Community Highlights: Meet Katie Wires of The Reconciliation Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Wires.

Hi Katie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
After being a stay-at-home mom for ten years and raising three kids, I could sense a leading to something new. I didn’t know what the “next thing” was, but knowing I had a heart for ministry, a friend recommended that I go to seminary to get my Master’s degree. Attending seminary classes with people from all walks of faith and traditions was inspirational. For my Capstone Project, I knew I wanted to delve further into my love of justice and antiracism work, and about a month in to working on my project, a lightbulb went off. I knew that justice work was what I wanted to do from here on out. I took my Capstone Project and turned into a full-on consulting program for antiracism in white spaces.

I grew up in the Church and wanted to help bring about change from within. I saw the ways that the white Evangelical church was failing to have an impact in their communities, either due to their lack of desire or their inability to create equitable spaces within their walls. Put simply, my hope is to help white pastors and religious leaders begin to confront their unconscious biases and develop radical empathy for their own communities and the world around them.

After I figured out what I wanted to do, I asked my friend, Patience, to be my partner. We have been friends for years and often brainstormed about working together. Knowing her love of justice work and her love of history, she was a perfect fit. We have loved building this business together and sharing in this work.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the biggest challenge has been navigating this space as a white woman in antiracism. I never want to take up space that someone else should be in, and there are a lot of opinions, on both sides, about whether a white woman should be involved in antiracism work. Staying true to my goal and vision has been key in figuring out where I belong in this world of justice work. My goal is to simply open the door in white spaces so that they begin to see People of Color as experts and leaders. From there, I hope they continue to seek out marginalized communities to speak truth to their own experiences.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Reconciliation Group?
At The Reconciliation Group, we want to invite the body of Christ to practice racial reconciliation through dismantling unconscious biases and building radical empathy. We provide a variety of programs designed to educate white pastors and church leaders about the pervasive existence of racism still present in the Western Church today while giving them the tools to become antiracist advocates within the body of Christ and their communities.

We desire to see the Church become a leader once again in the pursuit of justice and compassion around the world. The goal is never to condemn but to edify and inspire a greater sense of empathy for the suffering of the communities of color around us so that we may all better reflect the beauty and diversity of the Trinity.

We offer 3, 6, or 12-month consulting programs to fit every schedule in order to walk alongside your team to create truly loving, equitable spaces in your church and community. We also provide 2-day workshops, where The Reconciliation Group will lead your team through interactive sessions that will help your organization understand the reality of racism in our culture today while equipping you to engage your community around you with greater impact.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I feel like I’m still starting out myself! My biggest piece of advice is patience. In the beginning, things move much slower than you want or expect them to. Regardless of your field or passion, know your “why.” When you’re feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, your “why” will keep you focused and keep you going. Also, surround yourself with a good team. That’s been invaluable for me during this process.

Contact Info:

• Email: kwires@thereconciliationgroup.com
• Website: www.TheReconciliationGroup.com
• Instagram: @TheReconciliationGroup
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGJDxCCyTRjJ2apmPqa8dmA

Image Credits
BMars Photography