“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
These are inspirational words that for millions are nowhere near coming true. Eleven years after they were written, the Constitution allowed the denial of citizenship rights for large segments of the American population. The deadly history of exclusion and violence that has followed to this day leaves so much of the inspiration as hollow.
Believing in equality for all, the members of the Federation of Christian Ministries understand our first role is to do the hard work of identifying how structural inequality affects each of us. We commit to exploring individually and as a Federation, how we participate in systems that promote inequality, before we attempt to establish policies and practices that might bring about change. We believe the transformation of ourselves and society depends on achieving a deep understanding of how structural inequality impedes all efforts to build inclusive communities.
As we reflect on the FCM values inherent in building inclusive communities (belonging, empowerment, mindful living, equity and compassion) (www.federationofchristianministries.org) we must come to understand how the power that built our current society has been used in the past. For instance, if compassion is a value we promote, we must own the fact that systems of violence and oppression underlie the very societal foundation on which those ministries have been built. As we engage in mindful living, hoping to participate as active agents of change, we commit to doing the hard work that begins with ourselves. Therefore, during this time of national crisis, we begin the process of examining the great twin challenges of the moment: the Pandemic,
disproportionately affecting minorities, and systemic Racism.
Please consider the following action steps.
Pandemic: Heed medical advice.
- Wear a mask.
- Wash your hands.
- Reduce contact with others as much as possible.
- Avoid becoming infected to protect yourself and those around you.
These action steps are life-saving and life-affirming.
Structural Racism:
Take now the actions you can to change society’s deep racism.
- Pray and meditate to change yourself to become open to others.
- Read to broaden your perspective, e.g., I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown; How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi; My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Manakem; White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
- Choose movies to better connect with the emotional, e.g. The Hate U Give (Amazon Prime);
- Engage social media, e.g., Van Jones’s Dream Corps: https://www.thedreamcorps.org/has a Facebook page.
- Participate in efforts to reform policing, e.g. https://8cantwait.org/
- Give focused donations, e.g., NAACP Legal Defense Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org/;
- While you are changing, listen to the stories of those who do not have the privileges you have.
- Help the nation to empower and nurture all.
These action steps are life-transforming and life-affirming.
FCM Executive Committee
Christy Howard-Steele, Chairperson
Thomas Cusack, President
Heidi Tierney, Treasurer
Kathy Bean, Secretary
FCM Social Vision Committee
Diane Dougherty, Chair