FIGHTING AGAINST RACIAL INJUSTICE
Pastor's message: None of us can move forward if one of us is left behind.
The murders of George Floyd and countless other Black men, women, and children have further brought to light a long history that bears the unmistakable stains of exclusion, oppression, and violence. We are called by conscience and by God to rise up and stand with those whose pain is etched onto the heart of our nation. We recognize the significant disparities in opportunity for all people of color in education, housing, health, and employment, and in restricted access to security and justice. As people of faith in Jesus Christ, it is essential that we act to dismantle racism.
We acknowledge that racism is a sin that works in direct opposition to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we join in the call to resist its powerful influence. Together we yearn for a world that reflects God’s will for just treatment and full inclusion of all persons. We resolve to resist evil, injustice, and oppression, and so we cannot rest until the work of dismantling racism is done. Courage and conviction are required in the fight, and we pray that God’s Spirit may empower us with grace equal to the task.
We must take both communal and individual responsibility for justice. Change ultimately begins with transformed hearts. Therefore, we commit to opening our hearts to the transforming grace of Jesus Christ. Deep repentance is required. We will seek to educate ourselves and others—to discern the breadth of racism’s impact, to see and acknowledge its effects, and to uncover its influence in our own lives and in our shared life together. We will continue to follow equal employment practices, and intentionally increase opportunities for the voices of Black people and all people of color to be heard in the life and leadership of our church. We will work to tear down the entrenched racial and economic divide that is present in Arlington County and beyond, dedicating resources to aim at both the effects and the root causes of injustice. We affirm that this effort must be an ongoing commitment.
None of us can move forward if one of us is left behind.
Rev. Tracy McNeil Wines
Pastor
We recognize racism as a sin. We commit to challenging unjust systems of power and access.
What can you do?
Pray.
We listen for the voice of Jesus in our private acts of devotion and our public acts of worship.
Connect.
We begin our work by joining hands and hearts to journey side by side.
Show Up.
We seek to be present to the pain of others, and for opportunities to use our voices for change.
Act.
Jesus calls us not only to speak, but to join in the work of liberating the oppressed.
What we are doing about it
The CUMC Church Council (the leaders of the church) are actively engaged in many ways to eliminate systemic racism, including those listed in the Resources section below and praying for the efforts our church is undertaking and listening for ways God calls us to be involved. Additionally, our church leaders contribute financially to many organizations that work to end racial and cultural injustice.
Prayer Walks
Using Arlington County's Guide to the African American Heritage of Arlington County, CUMC will be putting together prayer walks around several parts of the county. As they are completed, they will be posted here.
Hall’s Hill and High View Park Walk
1.6 miles
Download CUMC's Hall's Hill and High View Park Walk Guide (PDF)
This walk will start you off at Calloway United Methodist Church, then take you past Hall’s Hill High View Park, past Fire Station # 8, the Langston School, Mount Salvation Baptist Church and Cemetery, and finally to the Segregation Wall.
Resources
One of our goals at Clarendon UMC is to learn…learn about systemic racism, learn about implicit bias, learn on how we can do more to end racism. Here are a few books, podcasts, and videos to get you started you on this journey.
Books Written for Adults
- Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
- White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
- So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Olue
- The Color of Compromise: The American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby
- Racism: America’s Original Sin by Jim Wallis
Books Written for Young Adults
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynold and Ibram X Kendi (All Church Read-a-thon book choice)
- The Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendon Kiely
Books Written for Children
- Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o and Vashti Harrison
- Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen
- One Crazy Summer by Rita William Garcia (Newberry Award Winner)
- Enough: 20 Protestors that Changed America by Emily Easton
- The Kids Book about Racism by Jelani Memory
Videos/Ted Talks/Podcasts
- Phil Vischer (Creator of Veggie Tales) talks about Systemic Racism in America
- Oprah Winfrey’s Interviews: Where do we go from here? (1 hour each) Part One | Part Two
- Ted talk: Bryan Stevenson from the Equal Justice initiative: We Need to Talk About an Injustice
- Jim Wallis, “America’s Original Sin” Video
Motion Pictures & Miniseries
- 13th
A documentary and in-depth look at the prison system in the United States
Directed by Ava DuVernay - Selma
A 2014 historical drama film based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches
Directed by Ava DuVernay - When They See Us
A four-part miniseries, available on Netflix, based on events of the 1989 Central Park jogger case and explores the lives and families of the five male suspects who were falsely accused then prosecuted on charges related to the rape and assault of a woman in Central Park, New York City.
Directed by Ava DuVernay
Additional Information
- The United Methodist church has more resources and ways for you to learn, connect, show up, and act.
- Join us in this journey! Here is our plan of action. It is still in the development phase but we want to go ahead and share it with you.
What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
—Micah 6:8