Anti-Racism Team

Dismantling racism and working for equal justice for all people is a spiritual discipline. In the Gospel according to John, Jesus says, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” We find this truth walking in the way of our God, who Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Michael Curry describes as “loving, liberating, and life-giving.” Theologian James Cone defines a Christian as “one striving for liberation.” We see this thread of truth and freedom weaving through our faith and our lives as Americans, who are born into a society built on oppressing certain identities. When we seek the truth about ourselves, our communities, our society, our history, and our future, we participate with God in bringing about more freedom for those who are oppressed and more truth for those who benefit from oppression.

The spiritual discipline of dismantling racism and working for equal justice leads us down three paths: meditation, reflection, and action.

Mystic Conversations on Race

The St. Mark’s Anti-Racism Team facilitated a year of monthly conversations in partnership with the Mystic-Noank Library in 2020-2021. We read, listened, and learned much from various media, as well as from presentations from local people whose organizations are working to dismantle racism. While the formal conversations are done, the work continues.

VOICES WORKING TO DISMANTLE RACISM AND PROMOTE EQUITY

In this series of our Sunday morning Adult Forum, we watched and then reflected on a series of talks by Bryan Stevenson, Robin DiAngelo, and Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo. You can view the videos and discussion prompts by clicking here.