By Frances Townsend
The delegate body received the final report of the Standing with People of Color Coordinating Committee (known at this Conference as unfinished business item one), following a study/action process begun by the 2022 Annual Conference. (Find a link to a pdf document of the study committee’s report and recommendations at www.brethren.org/ac2025/business.)
The multi-year process was put in motion to “encourage congregations to study the teachings of Jesus and how they apply to our relationships with all people of color, to express solidarity with all people of color, to offer sanctuary from all forms of violence, and identify and dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions, and then begin to live out those findings by being Jesus in the neighborhood.”
With its final report, the committee did not bring recommendations. Their work of the past three years to develop study materials, lists of resources, and practices for healing racism are meant to be tools for the church to continue this much-needed work.
A tool that has received broad support is the “7 Prompts” training, which continues to be available to congregations and districts.
In 2024, a new role in congregational leadership was developed as part of this committee’s work, the Racial Justice Advocate. Materials about this are available through the On Earth Peace website, as are other materials under the heading Standing with People of Color at www.onearthpeace.org/swpoc
As they concluded their work, the committee remained “concerned that some people in the Church of the Brethren seem to think that racism is no longer a problem in our society or within or among Brethren.” They are “challenging others in the Church of the Brethren to become part of a critical mass that will continue calling, equipping, and organizing the church to take its next steps in becoming a Beloved Community that reflects the kingdom of God.”
They shared a prayer “that the Church of the Brethren will welcome people of all cultures and all colors to the honor of Jesus the Christ!”
— Frances Townsend is a pastor in Michigan and a volunteer on the Annual Conference Press Team.
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- Review and Evaluation Committee begins its work
- Worship resources are available for Service Sunday on Feb. 1
- Loretta Wolf and Glenna Thompson conclude their work with the Material Resources program
- Pat Marsh to retire from the Church of the Brethren Finance office