wfn.org | Presbyterians Challenged to Dismantle Racism

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

23-July-1997 
97288 
 
    Presbyterians Challenged to Dismantle Racism 
    by Speakers, Preachers at Peacemaking Conference 
 
    by Julian Shipp 
 
ESTES PARK, Colo.--Plenary speakers and preachers during the Presbyterian 
Peacemaking Conference here July 17-21 strongly challenged Presbyterians to 
dismantle racism in America and in the church. 
 
    Sponsored by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of the Presbyterian 
Church (U.S.A.), the conference,  titled "Facing Racism: In Search of the 
Beloved Community," attracted nearly 500 adults and children. It was the 
most racially diverse group ever to attend a Peacemaking Conference, 
according to conference officials. 
 
    Plenary speakers and worship leaders were Joseph Barndt, executive 
director of Crossroads Ministry, Chicago; the Rev. Lonna Lee, associate 
pastor of Old First Presbyterian Church, San Francisco; John Perkins, 
co-founder and chair of the Christian Community Development Association and 
publisher of  "Urban Family" magazine, Jackson, Miss.; Patricia G. (Pat) 
Brown, moderator of the 209th General Assembly (1997), Cincinnati; and the 
Rev. Juan Trevino and the Rev. Kathy Trevino, co-pastors of  First 
Presbyterian Church, Rockdale, Texas. 
 
    In plenary July 18, Lee addressed that day's theme,  "Unpacking 
Racism," through stories from her childhood growing up as a 
Chinese-American girl and teenager in Indiana. To illustrate her text and 
demonstrate the prejudicial baggage people often carry when making 
decisions about different groups and individuals, Lee pulled a compact 
wheeled suitcase behind her as she entered the stage and unpacked large 
poster boards with the words "prejudice," "discrimination," "racism" and 
"institutionalized racism" written on them. 
 
    She also took  a construction paper chain out of her suitcase and from 
each link read segments of American history soiled by racial atrocities 
committed against African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, 
Asian Americans, European Americans and others. Lee said she presented the 
items not to make participants feel guilty, but to help her audience better 
receive her as a "sister in Christ." 
 
    "When one is oppressed in the world of God's creation, no one is free," 
Lee said. 
 
    Lee, who was also guest preacher July 18, centered her sermon around 
Mark 7:24-30.   Lee said Jesus practiced what could be interpreted today as 
racism by initially refusing to cast a demon out of the daughter of the 
Syrophoenician woman who sought his help. Jesus was a Jew and the woman was 
a Gentile, and those two groups did not have dealings with one another due 
to their respective faith traditions. 
 
    However, through the woman's faith and response to his question, Lee 
said, "Jesus' eyes were opened." Jesus cast the demon out of the woman's 
daughter and consequently expanded his ministry beyond the realm of God's 
kingdom as he initially understood it. 
 
    "It is critical for Christian faith and life ... that we minister to 
all in the telling of the good news," Lee said. 
 
    Preaching July 19 on the topic "Recognizing, Claiming and Reckoning 
with Racism," Barndt centered his text around the 10th through the 15th 
chapters of the Book of Acts, in which the early Christian church wrestled 
with issues of inclusiveness. 
 
    Barndt said the struggles of the early "followers of the Way" are 
similar to the ones predominantly white denominations such as the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 
(ELCA) are grappling with today and cited racial/ethnic, sexual and gender 
discrimination issues as examples. 
 
    He said that while the PC(USA) and ELCA made the decision between 1966 
and 1990 to become a "multicultural church," "unconditional inclusiveness" 
must also come to pass if Christians are to respond to "the call of God and 
the renewal of the church." 
 
    "Make it a church that is not white people friendly; make it a church 
that is all-people friendly," Barndt said. "Let us make it possible for the 
beloved community to be visible to all in the name of Jesus Christ." 
 
    Speaking July 20 on the theme "Unity and Trust as the Basis of Human 
Community," Brown said she was pleased with the number of people attending 
the conference because they represented the "three-E agenda" (evangelism, 
education and empowerment) she ran under as candidate for moderator. She 
encouraged Presbyterians to continue to work toward "the beloved community" 
cited by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 
 
    "Return to your homes with a new spirit of empowerment and commitment 
 ... and may God bless you on the journey," Brown said. 
 
    Speaking on the July 20 subject of "Dealing with Racism," Perkins urged 
the Presbyterian Church to cease fighting over divisive issues like 
inclusivity and exclusivity and return to its primary mission, carrying the 
gospel of Jesus Christ to every race and ethnic group in the world. 
 
    "I'm afraid that you Presbyterians are dealing with issues, but the 
mission of Christ has to be the main issue," Perkins said. "I don't believe 
there's a biblical basis at all for us to discriminate against people 
because of race, sex and other divisive issues." 
 
    A second Peacemaking Conference occurs Aug. 10-14 at Montreat, N.C. 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 
  mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>  

--