s workshop was for every member who seeks strengthening a diverse society.
“Reconciliation is what we’re all about,” he said. “We as Christians will benefit from our understanding of reconciliation and contributing to racial reconciliation in particular. This workshop will help everyone who wants to help our congregations engage in this important work.”
In ministry Chandra journeys with individuals and groups, providing resources and space to answer such questions as, “How can I exercise individual freedom while demonstrating my commitment to the well-being of all?” and “How can we relate ethically and spiritually with one another across our diverse cultures?” In the answers to such questions, they clarify their purpose, align their values, discover possibilities, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals. Chandra has previously led racial reconciliation facilitator training at Trinity Church Wall Street and shared work with Heidi Kim, Missioner for Racial Reconciliation for the Episcopal Church.
Predisposition Group Exercise
During the keynote session, Irvin hosted an exercise to reveal individual strengths and pinpoint areas in which to grow to further the work of racial reconciliation. She asked everyone to stand and decide which side of the room to stand in, prompted by their individual predispositions illustrated on a slide with a left column and a contrasting right column, like so:
What is your predisposition?Step into Difficult Conversations / Engage Silence
Be Candid / Be Diplomatic
Be Open / Honor Personal Boundaries
Analyze Meaning / Empathize with the Other
Focus on Subjective Realities / Focus on Objective Realities
Be Willing to Help / Be in Solidarity With
Focus on My Gift / Focus on the Source & Ground of Gift
Peace / Disruption
Focus on Intent / Focus on Impact
Look for Solutions / Step into the Complexities
Attend to the External Community / Attend to the Internal Community