ACSI BEGAN A PARTNERSHIP WITH “UNIFY -ED ” TO PRPMOTE RACIAL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WITH THE LONGTIME HEAD OF DIVERSITY AND iNCLUSION AT SOUTH EASTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL WALTER STRICKLAND. STIRCKLAND IS INFAMOUS AMONG SOUTHERN BAPTIST FOR HAVING BOASTED TO THE NEW TORK TIMES ABOUT TEACHING BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY AND FOUNDER JAMES CONE IN BAPTIST SEMINARIES. FOR YEARS NOW ACSI HAS CONTINUED THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH STRICKLAND ADN UNIFY-ED AND THE INFORMATION BELOW IS AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THESE ONGOING RACIAL /DIVERSITY COURSES AND FOCUS FOR K-12 EDUCATION
8/8/2023
Rev Thomas Littleton
PLEASE SEE THE PREVIOUS MOVE BY ACSI TO INCLUDE THE PROGRESSIVE “SEXUAL ORIENTATION GENDER IDENTITY” /SOGI TEACHINGS OF SSA/INCLUSION ACTIVIST INTO ACSI TRAINING IN THE FIRST LINK.
THE ACSI RACIAL /CRITICAL THEORY MOVEMENT
JUSTIFICATION BY ACSI LARRY TAYLOR
LARRY TAYLOR ARTICLE- WANTS YOU AND YOUR KIDS TO “GET IN THE SANDBOX” WITH HIM ON RACIAL THEORIES.
FOUNDATIONS
“Ambassadors of Hope”
By Dr. Larry Taylor | Leaning into diversity, living out biblically-based unity.”
“Join me on a walk around a Christian school campus. Better yet, conduct a student assembly or a faculty meeting and give each attendee a 3×5 card. Ask them to define diversity, inclusion, justice, equality, equity, woke, critical race theory, white privilege, racial-based reconciliation, systemic racism, or any other lightning-rod issue related to racial-based dissension.”
“Like the mainstream feedback from our culture, the 3×5 card answers would convey a myriad of definitions and opinions. Unfortunately, only a few answers might be based on a Christ-centered and biblical worldview.”
“The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) unequivocally views this as an opportunity to get into this sandbox with students, faculty and parents. Yes, this sandbox is messy, and not a venture for the faint of heart. Discipleship has always been messy though. Jesus’s discipleship of the Apostle Peter is one example of the messy nature of training. And the alternative of sitting on the sidelines watching the biblically-based design for unity being co-opted by activists creates an even bigger mess. These activists espouse a worldview in which hopelessness permeates the soul of society. Hopelessness is not of God.”…
“Mr. Jerry Nelson, ACSI’s Special Assistant to the President, will oversee our renewed emphasis on biblically-based unity initiatives. Mr. Nelson clearly articulates ACSI’s meaning of biblical unity and social engagement: “Biblical unity is made possible through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who are in Christ are first reconciled back to God (their Creator) and then reconciled to each other. Unity, in Christ, is held together by the bond of the Spirit.”
“He goes on to say, “As Christians we understand that social engagement is a matter of the leading of the Holy Spirit to engage in the ministry of reconciliation wherever he leads—whether to poor or to the powerful and everything in between.”
“Let’s demonstrate what kingdom-inspired action looks like. “
“Our desire for unity is not politically or socially driven, but rather is given to us by God. I am confident that Christians can demonstrate to a watching world what kingdom-inspired action looks like. Today’s challenge of racial division allows us to lean into this with an informed, Christ-centered perspective. We are called to be ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:20)—ambassadors of hope.”
LARRY TAYLOR OF ACSI “SPECIAL ASSISTANT ON DIVERSITY“.
“In his role as Special Assistant to the President, Nelson will provide leadership and professional expertise in the planning and implementation of initiatives identified in the ministry’s new Strategic Plan. He will work closely with Taylor and the President’s Advisory Team (PAT) to collaboratively focus on objectives within each of the three pillars comprising the Strategic Plan: Advancing, Access, and Advocacy.”
