Do you want to address racism in your faith community, but you don’t know where to begin?

This eight-week program guides participants in telling the truth about the history of racism in the United States, that we might work toward true reconciliation with God and restoration with one another.

Before we come to the communion table in our churches, we first confess that we have not loved God and our neighbors with our whole heart. In other words, before we can receive the joy of reconciliation with God and one another, we must first tell the truth about what we have done and left undone. However, our temptation is to try to skip right to the easy part – reconciliation – without first doing the hard work of truth-telling. And because there is no truth-telling, there is no true reconciliation.

This program helps participants tell the truth about our collective history of racism and violence, that we might seek real restoration with God and one another. It looks at the historical context behind the racial inequalities we face today, whether in education, the criminal justice system, the workforce, or even in church life. Though we focused specifically on African slaves and their descendants, this program will open participants’ eyes to patterns of injustice that affect other minority groups across the nation as well.

There will be two offerings (a morning and an evening) available, both held online via the Zoom platform. Classes are 2.5 hours in length which includes a break. Assistance with technology is available if needed.

Questions? - Andrea Mendoza (andream@sjtbcc.org)