
Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS
Dr. Shawn Duncan is the Director of Training and Education for Focused Community Strategies (FCS), a Christian community development organization that has been partnering with distressed urban neighborhoods in Atlanta for the last 40 years. He is also the Co-Founder of EIRO (pronounced “i row”), which serves as a catalyst for local churches eager to participate more fully in the mission of God in their local context.
Charity Detox: What Charity Would Look Like If We Cared About Results
Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help, And How to Reverse It
Focused Community Strategies
EIRO
Contact Shawn at shawn@fcsministries.org
Interested in advertising on Seminary Dropout? For rates and information contact me at shane@shaneblackshear.com
If you liked this episode then you might also like…
Seminary Dropout 35: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor & Yourself – Brian Fikkert
Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes
*links to guest books or other products are affiliate links
Missio Alliance Comment Policy
The Missio Alliance Writing Collectives exist as a ministry of writing to resource theological practitioners for mission. From our Leading Voices to our regular Writing Team and those invited to publish with us as Community Voices, we are creating a space for thoughtful engagement of critical issues and questions facing the North American Church in God’s mission. This sort of thoughtful engagement is something that we seek to engender not only in our publishing, but in conversations that unfold as a result in the comment section of our articles.
Unfortunately, because of the relational distance introduced by online communication, “thoughtful engagement” and “comment sections” seldom go hand in hand. At the same time, censorship of comments by those who disagree with points made by authors, whose anger or limited perspective taints their words, or who simply feel the need to express their own opinion on a topic without any meaningful engagement with the article or comment in question can mask an important window into the true state of Christian discourse. As such, Missio Alliance sets forth the following suggestions for those who wish to engage in conversation around our writing:
1. Seek to understand the author’s intent.
If you disagree with something the an author said, consider framing your response as, “I hear you as saying _________. Am I understanding you correctly? If so, here’s why I disagree. _____________.
2. Seek to make your own voice heard.
We deeply desire and value the voice and perspective of our readers. However you may react to an article we publish or a fellow commenter, we encourage you to set forth that reaction is the most constructive way possible. Use your voice and perspective to move conversation forward rather than shut it down.
3. Share your story.
One of our favorite tenants is that “an enemy is someone whose story we haven’t heard.” Very often disagreements and rants are the result of people talking past rather than to one another. Everyone’s perspective is intimately bound up with their own stories – their contexts and experiences. We encourage you to couch your comments in whatever aspect of your own story might help others understand where you are coming from.
In view of those suggestions for shaping conversation on our site and in an effort to curate a hospitable space of open conversation, Missio Alliance may delete comments and/or ban users who show no regard for constructive engagement, especially those whose comments are easily construed as trolling, threatening, or abusive.