our history
In keeping with our commitment to being an anti-racist church, CHUMC’s Racial Justice Task Force has now grown into the CHUMC Racial Justice Ministry Band. The Task Force had begun to examine every aspect of our church to help us resist and deconstruct any and all forms of racism. NOW – the Racial Justice Ministry Band is helping CHUMC center anti-racism in all it’s dealings and to create, cultivate and maintain that culture. To fulfill our longstanding commitment to be “the heart of God in the community,” we hope to ultimately work to achieve the same anti-racist goal in our Capitol Hill community.
How it All Began
In 2020, CHUMC’s Council agreed to become an anti-racist church. Read about the commitment of the BWCUMC and the NEJ (North Eastern Jurisdiction of the UMC) to working on anti-racism HERE. The BWCUMC and NEJ extended an invitation to all UMC’s in the NEJ to agree to that same commitment so each of the churches would pledge to interrupt and dismantle systemic racism in every place it is present (including and particularly in the UMC). The CHUMC Council prayerfully considered that invitation and, in the fall of 2020, agreed unanimously to become an anti-racist church. A Church Committed to Embodying Anti-Racism!
The Racial Justice Ministry Band has identified four initial areas of focus:
Examining History
We are learning our church’s history as a congregation and denomination from two perspectives: (a) from the perspective of race, in general, and (b) from the perspective of the Ebenezer United Methodist Church, in particular. Ebenezer UMC is located around the corner from us, and it is a historically black congregation. Ebenezer and CHUMC trace back to the same, original congregation, founded in the Capitol Hill Navy Yard Area in 1802. Tragically, racist decisions did long-lasting damage to this historic relationship: the congregations were ultimately segregated, and Ebenezer was marginalized and denied key resources by the denomination. We believe CHUMC congregants should understand and acknowledge this legacy.
Dismantling Anti-Black Racism
Second, we will very specifically set out to self-teach and other learn about the pervasive and unacceptable past and current engagement that our country, and by extension our church communities, have with antii-Black racism. In the wake of the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and many others in recent years, activists and scholars in the United States have taken to the streets, the workplace, and classrooms to decry anti-Black racism and call attention to the ongoing devaluation of Black lives in the U.S. and globally. Anti-Black racism is prejudice, attitudes, beliefs, stereotyping or discrimination that is directed at people of African descent and is rooted in their/our unique history and experience of enslavement and colonization. Anti-Black racism is deeply embedded in American institutions, policies and practices, and has become locked into our institutional norms. CHUMC will endeavor to grapple with three key areas of inquiry and action: the roots, ideology, and resistance to anti-Black racism. We recognize that talking about tough topics—such as anti-Black racism — is likely uncomfortable, and perhaps that’s why we have done little of it consistently or well across our country, and by extension, within our United Methodist church communities. Good conversations are deliberative. They encourage reflection, understanding of different voices and perspectives, and respect for complexity. They also take time. As a starting point, through outreach to, and partnership with our neighboring church, Ebenezer United Methodist (with whom we share a complex history), we will continue on our journey and redouble our efforts to establish supportive and mutually beneficial relationships in our community. (*Footnote/see below).
Examining Church Practices
Third, we will evaluate our church practices, examining our procedures, policies, customs, and habits through a racial justice lens to assess shortcomings and areas for growth To help facilitate this, we will use an Assessment tool designed for us, by. It is designed to support a long-term, broad-based effort to ensure that a church’s culture and practices are indeed anti-racist. Using the document’s suggested framework and analysis questions, we will meet with leadership teams like the Finance Team, Music Ministry and Mission Team to examine our practices from a racial justice perspective.
Engaging the Congregation (a.k.a., you!)
Fourth, we will reach out to vital partners in this anti-racism effort for the church – and that is all of you. You no doubt have insights, suggestions, and concerns to share, and we welcome what you have to offer. Scripture and Christian teaching are our primary guides in this work, but we are also guided by the Holy Spirit speaking through each of you. We will be reaching out to the congregation periodically for your thoughts, and in the meantime you can email racialjustice@chumc.net. Please do not pass up this opportunity to share your insights and help guide us as we move forward.
The CHUMC Racial Justice Task Force is honored to be doing this work. We are also fully aware that this effort must be thorough and thoughtful and that it will take time to achieve; but we are committed, and we do not wish to be merely performatory, reactionary or to embark on this work as a temporary effort. This work is rooted in our collective calling as Christians. So we invite all of you to respond to that calling and join us in this profoundly important endeavor. We also ask you to pray about how God is calling you and our church to be engaged in dismantling racism – not for just a moment, but for a lifetime.
Contact us at racialjustice@chumc.net.
*Footnotes & Resources