wfn.org | Reconciliation mission funds ongoing work of discernment

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org (DISCNEWS)]

process
Date: October 23, 1997
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the web: http//www.disciples.org

97b-57

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The most recent round of funding for
Reconciliation highlights the ministry's changed emphasis from "War on
Poverty" type programs to those that directly attack the root cause of
racism. That's the word from the Rev. L. Wayne Stewart, administrative
director of the Disciples ministry to eliminate racism. 

     "We want to move from awarding  spot' grants toward funding
projects that have as their primary goal, eliminating racism," he said. Yet
the ministry continues to receive appeals to support "1960s-type" projects
addressing hunger, unemployment, etc. While all of these are worthy
causes, they do not directly address the primary cause of racism.

     General Reconciliation Committee members recently granted the
Office of General Minister and President $48,000 to continue its work
with "racism in North America." A forum and a series of exercises on the
topic during the Denver General Assembly "focused on step one of the
discernment process by issuing a  call to faithfulness,' " Stewart said. 

     The assembly activities only began churchwide dialogue on racism,
he added. The process is ongoing and "it's going to take coordination and
lots of planning."

     "We see this as a long-term transformational process," said the
Rev. Lori Adams, minister for transformation. "The process of
discernment on racism is directed at a process of transforming the racism
that exists in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)."

     The next activity designed to address the discernment issue is a
November meeting of the steering committee in Chicago. Assisting the
committee will be Crossroads Ministries, a consulting agency with 20
years of experience helping religious and not-for-profit groups tackle the
issue of racism. The agency will work as a partner in developing a strategy
or model that is relevant for the Disciples of Christ, said Adams.

     "Our prayer is for the process to eventually engage all three
manifestations of our church with education, training and other exercises
aimed at dismantling racism and building a multicultural church," said the
Reconciliation director.

     Approval of funding was a "strong vote of confidence that the
steering committee can lead the church into a transforming process or
vision, and help it live into that vision," Adams said.  

     The General Reconciliation Committee also approved $12,000 in
funding for additional projects aimed at identifying anti-Indian bias in
local schools ($5,000); confronting racism and bigotry in county and local
governments and local schools ($2,000); and moving the Ohio region's
reconciliation program to a clear focus on racism ($5,000).  

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DISCNEWS - inbox for Disciples News Service, Office of Communication, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PO Box 1986 Indianapolis, IN 46206, tele. (317) 635-3100, (DISCNEWS@ecunet.org) Wilma Shuffitt, News and Information Assistant; (CWILLIS@oc.disciples.org) Cliff Willis, Director of News and Information; (CMILLER@oc.disciples.org) Executive Director