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, VOICE discerning member, installing a banner “Be the Church: Fight Racism” on Trinity grounds, taking part in the BLM protests in summer 2020, promoting current action opportunities with Racial Justice Spots and VOICE events, and more.
In 2021 the Session voted to approve the Racial Justice Group to become its own ministry, pending a congregational vote in the fall (to abide by by-laws).
What can I do now?
Despite social distancing, we are still active. If you would like to learn more about our one of the best resources for the Trinity Community, the Racial Justice Group and the RJG listserve, where members share resources and news events and calls to action, please email the office.
We are also supporting:
 
VOICE
Since August 2020, Trinity has been taking part in VOICE, a multiracial, interfaith coalition of almost 50 faith communities and civic organizations in Northern Virginia working together to build power in middle- and low-income communities to make change. Through VOICE, Trinity members are taking action on issues impacting our community, from affordable housing to health care. Learn more about VOICE‘s victories in the past year here.
 

Resources

Trinity members have participated in racial justice in the following ways. We invite you to learn more by using the below resources on your own:

Education Resources:
Pastor Judith’s Weekly Letters on Racial Justice from her sermon series in 2020:

Voices of Racism
Environmental Racism
Spatial Racism
Cultural Racism

Books from the Congregation Book Challenge:
Waking up White by Debby Irving
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson;
How to be an Antiracistby 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.