New NBA Program, XPLOR, Advocates Diversity as a Foundation, Invites Applications from LGBTQ Young Adults
Rev. Ben Bohren, NBA Mission Consultant Specialist with XPLOR and former Regional Minister of Northern California Nevada, the only Open & Affirming Region in the Disciples of Christ, sent us this article describing XPLOR’s commitment to diversity. Ben can be reached at bohrenfree@gmail.com
Read one XPLOR Resident’s story in this issue of Crossbeams.
If you know personally or know about a young adult who might be interested in the XPLOR experience, please have them complete the website XPLOR information form. And to help further, here are questions that current XPLOR Residents created to open heart and mind for such a discussion:
Are you looking to discover yourself?
Are you at a stand-still at what you want to do next in your life?
Are you looking to give back?
Do you believe that service to others is primary to your life?
Are you ready to take an honest look at your faith-where it has been and where you want it to go?
Could you become excited about living in an intentional, simple, diverse, Christian community?
For more details:
This fall, the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) launched a brand new service residency year called XPLOR. A total of twelve young adults are living in groups of four at three XPLOR Houses across the US: St. Louis, MO; Hiram-Mantua, OH; and North Hollywood, CA.
What is XPLOR? Imagine four to seven young adults, ages 21-30, living together in intentional, simple, diverse, Christian community for 10 months. Now imagine those young adults working 30 hours a week in a not for profit social service agency; up to six hours a week in a creative ministry with a local Disciples congregation and spending several hours a week with a Spiritual Companion?
The four cornerstones of XPLOR are powerful and intentional: hands-on service/justice work; simple living in community; spiritual discernment on vocation; and Disciples leadership development.
But at the base and under pinning of those cornerstones, NBA XPLOR is committed to a solid foundation of diversity. Without naming all the possible natures of diversity, XPLOR believes that diversity is a major component of intentional community living and will seek to provide diversity in all XPLOR Houses. Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Training is an integral part of XPLOR spiritual and leadership development, beginning with XPLOR Orientation each August, and lasting throughout the full 10 months.
XPLOR is committed to the cultivation of a widely diverse population for the fall 2015 class, which could be as large as 25+ Residents in 7 XPLOR Houses across the United States. This cultivation definitely includes members and friends of GLAD Alliance. On-line applications will become available in early November, 2014 with an application deadline of early February, 2015.