“Nelson most recently served as Head of School at Northwest Christian Academy in Miami, FL for 11 years. He expressed anticipation and desire to contribute in his new role. Among other accomplishments, while at Northwest Nelson created a professional teacher development program, a student Leadership Development Program, a Parent Education Program, and wrote three books and several educational documents specifically for students and parents.”
“It’s a privilege to be able to work with Larry Taylor in this new paradigm of ACSI,” said Nelson. “My role is broad in the sense that I will have the opportunity to speak into each of the three pillars of the Strategic Plan. However, the thread that runs throughout is to help shape a philosophy to undergird our understanding of Culture and Diversity and to develop a framework for implementing it in our daily practices.”
“I’ve known Jerry for several years, and I can’t think of anyone who is more suited to carrying out our aim to integrate diversity issues with our new strategic plan. His background as a head of an inner-city school, and experience working with minority students and families, gives him an indispensablE understanding of how to achieve this goal,” Taylor shared.”
“In addition to their primary duties, both Marchand and Nelson will serve as members of the ACSI senior leadership team.”
THE RACIAL NARRATIVE AND VOICES AT ACSI
SAMPLE ACSI COURSE ON RACE AND DIVERSITY AND “UNITY”
ACSI PD By Design – Cultivating Biblical Unity
Product ID: #PDBD22-1
Non-Member: $399.00Your Price
A Turn-Key Offering for In-House Professional Development Events
“A digital professional development offering for teachers on the theme of Biblical Unity. With 1 CEU worth of rich content from experts in this theme, ACSI PD by Design allows administrators flexibility in hosting their own in-house PD by choosing a date and schedule that works best for their staff. ACSI PD by Design provides access to affordable, high quality professional development for teachers so they can grow in their profession, acquire CEUs, and advance Christ-centered education with excellence”
“Insular Culture is a construct in the Flourishing School Culture Model (FSCM). Insular Culture is defined as, “The school shields students from the world’s brokenness, the school is independent from the surrounding community, and/or the student body lacks diversity.” In the PD by Design offering, Cultivating Biblical Unity, we engage in a discussion around the theology, philosophy, and practicality of ethnicity, race, and culture as one aspect of insular culture. The video teachings and activities provided are designed to foster a biblically-based, transformative experience for teachers to examine how they can reach every student.”
Learning Objectives for this offering:
- I am able to define Biblical unity.
- I will commit to kingdom diversity through a biblical lens.
- I am able to recognize insular culture and identify how it impacts students in my classroom.
ACSI “RACIAL UNITY” Speaker and Session Details
Jerry Nelson, Special Advisor to the President, ACSI
Jerry Nelson is the Special Assistant to the President at ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International). He provides leadership and professional expertise in the planning and implementation of initiatives identified in ACSI’s new Strategic Plan. He also leads the internal staff professional development and oversees the biblical worldview integration task force for the Flourishing School Institute. A major part of Jerry’s role involves helping ACSI develop resource to address diversity issues from a Biblical worldview, both within the ministry and for member schools. His background as Head of an inner-city school, and experience working with minority students and families, gives him an indispensable understanding of how to achieve this goal.
