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Northern Illinois
Synod Anti-Racism Team
RACISM OR EVANGELISM?
A major barrier to
evangelical outreach by our congregations is the
prevailing attitude toward race and racism in our
society. If we wish to make serious efforts to reach
out to the increasingly multiethnic and multicultural
population in our communities, we need to understand the
illusion of race and the power of racism.
The Anti-racism Team of our
synod seeks to help us and our congregations understand
the nature and power of racism so that we can be freed
in Christ to accept, welcome and love all people as
children of God.
Why Anti-racism? When we
are ill we welcome prescriptions of antibiotics to help
our body's systems restore us to health. We are also
glad that anti-terrorism experts are working to help
protect us from the terrorists who threaten innocent
lives and the order and stability of human society. We
also need a healthy dose of anti-racism to counter the
disease of racism that infects our lives and prevents us
from working for justice in our world and welcoming all
people as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Use the resources listed below
to help you and your congregation become
intentionally anti-racist for the sake of the gospel and
the mission of Christ.
RESOURCES FOR CONGREGATIONS AND
CONFERENCES ON ANTI-RACISM AND MULTICULTURALISM
Introduction to Anti-racism
– Invite the Anti-racism to present this 1 ½ hour (or
two one hour) workshop in your congregation, conference
or synod committee. Your only cost is travel expenses
for the presenters. Includes ideas for following up
with an in-depth process leading to making an
anti-racist commitment.
"Race – the Power of an
Illusion" – A two hour (or two one hour) "do it
yourself" program based on Part 1 of the recent PBS
television series of the same name. The video,
transcript and discussion guide are available from the s
Northern Illinois Synod Rock Island office. See list of
video resources below.
Multicultural Sunday Resource
Packet
The resource was distributed at
2004 synod assembly, or contact Pr Paul Walker at:
wcelebrate@ameritech.net
"TROUBLING THE WATERS" – A RESOURCE FOR CONGREGATIONS
"Troubling the Waters for the
Healing of the Church – A journey for White Christians
from privilege to partnership" is available from the
ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries. It is
designed to help our all, or mostly all, white
congregations to grow from an unconscious attitude of
privilege to an intentional commitment to partnership
with people of color in our church and society.
The program involves a group of 10
to 20 members who will commit to a program of study and
action over the better part of a year. It begins with
three sessions followed by a time for independent
reading and conversation, then units of six, three and
five sessions, with breaks in between. At the conclusion
of their study the group will report and make
recommendations to the congregation council.
To plan for your congregation's
participation, discuss and secure a commitment from your
pastor and the congregational council. Put it on the
church calendar. Begin recruiting a variety of people
interested in racial justice and multicultural
outreach. Order the resource book from
Augsburg-Fortress ($35.00 plus S&H). It contains the
leader's guide and reproducible handouts for
participants.
For further information,
registration or scheduling of these resources please
contact the Anti-racism Team through:
Pr. Frank Samuelson at 309-797-1189
(dandfsam@netexpress.net)
or Ms. Marlene Park at 815-397-5911
(gmpark@rockford.com)
THE FOLLOWING VIDEO RESOURCES ON
ANTI-RACISM AND MULTI-CULTURALISM are available for
free loan from the Northern Illinois Synod, Augustana
College, Rock Island, IL 61201 (309-794-4004).
"Race – The Power of an
Illusion" – Three one hour videos from PBS.
Is "race" a fact or an illusion?
Is a person’s “race” genetically determined, or is it a
social or cultural construction? This series explores
popular assumptions as well as historical and modern
scientific information about the concept of race and how
it works in our society. The first video includes a
multi-racial group of high school students exploring the
concept of race by analyzing their own DNAs.
"Viva la Causa" -- 500
years of Chicano history -- 2 - 30 min. tapes - Adult
Part One – Mexican-American history
and relations up to WW II
Part Two – Chicano efforts to
protest and fight discrimination and oppression since
1943. Produced by the South West Organizing Project.
"A Time for Justice" – 38
minutes – Jr. High – Adult.
This winner of an Academy Award for
best short documentary gives a powerful summary of the
American civil rights movement in the 1960s. Most of our
youth and young adults know little about this history –
and maybe the rest of us could use a refresher course.**
"The Shadow of Hate" – 40
minutes – Youth and Adult
A moving portrayal of the legacy of
prejudice and hatred in United States history against
Native American, Black, Irish, Chinese, Japanese,
Catholic and Hispanic people. **
"Starting Small" – Teaching
tolerance in preschool and early school grades.
Book and video -- including
classroom activities, teacher insights and commentary
from child development specialists. Can be used to
augment various Church School curricula. **
"A Place At The Table" --
40 minute video explores issues of history and identity
through the eyes of today's youth. A book illustrates a
variety of struggles for equality in American society.
**
(** These materials are produced by
the Southern Poverty Law Center.) |
