Bethel University’s fifth annual Reconciliation Day recognized the five-year anniversary of racial incidents that impacted the campus during the 2002-03 school year. The chapel service on March 12 recognized the shameful racial threats and graffiti, highlighted progress that has been made in anti-racism and reconciliation on campus, and looked forward to further strides toward reflecting the body of Christ.

“This campus made a commitment that no longer should we go around hurting each other,” said Leon Rodrigues, remembering the campus reaction to the racial incidents.

Author, speaker, and journalist Edward Gilbreath gave a humorous and inspiring address to the community. He recognized the racial incidents and advances the Bethel community has made in the area of reconciliation since then: “A lot of that serious stuff is needed to move us onto a higher level. You’re far ahead of anything I’ve seen in grappling with this issue.”

He encouraged students, staff, and faculty to grow in their relationships with each other. “One of the biggest obstacles to racial reconciliation is that we don’t know each other…despite all of our progress, we don’t really see each other,” he said, reminding those attending of the importance of living out their faith in all areas of their lives. “If we’re not living it out, people outside the church aren’t going to believe it.”