Dr. Walter Strickland, Executive Director, UnifiEd
( NOTE STRICKLAND WAS PART OF THE 2019 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE WHICH TOOK A SUBMITTED RESOLUTION CONDEMING CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND INTERSECTIONALITY AND ALTERED THE RESOLUTION INTO AN AFFIRMATION OF CRT AND INTERSECTIONALITY WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF AUTHOR OR SBC MESSENGERS. SOUTHREN BAPTIST MESSENGERS WITH THE BACKDROP OF THE BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY AND LOADS ON ON STAGE DIALOG ON RACISM IN THE CHURCH- THEN UNWITTINGLY AFFIRMED THESE TOOLS OF RACIAL ACTIVIST AS “USEFUL ANALYTICAL TOOLS WITH THE GOSPEL”. STRICKLAND HAS ALSO ADMITTED TO THE NY TIMES THAT HE OFTEN TEACHES AND QUOTES JAMES CONE AND BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY IN HIS JOB AT SEBTS SEMINARY . SEBTS IS LED BY ALBERT MOHLER’S FRIEND DANNY AKIN AND IN THE DEPARTMENT STRICKLAND WORKS IN IS FUNDED BY THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ECONOMICS WHICH THIS SITE HAS REPEATEDCLY TRACED SINCE ITS 2009 INVASION OF CONSERVATIVE SEMINARIES. )
“Dr. Strickland’s passion is to equip people to flourish in their context from a deep commitment to God’s design. He is the Executive Director at UnifiEd as well as the Co-Founder and President of The Strickland Institute, Assistant Professor of Systematic and Contextual Theology at Southeastern Seminary, and Assistant Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Centre in Cambridge (UK). He holds a PhD in theology from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. His interests include systematic and contextual theology, the African American theological tradition, education theory, and theology of work. Dr. Strickland is an associate Research Fellow of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), and his work has appeared in The Gospel Project, Canon and Culture (of the ERLC), the Gospel Coalition, the Biblical Recorder, Christianity Today, Baptist Press, and World Magazine among other media outlets.”
Joel Gaines, Head of School, The City School
Joel R. Gaines serves as Head of School at The City School in Philadelphia, PA. He graduated from Philadelphia Biblical University (Cairn University) with a B.S. in Education and Biblical Studies, and an MEd. from Cabrini University. Joel also serves at the Director of Leadership Development at UnifiEd. Joel is passionate about seeing students flourish academically, emotionally, and spiritually toward comprehensive shalom. He has 17 years of administrative experience spanning urban, suburban, public, and Christian schools.
Tia Gaines, Director of Educational Strategies, UnifiEd
Tia Gaines is the Director of Educational Strategies at UnifiEd. She also serves as Department Chair for the English department as well as the 6–12 Instructional Coach for Insight PA Cyber Charter School. Tia coaches more than 200 teachers on teaching strategies in a virtual setting. She has also taught in the School for Applied and Innovative Learning program at Delaware County Christian School in Newtown Square, PA. In addition, Tia provides consulting to schools, universities and organizations on diversity, equity, and inclusion alongside her husband, Joel.Session One: Flourishing Foundations
- Devotional
- FSCM: Relationships Domain
- Invisible Backpack
Session Two: Theological Foundations for Unity
- Defining Culture
- Gospel Journey Through Acts
- Working with Culture
Session Three: Philosophical Foundations for Unity
- Individual Implications of Insular Culture
- Cultural Competency vs Cultural Humility
Session Four: Praxis for Unity
- Uprooting by Recentering
- School House Assessment
CONCLUSION
Christian K-12 education is presently experiencing the same kind of “WOKE” and DE&I infiltration which took place over the last 15 years in conservative seminaries. In fact it is often the very same Critical Theory disciples from those institutions like Walter Strickland of SEBTS who are helping with the triclke down effect into K-12.There is little purpose this trickle down of CRT /DE&I SOGI and other racially and sexual and gender minority narratives can serve except to aid the instituitons in obtaiing grants which require DE&I and such metrics. It also allows those willing to wear the pending millstones of divine judgement to ramp up the indoctrination of our children and grandchildren at ever younger AGES ,right under our noses, in our own Christian/ church schools and institutions.The rabid reach into homeschooling of tainted agenda driven curriculum confirms they are also willing to engage the same agenda to indocrtinate our children RIGHT IN OUR OWN HOMES. Several terms come to mind to describe this effort but “Christian Education” is not one of them.
Jeremiah
The Branch of Righteousness
23 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord. 3 “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the Lord.
5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,
“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and prosper,
And execute judgment and righteousness in the [c]earth.
6 In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell safely;
Now this is His name by which He will be called:
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
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