FOUNDATIONAL
WISDOM
DIFFERENT WAYS TO LIVE INTO OUR PRACTICE OF FAITH
At Park Avenue we recognize that we are all in a process of becoming and growing and that this is a vital part of the life of faith. To be rid of beliefs that are toxic to us we hold that many different thoelogies and wisdoms carry value. We believe that the practice of our faith can build our capacity to be maintain our compassion in the world and in this way faith practices build resiliency. Evolving in our belief systems is essential to continuing the spiritual journey. With this in mind we want to help people who are deconstructing toxic belief systems and we aim to offer new paradigms for taking social justice beliefs and translating them into action in radical church community. The wisdoms we have uncovered over the years we offer here as a roadmap of our history and pathway into journeying with us.
disconnection from the land is the story of our sacred text...
so we learn from the wisdom keepers of ancient ways of connecting with the land.
LEARN FROM OUR MVSKOKE MEKKO CHEBON
We are building a relationship with Mekko Rev. Chebon Kernell and the Mvskoke people. This is a part of PABC’s commitment to landback, decolonization and all movements to protect the land.
Mekko Chebon offered a training on protocols for being and connecting with the land. This training offers more insight into theologies of Mvskoke people. We have so much to learn and this wisdom is invaluable.
Take the time to watch the training here or on our Facebook page.
the practice of decolonizing and reconnecting with our bodies is the journey....
so we practice with tools that help us begin to sense again with our bodies.
SOMATIC PRACTICE AS A PATHWAY
TO CENTERING PRACTICE
Park Avenue is a community of people who have experienced trauma; many traumas occur in religious contexts, and systemic racialized violence causes extreme trauma. We are committed to educating and growing toward healing and wholeness.
Community Resiliency Model is a method to begin to balance emotions and trauma responses, which are natural to those of us who have been traumatized.
The Trauma Resource Institute
www.traumaresourceinstitute.com
www.communityresiliencymodel.com
Community
Resiliency
Model
Community Resiliency Model Training
but what does this have to do with the christian faith journey?
we have been formed by the perspective of Jesus as a wisdom teacher
The study of the Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault has formed a foundational understanding for our congregation of why we practice Centering Prayer and how we interpret scripture. We try to offer this four week study of this book each year. Here is the study guide.
Centering Practice - Core Faith Practice
CENTERING PRAYER,
AN ANCIENT CHRISTIAN PRACTICE
"How good it is to center down," the refrain from the Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman is how the Park Ave. Community plugs into centering prayer, an ancient Christian practice.
For those of us who have experienced trauma or those of us with trans experience, meditation can feel like a dangerous experience. Many of us spent years running away from the quiet center that has now become our guide; a reflection of the divine connection within us all.
Want to know more about Centering Prayer?
What is Centering Prayer?
Here's a roundtable by the curators
and PABC leaders about this journey.
how does abolition fit into the picture?
we know this christian message is meant to free us...
Abolition Church
The community of Park Avenue has practiced anti-racism for many years and through this work and reconciling our history in the Southern Baptist Church, we have come to recognize that the state is the purveyor of so much violence that a pathway toward healing and wholeness must include constellation of care that embody the practice of abolition.
Imagining Abolition, a class about becoming an Abolitionist Church
Imagining Abolition, a class about becoming an Abolitionist Church
Imagining Abolition Session 5
Imagining Abolition Session 4
Imagining Abolition Session 3
Imagining Abolition Session 2
Welcome
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Empire Christianity has infused our faith practice with toxic theology. We as a community seek to unpack this theology and in the process rediscover a faith that liberates us all.
UnPacking Toxic Theology
UnPacking Toxic Theology
Unpacking Session 5
Upacking Session 4
Unpacking Toxic Theology Session 3
Know the Law
Know Your Rights
July 2020
Pastor Henra hosts
a panel of experts
Know the Law
Know your Rights
February 20, 2021