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.
What can I do?
We are also supporting:
- VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (see below)
- Silent Witness in Falls Church every other Saturday from noon-1pm.
- Racial Justice Spots: a weekly quote and timely call to action. Click here for the spots.
- Watch an overview video here.
- Want to get involved? Contact Dan Campbell.
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.
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.