Update from Session Regarding Anti-Racism Work and Process

After reflecting on and praying over the dialogue and feedback we received regarding the proposed modifications to the stained glass window, we, the Session, recognize that we need to address issues of social justice and antiracism holistically rather than focusing on a single issue.

While we face disagreements on how to best move forward, we are heartened by the deep and abiding love for this church which shines through in the feedback and responses we have received. We hope and pray that renewed commitment to addressing the continued injustices and wounds of racism in our world will work toward healing our community and unifying us in spirit.

To this end, we approved a motion at our January 3 meeting to implement two actions:

• Convening of a committee: We will convene a diverse committee of our congregation to explore how we could display more historically accurate representations of Jesus Christ in our church space. The committee would represent the diverse perspectives and intergenerational membership of our congregation. This committee would consider ideas proposed by members of the congregation during the listening circles in the fall of 2021, ideas proposed by the Social Justice Committee, and ideas proposed to staff and Elders.
• Resources and Matthew 25 Initiative: We commit to making resources, programs, and discussions available to all members of the congregation so we can reflect on the history of structural racism in our congregation and broader community. We recommend implementing the Matthew 25 Initiative from the PC(USA) that focuses on building congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism, and eradicating poverty.