“Brews & Bias” Facilitators Training​

October 10 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Meet & Greet, October 10

Back for a second year, “Brews and Bias,” is a synod-wide training program, designed to equip Rostered Ministers and Lay members to host sacred conversations around bias and racial/social justice with clarity, compassion, and joy. Whether you’re gathering in a living room, church, pub, or café corner, your presence makes space for truth-telling, healing, and beloved community.  

 

The first event in the series is a Meet and Greet with our training facilitator, Rhonda Hill on October 10, 10 – 11 am via Zoom. Join to meet Rhonda, ask questions, and learn more about this series. 

 

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Meeting chat link

Brews and Bias Facilitator Training (FAQ Sheet)

 

Please only attend the meet and greet if you plan to participate in the online and in-person training and are registered, so we have an accurate head count.

 

More About the Training Series

Brews and Bias is designed to equip individuals to initiate and facilitate faith-rooted dialogue in their community to help the group:

  • Confront and unlearn racial bias

  • Build micro-communities of reflection and action

  • Facilitate trauma-informed, joy-centered conversations

  • Reframe racial justice as sacred, communal, and spiritually formative

Inspired by the early church’s house-to-house gatherings (Acts 2) and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of Beloved Community, Brews and Bias turns everyday hospitality into a doorway for transformation. This is an opportunity to practice community building.

 

Slogan: “Sip slow. Speak truth. Seek justice.”

The weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a great time to host these conversations.

 

Drawing on scripture, Lutheran theology, and contemporary cultural wisdom, the program creates an intimate, joy-centered space for lay leaders and participants to engage in courageous conversation, and learn how to create those spaces themselves.

At its heart, Brews and Bias equips ordinary disciples to lead conversations about justice, equity, and reconciliation—over something as simple as a brew. Whether coffee, tea, or another beverage, the ritual of gathering becomes a doorway into transformation. It is an invitation into the sacred work of building beloved community, one cup and one conversation at a time.

Register

Program Model & Goals

Part 1: Online Foundations (4 Hours Total, Self-paced Modules)

  • Theological grounding: scripture, justice, and MLK’s vision of Beloved Community

  • Understanding bias: implicit, systemic, and cultural

  • Program orientation: session flow and facilitation basics

  • Interactive components: scenario practice, journaling, and online community engagement

Part 2: In-Person Training, November 14th 9am-1:30pm (including lunch) Location: TBD

  • Facilitation skills: trauma-informed leadership, active listening, managing conflict

  • Mini-session experience: modeling a condensed Brews and Bias gathering

  • Launch planning: practical guidance on hosting groups

  • Commissioning: blessing and sending leaders into this work

Please note: the pre-work “Online Foundations” should be completed by November 14th. This information will be emailed to each registered participant.


Scholarships are available for those that may need assistance. Please contact Rev. Afi Dobbins-Mays to learn more.

Equip Leaders with Theological and Practical Tools

  • Ground leaders in biblical commitments to justice and equity

  • Provide frameworks for recognizing and addressing racial bias

  • Train facilitators to lead trauma-informed, joy-centered discussions

Foster Courageous and Compassionate Dialogue

  • Create brave spaces for naming, exploring, and unlearning bias

  • Normalize discomfort as part of spiritual maturity and growth

  • Cultivate vulnerability, curiosity, and mutual respect

Integrate Faith, Media, and Cultural Wisdom

  • Use scripture, media clips, and real-world examples to illuminate bias

  • Connect biblical teaching with lived experiences of race and identity

  • Encourage reflection through journaling and dialogue

Build Micro-Communities of Reflection and Action

  • Train facilitators to host sessions in homes, cafés, and community spaces

  • Encourage ripple effects of accountability in congregations

  • Model the early church’s house-to-house gathering spirit (Acts 2)

Center Joy, Liberation, and Beloved Community

  • Reframe racial justice as communal work

  • Celebrate cultural resilience and spiritual depth

  • Anchor every gathering in prayer and affirmation