#SpeakAntiracism
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. John 13:34.
The #SpeakAntiracism movement is a churchwide effort to recommit Presbyterians to racial justice and faithfully proclaim that the lives of people of color matter.
The call to live as a beloved community is rooted Biblically, as scripture consistently portrays God as recognizing the value and worth of human beings, affirming the inherent dignity of human beings, and calling human beings to recognize and honor the image of God in one another.
In our creeds and confessions and form of government, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) affirms its intention to embrace the wondrous diversity that God created.
Disparities still exist for racial ethnic persons, new immigrants, and women in our nation, communities and even in our beloved church. Recent high-profile African American racial justice cases in our nation highlight the need for individuals and groups in the church to embrace Christ's call to be "a community of love, where sin is forgiven, reconciliation is accomplished, and the dividing walls of hostility are torn down" (The Church is the Body of Christ," Book of Order, F-1.0301).
This movement affirms Black Lives Matter. It will also create an awareness of institutional racism in our society and in the church. Our goal is to create an environment where racial ethnic, new immigrant and women Presbyterians may serve fully in ministry and leadership in congregations, mid councils and other groups throughout the church.
Take Action
Presbyterians from different races, cultural backgrounds and genders are pledging to end racism. We want you to join the movement! Here's how to get involved, as well as resources to help you.
Connect through Social Media
- Connect with us on Twitter and join in conversations about racial justice and antiracism using #SpeakAntiracism.
- Learn more about the #BlackLivesMatter movement and ways you and your congregation can take action.
Take Trainings
- Learn about cultural humility or antiracism training opportunities through the Office of Gender and Racial Justice.
- Register for the 2016 White Privilege Conference.
- See additional PC(USA) resources that focus on addressing racism.
Hold a Racial Justice Conversation
- Pledge to facilitate at least five conversations in the next five months about racial justice in your church. This guide may be helpful as you prepare to do so.
Provide Opportunities
- Hire people of color, new immigrants and women. And, change employment practices in your businesses and organizations so that persons of color, new immigrants and women can serve in all areas of leadership.
- Advocate for the elimination of racism and gender discrimination.
- Welcome persons of color, new immigrants and women in leadership and decision-making.
- Change policies and your church environment, so that people of color, new immigrants and women can serve fully in ministry.
Resources
- Facing Racism: A Vision of the Beloved Community. PC(USA)'s antiracism policy, 211th General Assembly (1999).
- Practicing God's Radical Hospitality: Reflecting on Difference, Change and Leadership. This is an antiracism training resource (2013) from Presbyterian Women in the PC(USA), Inc. that can be purchased here.
- Visit the Office of the General Assembly to see G.A. minutes and/or learn about actions on racial justice and antiracism.
- The Presbyterian Mission Agency offers cultural humility and antiracism trainings, as well as many other mission programs and initiatives. Ministry areas include: Racial Ethnic & Women's Ministries; Compassion, Peace & Justice; World Mission; Theology, Formation and Education.
- The Board of Pensions administers pension and benefit programs of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for members of the plan, including wellness programs for teaching elders and church workers, many of whom are racial ethnic, new immigrants and women.
- The Presbyterian Foundation manages endowment funds for mission, including many that benefit racial ethnic communities.
- The Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program provides low-cost loans to congregations, including racial ethnic and new immigrant congregations.
- Presbyterian Publishing Corporation publishes books and resources on racial justice and other topics.
- Presbyterian Women in the PC(USA), Inc. offers a racial ethnic dialogue, antiracism and inclusive and expansive language resources and training.
- Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins by Rev. Dr. Miguel De La Torres
- Deliver Us From Evil: Resisting Race and Gender Oppression by James Newton Poling
- The Three Pillars of White Supremacy by Andrea Smith
