Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The growing awareness of structural racism in this country, the world, and in our Presbytery challenges us to address the question that is on so many of our hearts: What can I do?
As we struggle with this question as children of an impartial Creator, the denomination in which we serve is diligently providing resources for our discernment of how God is calling us to respond as members of the Body of Christ. The PC(USA) recommends, and the Presbytery of Denver leadership encourages all to participate in a 21-Day Racial Justice Challenge. This challenge is suited for individuals, churches, and mid councils. As a Presbytery, we hope you to will take this step of engaging this Challenge on a congregational level in a way that works best for your context. The Presbytery Staff and Council will spend the month of July in this endeavor, and we invite you to journey with us.
The 21-day program includes the following steps:
Day 1. Read the PC(USA) churchwide anti-racism policy, “Facing Racism: A Vision of the Intercultural Community,” at facingracism.org.
Day 2. Study the Week One lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide.
Day 3. Watch an updated version of the Clark doll experiment, which explores how early-in-life ideas of racial inferiority and superiority are internalized.
Day 4. Study the Week Two lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide.
Day 5. Read the resolution of the 223rd General Assembly of the PC(USA) on environmental racism.
Day 6. Watch the Presbyterian Hunger Program’s webinar, “Impact of Environmental Injustice on Low Income and Communities of Color.”
Day 7. Read what youth at the 2016 Triennium learned about environmental racism.
Day 8. Study the Week Three lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide.
Day 9. Choose a resource on the Doctrine of Discovery to read from facingracism.org.
Day 10. Watch the PBS documentary “Unspoken: America’s Native American Boarding Schools.”
Day 11. Take the awareness test. Go out and change what you notice.
Day 12. Study the Week Four lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide.
Day 13. Read the Confession of Belhar. Reflect on how your church is using and living into it.
Day 14. Visit the Presbyterian Intercultural Network’s website. Connect with a chapter near you or inquire about creating one.
Day 15. Study the Week Five lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide.
Day 16. Watch the TED Talk “How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them” by Verna Myers.
Day 17. Read “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh.
Day 18. Study the Week Six lesson from the Facing Racism Study Guide.
Day 19. Notice the structures and practices in your church. Raise questions about how they help or hinder racial equity.
Day 20. Engage: Suggest studying the Facing Racism Study Guide as a church or mid council to your leaders.
Day 21. Act: Commit to doing the challenge again. Invite someone to join you.
Additional denominational resources on racial justice may be found here →
Additional information on the 21-Day Racial Justice Challenge, here→
In the faith we share,
Rev. Dana Hughes
Transitional Presbytery Pastor
Rev. Olivia L. Hudson Smith
Stated Clerk