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RACE RELATIONS

The ICOC Teachers Service Team endorsed the team to develop a charter focusing on providing resources to include race relations and reconciliation as a part of a spiritual transformation process within our churches. The task force has set out to offer the everyday Christian an immersive opportunity to interact with the complex and multifaceted topic of racial justice. The issues considered are consequential for us all in knowing Christ, understanding the body of Christ, and embracing the lordship of Christ.

 

Introductory:

The Race Relations Task Force aspires to shine God’s love, mercy, and justice into the heart of every church. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and hears those who are crushed in spirit” Psalm 34:18.

The Lord sees and bears witnesses to:

  •       Racial injustice occurring at the local, state, national, and global level.
  •       The under-representation of oppressed populations among our leadership.
  •       Harmful acts of violence taking place based on the color of a person’s skin.
  •       Horrific losses of too many Black, Brown, and Indigenous lives.

The extent and immediacy of many hearten us. We say, ‘No More,’ and join you in looking for ways in which the church can be a beacon of hope and catalyst for change. We will use this moment in history as our call to know better, to do better, and to be better. We understand that this work is difficult work. It involves reflection and acceptance of our own bias. From our discomfort we can learn new ways of coexisting in this world based on mutual love, empathy, and compassion for every person, because we have all been created in God’s likeness and bear his image.

We recognize that for some of our members, racism in its various forms is all too familiar and very personal. In unity, we can change this narrative, expecting more of ourselves as we serve one another. We must lift the burden from those whose shoulders have carried the load and let them know we as a church are here not just to say what is right but to model what Jesus desires for us all.

Racial Justice in The Church, Principles and Practices for the Everyday Disciples

The Racial Justice in the Church Workshop consisted of two full Saturdays over February 6th and 13th, 2021, which ran concurrently with Black History Month. The success of RJIC was more than we could have imagined. The aim was to provide biblical teaching, principles, and practices to all seeking greater strength in navigating the subject of race and race relations in the church. We did not expect over 400 registrations per session. Many shared feedbacks of their watershed moments and enlightenment as they listened and learned. The Lord was indeed honored.

Overall Learning Outcomes

Participants would have demonstrated their ability to:

  1.      Build a clear understanding of the biblical imperative to address racial justice as it pertains to the church.
  2.      Understand the trauma-centered framework and why it is crucial in our church context.
  3.      Interact through an immersive experience with relevant literature to familiarize and develop an understanding of racial issues in broader society.
  4.      Gain tools and practices for counteracting racial bias and stereotypes in ‘closed door’ private conversations.
  5.      Identify opportunities for applying concepts to advance racial equity in church and community.
  6.      Model godly behavior for those who are questioning and learning how to talk about race constructively within the church family.

 

Taskforce facilitators guided those who attended the workshops. Workshop participants experienced the teaching of relevant scriptures and their application, interactive discussions on racial bias, breakouts sessions, videos, an e-workbook designed to include all eight sessions, suggested reading, and a survey. Special thanks to Robert Carrillo (past member), Kyle Spears, and Kevin Robbin for joining us as guest facilitators.

Future Plans:

The task force continues to pray about racial justice, devote ourselves to ongoing personal study of biblical justice, and meet together to explore the next steps of our charter. This is an exciting time. We look to the Holy Spirit to lead us to the steps that need to be taken over the coming months and years to help achieve this worthy goal of racial justice, which will make a difference in the lives of the children, youth, and families in our churches.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34 NIV)

 

Race Relations Task Force

Suzette Lewis, Chair





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