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The tricky thing with bias is that it is often hard to pinpoint the full extent of it ourselves.
To help expand that awareness, First Lutheran Church is holding a series of three sessions aimed at helping people address biases in their daily lives.
The sessions, which start later this month, are open to the entire community.
"As part of First Lutheran's journey into becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation – simply meaning that we are intentionally educating ourselves on how to welcome all people into our lives – we realized there are more segments of the population than just the LGBTQ+ community we exclude, consciously or unconsciously, through our thoughts, words and actions," Rev. Jeff Ewing, pastor at First Lutheran Church said.
"This speaker's series will allow us to face our biases and help us to continue to move in a positive direction."
The first session is set for Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. and is entitled "On Native Ground – Reconciling with First Nations Peoples."
That will feature Warren-based historian Alex Watkins who has a focus on First Nations culture and is the chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee for the Boy Scout's Chief Cornplanter Council.
The second session is set for Jan. 12 and will be presented by Pastor Tedd Cogar, senior assessment coordinator and LGBTQIA support at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is titles "Welcoming People & Addressing Our Biases."
The third session is planned at a date and time to be determined in May and will feature Dr. John John, a local psychiatrist, discussing biases regarding mental illness.
"Learning about different groups -- their history, their story, and how they have been treated in the past and/or are treated in the present gives us the opportunity to see perhaps where we have fallen or do fall short of treating everyone with love and respect," Ewing said. "Learning from the past and the present gives us an opportunity to change our future and develop relationships with others with new eyes and (hopefully) a new vision. Again, widening the circle of welcome to all."
Last summer, First Lutheran was recognized as a "Reconciling in Christ" congregation, a year-long process that included the congregation exploring what it means to be inclusive and welcome to all.
"There have been times in church history and our community's history where we have not been kind to 'those people' -- whoever 'those people' are," Ewing said. "Once we realize that we are all part of the human family in all of our diversity and uniqueness, then perhaps we can treat one another in love instead of being afraid of our differences. The goal is to move toward that greatest commandment of loving God and loving others fully."
All three sessions will be held at First Lutheran Church, 109 Third Ave. in Warren.