Anti-Racism and Justice in 2023
Next week, UNESCO will be hosting the 3rd Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination. The theme is putting racial equity and justice at the forefront of agendas. This has been a growing theme in The Presbyterian Church in Canada (and, to be honest, everywhere) over the last few years as we seek to be an anti-racist Church. This is a complex journey that requires openness, vulnerability, and discipline. It isn’t and should never be simply a checkmark but a practice.
Learning and Unlearning!
It can be a challenging conversation to start in congregational settings for some.
As someone who checks all the boxes for privilege (white, male, resourced, etc.) as well as serving as an ordained minister, I have come to an awareness that I can choose to initiate the conversation or not. When it gets challenging or difficult, as this work will inevitably, I can also choose to walk away, avoid, or change the topic.
As ministry leaders (ordained or lay), I believe that we must move the topic of anti-racism to the forefront of our agendas today.
But I also sense that one needs to do ‘the work’ on their own first. With that in mind, I’d offer the following resources that I’ve found helpful along the way:
It is a little late for the current offering from the UCC on the 40 Days, but there are a lot of resources available on this site that can be helpful, and there will be other opportunities for you personally, or perhaps you could invite a group of people to join you as you engage in the 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism.
I personally found the book Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad both accessible and transformative. While I’d recommend it for your personal growth, here’s a link to how I used it in my former congregational setting.
I encourage you to make a commitment to the journey of anti-racism personally and seek ways to engage others along the way.