Voted at our Congregational Meeting, April 18, 2021
Prologue
As people of faith, we seek to follow Jesus’ call to listen to the oppressed, fight injustice, confess our sins, and change our lives until justice prevails. We pledge to take measurable and ongoing action to end racism. Recognizing the need for partnership and shared accountability, we pledge to work together with other community organizations.
Our Institutional Commitments:
Edwards Church, United Church of Christ, commits to:
*working toward eliminating institutional and personal racism in our church and church community.
*working toward developing a comprehensive understanding of the various layers of racism (internalized, interpersonal, institutional and structural).
*assessing and removing barriers to becoming a more racially inclusive community.
*working to develop a process to promote diversity in clergy, staff & contractor hiring and providing ongoing anti-racist professional development.
*providing professional development and support to community residents interested in creating an anti-racist world.
*establishing clear and measurable Diversity, Equity and Inclusion metrics that are aligned with our mission, beginning with mission giving and community partnerships.
*reviewing these commitments on an annual basis to evaluate our progress and amend or expand them as we deem necessary and appropriate.
Here are a few ways you can be part of a movement for racial justice:
Rapid Response
If you would like to be part of a “rapid response” team that shares information about opportunities to participate in rallies, write letters and sign petitions, please contact Mary Memmott.
Standing Up and Speaking Out
Open Spirit and Jewish Family Services are collaborating to offer Active Bystander Training. Please contact debbie@openspiritcenter.org for more information.
Watching and Learning
Sign up for Open Spirit’s Multifaith Collaborative Movie Night Discussion Series .
Sign up for Mindful Anti-racism: A Radical Exploration of Race and Resilience, an 8-week program beginning September 13. Registration begins July 21st.
Reading
Join with the Green Team in reading and discussing The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature, by J. Drew Lanham, on Thursday, July 30 at 3:30 pm (via Zoom). Please contact Mary Memmott for details.