wfn.org | NCC Vows to Combat Racism, Support Public Schools

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National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
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	50th Anniversary Newsroom - Nov. 8-12, 1999 call 216-696-8490

NCC11/11/99					FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC VOWS TO COMBAT RACISM, SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Nov. 11, 1999, CLEVELAND, Ohio - The General Assembly of the National 
Council of Churches (NCC) today signed on to a Consultation on Church Union 
(COCU) commitment to combat the scourge of racism in the United States.

Making the commitment, the NCC's 35 member churches pledged to make a 
compelling theological case against racism, to share among member churches 
anti-racism resources and programs already taking place, to incorporate 
anti-racism concerns into worship and Christian education programs and to 
advocate for changes in church and society that will combat racism.
	
Elenora Giddings Ivory, chair of the Council's National Ministries Unit 
(NMU) which brought the racism proposal to the Council, announced that 
gospel singer Kirk Franklin has provided funds for an NCC-sponsored 
conference on combating racism to be held next year.

In other NMU-recommended actions, the Assembly adopted a policy statement 
on public education and a resolution supporting universal health care and 
calling on member churches to work at the local and national level to put 
universal health care back on the political agenda during the 2000 election 
campaign.

Native American theologian links growing violence to racism

Addressing the phenomenon of racism in America, the Rev. Dr. George Tinker, 
a member of the Osage Nation and theology professor at Iliff Seminary in 
Denver, said the violent effects of racism "have invaded all of North 
American society."  As a result, he continued, "we now have to talk about 
not just redress for Indians, but the salvation of white America."

Dr. Tinker, a Lutheran, noted that the Osage used to own all of Missouri 
"until we generously ceded it to the U.S. government so it could be used 
for Lutheran refugee resettlement."  He said culpability for the racist 
structures that still predominate in the country belongs to churches as 
well as governments and other institutions of society.

  "The structures of power are still in place -- male privilege, white 
privilege - subtle layers of racism and privilege that are frequently not 
conscious but are still sin that is thrust upon us," Dr. Tinker said.  And 
it's not enough for people of color to raise issues of racism and 
privilege, he added.  "White theologians have to ask, 'How did it get to be 
like this?'"

The effects of racism eventually affect perpetrators and their children, 
Dr. Tinker said, "and we cannot let bygones be bygones because as people of 
the Book we know better - God is just."   	Churches and Christians must 
challenge the structures of racism in society, Dr. Tinker said. "If we 
accept the world as it is, we give in to a malaise that eats away at the 
souls of our people and our churches.  This is a serious theological, 
social, political and spiritual problem that is going to take a generation 
to correct."

Citing the Lord's Prayer -- "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" 
- Dr. Tinker urged NCC delegates not to give up on the vision of a just 
society.  "God's will is not sickness or death for anyone," he concluded.

Longstanding NCC support for public schools reaffirmed

A policy statement on public education - "The Churches and the Public 
Schools at the Close of the 20th Century" - reaffirms the NCC's 
longstanding commitment to the public school system and urges member 
communions to become an active voice in their children's education.

The policy urges the church to "remember first and foremost our children" 
and affirms that "the public schools are the primary route for most 
children ... into full participation in our economic, political and 
community life."

The statement does not try to resolve the longstanding debate over public 
versus private education.  It affirms that "parents have the right to 
select home schooling or private or parochial schools for their 
children."  However, it insists, "with that personal right comes the public 
obligation to support public schools for all children."  And the statement 
declares that "as a general rule, public funds should be used for public 
purposes."

The statement urges local churches to become better informed about the 
public schools in their communities, to support school reform efforts, to 
emphasize reading and literacy programs, to work with public schools to 
provide after-school and other tutoring programs, to provide parenting 
classes and to advocate for adequate funding for their public schools.

"We have said before that we care about our children and schools," the 
policy concludes.  "Now we must do something about it."

-end-