Racial Justice Team

 “What Kind of Christianity: A History of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism in the Presbyterian Church,” published by Westminster John Knox Press, Read the first chapter of Yoo’s book here.

The Rev. Dr. William Yoo explores the Matthew 25 church that never was and the one we have today view here

Segregation A History of Norfolk (Virginia) Schools by Alexander Fella | office@theurcnorfolk.com

Kairos Center congregational program “Spirit of Struggle Congregations" to help congregations act on poverty, racism, white christian nationalism. Sign up here: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7687855/Spirit-of-Struggle-Congregations-Interest-Form 

For those interested in equity and urban planning, the law secured grants for Richmond and Hampton Roads that will begin to reconnect two historically Black communities displaced by the development of the interstate system. You can learn more about these investments from this 13 News Now reporting.

Resource list  provided  by the Revs. Lesanne and McDowll Ott, who preached the message at the Martin Luther King, Jr. service in January of 2023. 

November was designated by Congress in 1990 as American Indian and Indigenous Heritage Month to celebrate the accomplishments of the peoples who were the original inhabitants and stewards of what is now the United States. It is commonly referred to as Native American Heritage Month, but also as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. 

https://www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org/racial-equity/native-american-heritage-month/

Tribal Nation Cultural  Centere in Virginia: Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Mattaponi, Monacan, Nansemond, Nottowa, Pamunkey, Patawomeck, Rappahannock,  and the Upper Mattaponi.

The Book "The Wages of Whiteness: Race and the Making of the American Working Class" by David R. Roediger
Combining classical Marxism, psychoanalysis, and the new labor history pioneered by E. P. Thompson and Herbert Gutman, David Roediger's widely acclaimed book provides an original study of the formative years of working-class racism in the United States. This, he argues, cannot be explained simply with reference to economic advantage; rather, white working-class racism is underpinned by a complex series of psychological and ideological mechanisms that reinforce racial stereotypes, and thus help to forge the identities of white workers in opposition to Blacks.

African American History Month (aka Black History Month) has been observed each February in the United States since 1976.? If you’d like to make your observance Presbyterian-focused, learn about the seven-week PC(USA) Black Resistance Bible Study Series. 

Black History Month Bible Study Series on Black Resistance movements

Living Together / Living Apart Geography of Segregation in the 21st Century.  Racial segregation in most major US metropolitan areas is worse today than it was during Reconstruction. This did not happen by accident, nor did it happen overnight. The origins of racial segregation in the American city are deep, and go far beyond the oft-cited quip that “birds of a feather flock together.” Rather, a combination of federal housing policy and both overt and indirect racism throughout much of the 20th century lie at its heart.

https://www.livingtogetherlivingapart.com/

Justine L. Nusbaum Lecture at Virginia Wesleyan Universityby Johnny Finn, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Geography Chair, Department of Sociology, Social Work, & Anthropology Christopher Newport University. 

"Social Murder and the Geography of Inequality,” is available to view on YouTube 

Living Together Living Apart project director Dr. Johnny Finn talks about the environmental justice implications of a 200-acre coal terminal immediately adjacent to the formerly redlined neighborhoods in Southeast Newport News in this 6-minute documentary short. 

Environmental justice implications of a 200-acre coal terminal immediately adjacent to the formerly redlined neighborhoods in Southeast Newport News

The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins’ book, “Unbroken and Unbowed: A History of Black Protest in America,” explores the heart and history behind Black protest. Jimmie R. Hawkins walks the reader through the many forms of Black protest in American history, from pre-colonial times through the George Floyd protests of 2020.  

Purchase  resource  released by Westminster John Knox Pres.

Contains general resources for Matthew 25 including worship, videos, graphics, powerpoints and more. There are also links in the contents below to each of the foci pages. Those foci pages have background information, faith grounding, suggested resources for that specific foci, as well as who to contact for more information. 

 PCUSA Matthew 25 Resources 

Matthew 25 Eradicating Systemic Poverty Resource Packet includes:

Five Spiritual Practices to End Poverty (worship, learn, relate, act, share),

Action Suggestions list organized by the Five Spiritual Practices,

Core Principles and Assessment Questions for poverty work,

Faith Assertions (our theological, confessional and policy beliefs about eradicating poverty),

Strategic Domestic and Global Partners to learn more about active partner organizations to walk alongside,

FAQ on poverty,

PC(USA) Curated Resources list for each of the Five Spiritual Practices,  

Additional PC(USA) Resources list for extra suggestions for learning and exploration.

Each of these pieces is available for download individually or as part of the Matthew 25 Eradicating Systemic packet .

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/resource/matthew-25-eradicating-systemic-poverty-resource-packet/

Structural racism is the normalizing of racism within institutions and structures. Once racism is structural and institutional (as it is in the United States), it creates ongoing, persistent inequality. Inequality occurs in accessing money, land, housing, education, health, information, and social power.

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/matthew-25/racism/

Here you will find resources for many of the conferences programmed by or partnered with Montreat Conference Center. Clicking the link to the resources you would like will bring you to a Dropbox folder. 

