Racial Justice Group
Racial Justice
Trinity is committed to actively working to dismantle systemic racism. Our efforts echo the PC(USA)’s anti-racism policy: “As followers of Jesus Christ, we stand against racism in all its myriad forms....Racism is the opposite of what God intends for humanity. It is the rejection of the other, which is entirely contrary to the Word of God incarnate in Jesus Christ. It is a form of idolatry that elevates human-made hierarchies of value over divinely-given free grace....Racism is the continuing legacy of white supremacy.”
What do we do?
The Trinity racial justice group began convening in 2016 to discuss how our congregation could work to counter racism and advance racial justice.Trinity has worked to foster dialogue about systemic racism and equip church members with the skills to work for justice. Such work has included: Allyship training, adult Sunday school classes, children Sunday school lesson, Mission trip devotional, church wide book challenges, screening of the "13th" documentary, VOICE led listening session, installing a banner "Be the Church: Fight Racism" on Trinity grounds and more. In June 2020 Trinity members took the banner to several protests in Arlington and downtown DC. Pastor Judith also lead a sermon series on Racial Justice in the summer of 2020. Most recently, we supported the Asbury UMC in their prayer unity service with prayer and a statement of support following the vandalism at their church.What can I do now?
As we are social distancing, we invite you to explore some of our past and new resources on this important work. If you would like to learn more about our one of the best resources for the Trinity Community, the listserve, where members share resources and news events, or the church enews that also shares such events, please email the office.We are also offering:
Silent Witness in Falls Church every other Saturday 1-2pm.
Resources:
Pastor Judith's Weekly Letters on Racial Justice from her sermon series:
July 15, 2020 Voices of Racism
July 8, 2020 Environmental Racism
July 5, 2020 Spatial Racism
June 24, 2020 Cultural Racism
Books from the Congregation Book Challenge:
Waking up White by Debby Irving
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson;
How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (Plus: Interview of Ibram X. Kendi by Brene Brown.)
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Other Avenues of Action:
Allyship Training with Service Never Sleeps
Presbytery web page on Racial Justice resources
How to Talk to your Preschooler about Racism and Violence
Videos
The Documentary on Netflix "13th"
Rev. Dr. Herbert Nelson, Stated PCUSA clerk, remembers recent victims of racial violence.
PCUSA Week of Action Video: Trouble the Water.
Do you have questions on why PC(USA) is active in this cause? Click here.
The video of the installation of the Fight Racism Banner at Trinity:
Statement from Session on Racial Injustice
In June 2020, Trinity's Session issued a statement in light of the most recent racial injustices. Part of the statement follows:
The Church cannot stand silent about the pattern of racial discrimination that has been an ingrained part of our national identity from the very beginning. The Church cannot stand silent about how racial discrimination has never gone away but has instead taken different forms in each generation. The Church cannot stand silent about particular forms of racial discrimination we are seeing in our generation: mass incarceration (particularly of people with black and brown bodies), the exploitation of prison labor, police brutality, and vigilantism empowered by law. These are issues that are at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement and the current protests; they demand our attention and action as well.
Please click here to read the whole statement.