In an age when tensions are running high, many are deeply cynical about what good yet another "conversation" will do. But such attitudes are not deterring the founder of Q Ideas and local pastors hosting their forums.
"I'm a cynic myself," said Dave Schmidgall, a staff pastor with National Community Church in the District of Columbia who facilitated the event, in an interview with The Christian Post.
"I understand the cynicism behind talk, talk, talk. I think culture talk has become more cheap, because you can say whatever you want and it doesn't even have to be truthful anymore, you can just say it," he added.
Nevertheless, Schmidgall said when done right, conversations can pave the way for real reconciliation where Christians learn to love their neighbors well. But that also means they exhibit willingness to make themselves a little uncomfortable.