Montreat Resource Portal 

Is a documentary series resource produced by the PC(USA) for communities and congregations to facilitate conversation and engagement around the issues of race and racism. Sign up to access documentary series and related materials! 

https://pda.pcusa.org/page/TtW/

In Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries, engages the Church in its mission to become more diverse and inclusive of racial, ethnic, cultural and language groups, and it equips women for leadership in all ministries of the Church.  There are Presbyterian Mission Agency offices supporting African American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino-a, Korean, Middle Eastern, Native American and African Intercultural ministries.

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/racial-equity-womens-intercultural-ministries/

The Union Presbyterian Seminary webinar gave viewers tools to counter what’s become a polarizing argument. That was among the nuggets uncovered Tuesday during “Critical Race Theory Meets the Bible and Theology,” a webinar in the Just Talk/Talk Just series sponsored by Union Presbyterian Seminary’s Center for Social Justice & Reconciliation and its Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership.

PCUSA News Link About the Webinar

A National Report on the Racial and Socio-Economic Characterist!cs of Communities with Hazardous Waste Sites.

National Report on the Racial & Socio-Economic Characteristics of Communities with Hazardous Waste Sites (1987)

Land is something sacred to all of us, whether we consciously appreciate it or not — it is the space upon which we play, live, eat, and experience life. 

Use the Native Land Digital map by entering your address, or by mousing or clicking around on the map to see the relevant territories in a location.

Once you click, a number of links will appear with different nation names. By clicking on those links, you will be taken to a page specifically about that nation, language, or treaty, where you can view some sources, give feedback, and learn a little more. We are always trying to expand our resources on these pages.

https://native-land.ca/

When did you realize that what you were being taught about race as a white Southerner was wrong? Filmmaker Carolyn Crowder, raised in Montgomery, Alabama, during the Civil Rights era, set out to ask this question of Presbyterian ministers she knew who had taken stands during those turbulent times. Often isolated in small towns in the Deep South, some chose to be brave in spite of the dangerous circumstances.

http://carolyncrowder.com/?mc_cid=0edcccd6c1&mc_eid=e664586a83

The Doctrine of Discovery: A Review of Its Origins and Implications for Congregations in the PC(USA) and Support for Native American Sovereignty—From the Presbyterian Mission Agency. 

Doctrine of Discovery - Support for Native American Sovereignty

Resources for Preaching & Praying in Light of the Derek Chauvin Trial Verdict.  This is a document primarily designed by the Anti-Racism Coordinator, of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area  for white-majority churches and white leaders in that presbytery to sketch out some of the particular pitfalls to avoid when discussing issues around racism .  There is also a  list of tools for further study & prayer.

Resources for Preaching & Prayer Dereck Chauvin  Trial Verdict , The Anti-Racism Coordinator, of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area

Recognizing that racism goes beyond personal prejudice, Crossroads focuses on social change strategies. They adapt community organizing concepts to work effectively inside institutions.

https://crossroadsantiracism.org/

In 2016, the 222nd General Assembly approved a new churchwide antiracism policy: Facing Racism: A Vision of the Intercultural Community.

Facing Racism Study Guide This series of six antiracism study guides is appropriate for an hour-long conversation among adults or teens.

This list of resources is for families, teachers.  

Resource List Racism Education for Children

This guide was developed by Rev. Denise Anderson and Rev. Jan Edmiston Co‐Moderators of the 222nd General Assembly (2016) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),  they  invited the church to read and discuss the book, Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race, by Debby Irving. This resource is designed to help groups respond to that invitation. 

Book Study Discussion Guide by Rev. Denise Anderson and Rev. Jan Edmiston

Participants are invited tp to read Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race before the study starts. It may be purchased at your local independent bookstore or ordered online. 

The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA), remembers recent victims of racial violencein a short video message. From the Office of the General Assembly - May 29, 2020.

https://www.pcusa.org/news/2020/5/29/stated-clerk-remembers-recent-victims-racial-viole/

Statement from the Rev. Dr. Brian K. Blount (President, Union Presbyterian Seminary) on the Death of George Floyd.

https://www.upsem.edu/newsroom/statement-from-president-blount-on-the-death-of-george-floyd/

by Jill Duffield (former Editor, Presbyterian Outlook) Pubished June 1, 2020 and updated Dec. 1, 2022.

If white Christians do not see the murder of black and brown people as the killing of God’s family and our own, then we need to stop calling ourselves Christian.

https://pres-outlook.org/2020/06/george-floyd-is-my-brother/

As part of an ongoing campaign to address racial injustice, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is sharing a wealth of antiracism resources — including studies, books and training — to equip the greater church to work against racism.

Sharing a Wealth of Antiracism Resources

Education

Advocate

Organize & Witness

Ideas for Congrgations and Mid-Councils

Possible  Next Steps & Ideas 

PCUSA Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries  Facing Racism: Facing Racism:   A Vision of the Intercultural Community  Antiracism Study Guides 

The Bible provides a firm foundation and compelling imperative to engage in antiracist work.

Facing Racism Antiracism Study Guide