Video Transcriptions
Workshop on African Dance Transcription
Linda Kazibwe-James on African Dance
Linda: Hi, my name is Lina Kazibwe-James. I’m originally from East Africa. Each year at the SCORR Conference there is an Afro-Haitian, Afro-Cuban dance workshop which celebrates some of the traditional African dances as well as those of the African diaspora. Dance can be one of those avenues that brings us together as a Christian community. The Body of Christ being so diverse can include so many different forms of worship, of dance, of celebration styles. It does provide a sneak peek into the diversity of culture and the beauty of humanity that God has created and allow us to celebrate what it means to be his children. So come on out and enjoy this workshop! Be prepared to move your body and have a very exhilarating time. I look forward to seeing you there!
Soong Chan Rah at SCORR transcription
Excerpts from a keynote address by Soong Chan Rah.
“There are some things that are happening in the Asian-American community: we are transitioning from a first generation immigrant church to a second generation ethnic and now moving towards a pan-Asian and multi-ethnic community. That is exciting dynamic stuff! That we are transitioning through these multi-cultural experiences to a bi-cultural experience, to a third-cultural experience. Exactly what’s happening in Scripture: what’s happening in the Asian, as well as the Latino community - this is dynamic and exciting stuff! But how many books do you read about the hip-hop church, the second generation Asian-American church, or the Latino community? How many books are out there?
There are maybe about 4 books total written about the Asian-American church. There are 2 books on hip-hop culture and hip-hop in the church. We should be talking about the hip-hop church more, we should be talking about the Asian-American church more, we should be talking about the Latino community more.
So we have done it poorly again. We have latched on to certain parts of the culture and not other parts of the culture: we have done it poorly again. But it’s not too late – because this gathering tells me it’s not too late. This gathering tells me that for the first time in church history in the United States we might actually be leading something instead of following the trends!
No philosopher is talking about post-modernity anymore. This is like 20 years ago people were talking about post-modernity. But the churches are just now figuring out that we’re living in a post-modern culture and their fighting against it and arguing about it. And 20 years after the fact we are now trying to figure out post-modernity and it’s pretty silly because all the philosophers have moved on to whole new topic. But here we are as the church, 20 years later, beating a dead horse – you know – “We’re going to make this thing work! The scholars have moved on but we’re going to make it work!” – when maybe there is an opportunity for us as a church to actually lead. And in that area, and we’re going to talk about this tomorrow night, in that area is a multi-ethnic church, is a racial reconciled church. Because that is something the world has not been able to figure out. I mean, you saw this in the election, you saw this even now: people don’t know how to deal with the issue of race. Why? Because we’re not talking about a social-cultural phenomenon, we’re talking about a spiritual issue. Race is not a social-cultural phenomenon; it is a spiritual stronghold in American society. And all the laws we try to pass aren’t going to change a spiritual stronghold in our culture! We need churches, Christians, to say, “This is our task as the people of God to tear down a spiritual stronghold in our nation.” No law is going to change that. But the church can change that.
For the first time in a long, long time in American history, we can lead! We can lead! We can be the ones that don’t talk about race through this lens of philosophy or society or culture; we can talk about race through the lens of spirituality, of biblical perspective, of a theology. That’s why this group is so hopeful. That’s why – I’m exhausted by the way, I got about 3 hours of sleep last night after flying in, I couldn’t fall asleep – but I’m a little bit energetic tonight. Because this group has the potential to lead, not just the church but our society, our culture! This group has the potential to start churches that look different! This group has the potential to influence culture in ways that a previous generation didn’t think possible! This group can set examples of a reconciled community that the world has no idea how to deal with! But we can show that example. And pray that this community would make that sort of commitment, so that in our lifetime we’ll see something powerful, dramatic, we’ll see the transforming work of the Kingdom of God. Do you want to be a part of something like that?”
SCORR Montage transcription
Alicia: SCORR stands for the Student Congress on Racial Reconciliation.
Danica: SCORR is comprised of workshops, speakers that are coming from all over the country.
Luis: The Student Congress on Racial Reconciliation has a lot of things to offer. You get workshops, you get speakers, but my personal favorite is the platform it provides for arts.
Candace: SCORR offers you an experience to learn about different cultural dances including African.
Landon: It’s fun! You get to meet a lot of different people from other campuses.
Kay: You’ll make new friends, you’ll learn a lot of stuff, and you’ll hear great music.
Luis: One of my favorite things at SCORR is Taiko Drum Fest. The drums are about as big as you are and the sound is amazing. This is the type of sound you can feel, you don’t even need to hear it, you feel it.
Alicia: At SCORR we examine the Scriptures to building a Biblical foundation for racial reconciliation.
Ana: People should come to SCORR because it’s a great opportunity to learn what God’s kingdom is all about.
Alicia: What it means to embrace our humanity, and what it means to live in the fullness of Christ.
Landon: It will be warm!
Kay: Tell all your friends…
Landon: …it will be nice and sunny!
Kay: It’s awesome!
Luis: Amazing!
Kay: Wonderful!
Landon: Hope you guys all can make it out to SCORR Conference!
Candace: Student Congress on Racial Reconciliation!
Kay: Don’t miss it!
Michelle, Alicia, Katy, Nancy: Come to SCORR!
