Racism declared sin

Created to live with God; created to Be In Community With One Another

I’m often asked, “Why does everything boil down to race?” It seems that the issue of racism is one which intersects all aspects of our being. Issues of privilege and advantage, inclusion and exclusion impact our relationships with each other and to the goods, services and opportunities of society. Our present racial/ethnic group relationships are informed by our histories and shaped by the realities of living in a racialized society. As people of faith, we are called to recognize racism?s impact on our relationships with each other and with God. The resource entitled, Transformative Justice: Being Church and Overcoming Racism, acknowledges racism as a sin and states the following:

Churches have declared that racism is a sin

Racism is a sin because it:

* denies the very source of humanity ? the image of God in humankind;

* destroys God?s likeness in every person and thus repudiates creation and its goodness;

* assumes that human beings are not equal before God and are not part of God?s family;

* is contrary to biblical teaching;

* denies basic justice and human dignity;

* is a blatant denial of the Christian faith;

* is incompatible with the Gospel;

* is a flagrant violation of human rights;

* separates us from God and from other human beings;

* makes us blind to the reality of people?s suffering and

* perpetuates racist attitudes, practices and institutional racism.

We have confessed that racism is a sin, not only as individual Christians, but also as churches. To affirm that racism is a sin has a radical implication for the churches: the radical commitment to overcome it.

—Transformative Justice: Being Church and Overcoming Racism, Resource Guide, World Council of Churches 2004

This is our prayer Dear God, Creator of the universe and all that inhabit it, we come as your Church, and as individuals, in humble submission to Your Word and Your Way. God, you who are Alpha and Omega, The Almighty Judge and The Forgiver of All Sins, we come with bowed heads and contrite hearts on behalf of generations past, present and those yet unborn. We now ask that you forgive us and create in us a new spirit. Bind our hearts and send forth the healing power that You and You alone can give to us and this sin sick world. Bring us into reconciliation with one another and restore us to thy path. Amen.

Adaptation of Alter Prayer, Acknowledging The Breach, from Reparations: A Process for Repairing The Breach: A Study and Discussion Guide for Local Congregations, Associations and Conferences of the United Church of Christ.

This is our covenant

O God, as people of faith, we covenant with you, with one another and our churches to:

* become better informed about people of other races and cultures, that we may overcome the fears and misconceptions that exist;

* consider how issues of racial prejudice and privilege affect each person with whom we come in contact;

* discover and acknowledge practices and structures that are racist in our churches and communities;

* work to erase the sins of racism and injustice where they exist in our churches and communities and

* prayerfully heed Your call to embrace people of all colors, faiths, economic and social backgrounds as our brothers and sisters.

—Submitted by Dismantling Racism Task Force, St. Louis Association, Missouri Mid-South Conference, United Church of Christ