Who is already called to the work of racial justice, or is already active in any way? The committee is hoping to start with an accurate picture of what is already happening. It wants to connect with initiatives or individuals at any level in the Church of the Brethren (community, congregation, district, denomination) who are working on racial justice issues in any way (education, activism, healing, spiritual renewal, etc.), whether they are doing their work inside or outside of the church. The committee also is interested in getting to know people who have a passion for this topic but may not yet be publicly active.
Tag: racial justice
Annual Conference agenda will include one item of unfinished business and seven items of new business
The business items for the Church of the Brethren’s Annual Conference on July 10-14 in Omaha, Neb., are now posted online. The Conference is returning to a full business agenda complete with queries and other new business after several years in which the compelling vision took precedence.
Central Roanoke team launches gatherings to prepare for conversations about reparations
As part of its commitment to make local faith-based reparations to repair historical and current racist practices, a team at Central Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., has launched regular gatherings with Black and white faith communities.
Lisa Sharon Harper takes NOAC along on a journey wrestling with identity
undertook a journey to wrestle with her identity. The journey took her along the Trail of Tears as well as into the heart of slavery in the American South.
Ventures course offers introduction to talking about race
The October offering from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson (Kan.) College will be “Everything You Wanted to Know About Race, but Were Afraid to Ask: Part I” to be held online via Zoom on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Eastern time) and presented by Eleanor Hubbard.
Brethren Volunteer Service reaffirms statement on racism
The above statement was released on June 19, 2020. In November of 2020, BVS was asked to take the statement down temporarily because some of the language was offensive to members of the Church of the Brethren. In the spirit of the 2009 Annual Conference statement “A Structural Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues,” BVS staff took time to work at mutual understanding, doing much research, listening, and learning. After reviewing Annual Conference statements, referencing the newly adopted Mission and Ministry Board Strategic Plan, and in light of events that have occurred since its initial release, BVS staff feels the need to restate its stance on racism and recommit itself to working towards healing racism.
Westminster church uses mini-grant to present webinar series on racial justice
Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren’s Peace and Justice Committee is presenting a webinar series on racial justice in March. The series is funded by a grant obtained through the “mini-grant” program for Racial Justice and Healing Racism of the Church of the Brethren’s Intercultural Ministry.
A poetic blessing for the innovative prayer covering
Irvin Heishman was inspired by a photo of Martha (Mattie) Cunningham Dolby to write this poetic blessing.
Intercultural Ministries announces new Racial Justice mini-grant program
We are grateful to announce that the Church of the Brethren is a grant recipient of the Healing Illinois grant of $30,000 towards racial justice initiatives. The Gathering Chicago in the Illinois and Wisconsin District also is among the recipients. Healing Illinois grants are administered by the Chicago Community Trust.