The Christian Education team is inviting the congregation to participate in a 21-Day Racial Justice Challenge, which is well suited to individuals and churches.
Racism is deeply embedded in the life and history of the U.S. Through colonization, slavery and a shameful history of legislative action and judicial pronouncements, our nation created and embraced a system that valued and devalued people based simply on skin color and ethnic identity. People of color were deliberately subjugated for material, political and social advantage. Racism today is the continuing and enduring legacy of this history.
There is a growing awareness among Presbyterians that racism is a crisis and must be addressed. The PC(USA) is strongly committed to the struggle for racial justice.
One way to start is by taking the 21-Day Racial Justice Challenge. As a church, we will begin the challenge will begin July 1 and we invite you to do something every day to raise awareness about the perniciousness of racism and encourage action in response to that awareness. Begin Day 1 on July 1st.
- Day 1. Read the PC(USA) churchwide anti-racism policy, “Facing Racism: A Vision of the Intercultural Community,” at facingracism.org.
- Day 2. Study the Week One lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide.
- Day 3. Watch an updated version of the Clark doll experiment, which explores how early-in-life ideas of racial inferiority and superiority are internalized.
- Day 4. Read the Confession of 1967 from our Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Confessions.
- Day 5. Study the Week Two lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide.
- Day 6. Read the resolution of the 223rd General Assembly of the PC(USA) on environmental racism.
- Day 7. Read: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/pt-0520-juneteenth/
- Day 8. Study the Week Three lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide. https://facing-racism.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/facing_racism/facing-racism-study-guide.pdf
- Day 9. Choose a resource on the Doctrine of Discovery to read from https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/racial-equity-womens-intercultural-ministries/gender-and-racial-justice-ministries/doctrine-of-discovery/
- Day 10. Watch the PBS documentary “Unspoken: America’s Native American Boarding Schools.” https://www.pbs.org/video/unspoken-americas-native-american-boarding-schools-oobt1r/
- Day 11. Read the Confession of Belhar. https://www.presbyterianmission.org/resource/belhar-confession/ Reflect on how your church is using and living into it.
- Day 12. Study the Week Four lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide. https://facing-racism.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/facing_racism/facing-racism-study-guide.pdf
- Day 13. Visit the Presbyterian Intercultural Network’s website. Connect with a chapter near you or inquire about creating one. https://www.pin-pcusa.com/
- Day 14. Read “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5344119ae4b0f9ffdd2e7681/t/5ed6c74140ef550d50ecaf40/1591134017392/Knapsack_plus_Notes-Peggy_McIntosh.pdf
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Day 15. Study the Week Five lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide. https://facing-racism.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/facing_racism/facing-racism-study-guide.pdf
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Day 16. Read The Presbyterian Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) statement and action steps https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/mrti-endorses-statement-of-solidarity-against-systemic-racism/
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Day 17. Read “6 Ways White People Can Dismantle White Supremacy” https://justiceunbound.org/6-ways-white-people-can-dismantle-white-supremacy/
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Day 18. Study the Week Six lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide. https://facing-racism.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/facing_racism/facing-racism-study-guide.pdf
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Day 19. Notice the structures and practices in your church. Raise questions about how they help or hinder racial equity. Read “What White Churches Can Do About Racism” https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/what-white-churches-can-do-about-racism/
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Day 20. Read “Presbyterians and the American Civil Rights Movement” from Justice Unbound https://justiceunbound.org/presbyterians-and-the-american-civil-rights-movement/
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Day 21. Act: Commit to doing the challenge again. Invite someone to join you. Read the statement from the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly Special Committee on Racism Truth and Reconciliation. https://www.pcusa.org/news/2020/6/25/statement-special-committee-racism-truth-and-recon/
We will offer weekly opportunities to discuss and process our learning each week. Monday nights July 6, 13, 20 at 7:30 pm on Zoom or Wednesday nights July 8, 15, and 22 at 7:00pm, practicing social distancing in chairs and wearing masks outside on the church grounds (the building will not be open).
