POLICY ON RACISM – APRIL, 2024
Since its humble beginnings in a former TV repair shop, the community of Christ Church, Burlington has been in the forefront of equality and equal justice issues. Until recent years, CCP was seen by some as flying in the face of Presbytery norms. These days, much of what we railed against has caught up with us and we are no longer the outlier we once were.
This is good news. Our perspectives on sexual orientation, gender identity and racial equality are now shared by other congregations not only in Burlington but throughout Northern New England and in the wider Presbyterian Church USA.
Christ Church Presbyterian ( CCP) Antiracism Policy:
We recognize that the systems and structures of this country lead to the oppression and often the death of people who are Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color ( BIPOC). As a Matthew 25 church, we are committed to work to address structural racism and systemic poverty as we follow Jesus’ call to love and justice and hope.
CCP honors the following PC(USA) statement and has adopted this antiracism policy as part of its administration of mission, as described in G-3.0106 of the Book of Order.
G-3.0106 Administration of Mission
… All councils shall adopt and implement the following policies: a sexual misconduct policy, a harassment policy, a child and youth protection policy, and an antiracism policy..
The larger body of the PC(USA) puts it like this:
Facing Racism: A Vision of the Intercultural Community, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) churchwide antiracism policy, affirms that “racism is the opposite of what God intends for humanity. … [it] is a lie about our fellow human beings, for it says that some are less than others.” Racism is a system of racial prejudice exerted by those in power — institutionally and individually, consciously and unconsciously — that is deeply ingrained in the history of the United States. It benefits white people in the dominant culture while disadvantaging and oppressing people of color.
What This Looks Like in Practice:
We recognize the strides we have made as a denomination and as a congregation, even as we acknowledge there is more work to do. As we strive to be an antiracist congregation, we commit to:
- Repenting of the role we collectively and individually have played and continue to play in creating, maintaining and benefitting from white supremacy and systemic racism;
- Continuing to provide opportunities for studying and understanding systemic racism, and white supremacy;
- Managing church finances and investments in ways that increase our witness to racial justice and equity;
- Taking steps of restorative action in response to disparities of wealth created and sustained by white supremacy;
- Working in partnership with Presbytery in their antiracism ministries;
- Developing and implementing practices and strategies to disrupt and dismantle racism and oppression in the church and the world;
- Acting courageously and creatively against police brutality, voter suppression, educational and healthcare inequity, and other acts and practices of systemic racism on federal, state, and local levels;
- Striving to build a church where justice and equity prevail.
We acknowledge that this work will not be easy. But, as our church-wide antiracism policy affirms:
“Because of our biblical understanding of who God is and what God intends for humanity, the PC(USA) must stand against, speak against, and work against racism. Antiracist effort is not optional for Christians. It is an essential aspect of Christian discipleship, without which we fail to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.”
We understand this statement is our collective commitment to equality and inclusion. CCP salutes this statement and takes it to heart. We understand the need for mindfulness and awareness of our inherent prejudices and wider systemic racism.
Christ Church Presbyterian, Burlington, VT
April, 2024
Session: David Boedy, Al Brooks, Lori Davis, Carol Jenkins, Lisa Sitek, and Mary Beth Barritt,
CCP has held Racial Justice discussions since June 2020. If you would like to read a brief summary of previous meetings, please click here.
CCP congregants join millions of Americans in condemning the recent violent incidents in Buffalo NY and Uvalde TX, and feeling frustrated by our inability to change gun laws. We encourage you to follow one of the recommendations of Gunsense Vermont, below,
STATEMENT FROM GUNSENSE VERMONT
ON THE ROBB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING
Today we mourn the deaths of 19 children and 2 teachers in Uvalde, Texas. It was the deadliest school shooting in the state’s history, nearly the worst in U.S. history, and it was the second mass shooting in America this week. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families that lost their children yesterday and to the communities reeling from senseless and unfathomable loss.
A horror like yesterday’s massacre brings the reality of gun violence to our hearts and minds in technicolor. But it is not just yesterday or last week. Our hearts break for the 110 people who lost their lives to gun violence each day in 2020 — the majority of them Black and Brown young men. We grieve for those families and neighborhoods as well.
In our gun-obsessed culture, we have prioritized the right to have unfettered access to firearms over the lives of our own children. We no longer live in a free country – freedom is the expectation that you can send your kids to school, or the store or down the block and know that they’ll return home safely each day. Today, no parent in America has that certainty.
This is not normal. It does not have to be this way. No other developed country comes close to this level of gun violence. And no other country comes close to allowing guns to be purchased and carried with as few restrictions as this country does.
What will be the result of 19 more innocent children shot dead in their classrooms? The answer will be not nearly enough unless we finally hold our elected leaders accountable and demand change. Each and every one of us has a part to play in ending gun violence and the only way to honor these victims is through actions, not words.
Robb Elementary School could be any school in Vermont. Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo could be your local grocery store. The time for passive activism is over. All of us are responsible for taking action and demanding change.
What You Can Do:
- Volunteer
- Contact lawmakers and demand action
- Educate yourself on the issues
- Raise awareness and engage others to speak out
- Contact us and other gun violence prevention organizations for more ways to get involved
- http://www.gunsensevt.org/
READ
National Equity Project has a fabulous reading list for many topics: such as, 1) Rebel Leadership for our Collective Future; 2) No New Normal: Redesigning Our Collective Future; 3) Self-Care, Family & Community Well-being; 4) Academic & Social Emotional Learning Resources for Educators; 5) Tools, Tips and Strategies for Humanizing Online Learning for Adults and Young People; 6) Adaptive Leadership in the Age of the Coronavirus; 7) Political Analysis & Social Commentary; and my favorite, 8) Resources for the Heart. (Ann R. highly recommends)
https://www.nationalequityproject.org/resources/covid19
When CCP congregants read new books and articles that they think will benefit others in the congregation, they talk about them at our discussions. Please click on the links below to see what we have read and encourage others to read.
WATCH
CCP congregants also share movies, television shows, TED talks, YouTube Talks and websites. Please click on the links below to see what we have watched and encourage others to watch.
LISTEN
Please click on the links below to see the podcasts and music CCP congregants have heard and encouraged others to listen to.
As time has gone by, we have increasing opportunities to support our BIPOC neighbors in Vermont, and our monthly discussions are a good way to share them. Please click on the links below to see how members of our congregation have been involved in racial justice actions and how the Presbyterian Church has been involved.
Christ Church, Presbyterian 