RACIAL UNITY TEAM
WHO WE ARE
We are a group of Jesus loving Bethany members who are passionate about furthering the work of racial unity and reconciliation.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
The purpose of the team is to identify barriers, create awareness and inform strategy; as well as, creating safe spaces where conversations around these issues are fostered.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
1. We Must Denounce Racism.
Racism has no part in God or in the Kingdom of God. We are all made in the image of God, and every person is loved and cared for by God. And, this first thought is absolutely necessary to state clearly and unequivocally.
2. We Must Confess Our Racism.
Racism has and does live in the church. And all of us can have racially prejudiced thoughts and bias. Far too often the church in North America, including our church, has been complicit, unaware and silent on racism, and systems of privilege. We can see this especially in Canada in our response to racial and ethnic groups, specifically Indigenous people. This is not just an American issue.
3. We Must Listen to Others.
Our attitudes and response need to change, but for that to happen, especially for those of us who are white and privileged, we must all first learn to listen.We need to really hear and learn from each other, especially through the stories of lived experiences and hurt.
SHARMILA’S LAMENT
A congregation member's lament. Part of our Hear Our Cry series.
RACISM
BOOKS
I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown
Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
White Awake by Daniel Hill
Beyond Colorblind by Sarah Shin
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
MOVIES
WEB
PODCAST
How the Church Can Be the Bridge in Race Relations
SOCIAL MEDIA
Amplifying the voices of people of colour is an important part of listening and educating ourselves. Consider adding the following voices to your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter feeds.
ART
Pictures are worth a thousand words. Listen to their voices, follow BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) artists. (illustration by @ohhappydani)
Indigenous Reconciliation
READ
Prayer Guide through each of the TRC's calls to Action - Use this thoughtfully curated collection of stories to pray, understand and engage with each of the calls to action in Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Report.
When Going to Church is Sin - Essay Excerpt by Randy Woodley - Read this short but thought-provoking essay excerpt by Randy Woodley.
Truth and Reconciliation Report - Reports issued or created by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph
Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga
They Came for the Children: Canada, Aboriginal Peoples, and Residential Schools by Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Rescuing The Gospel From The Cowboys By Richard Twiss
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King
One Church, Many Tribes by Richard Twiss
WATCH
Fort Erie Native Friendship Center Videos - Indigenous Perspective DocuSeries - It is so important in learning to listen to the Indigenous People in our community. Here are some of their powerful stories and perspectives.
Jill shares her experiences as an Indigenous person and her perspective on what each of us can do to support the Indigenous community.
ACTION
Sign up here for our email list to learn when our rescheduled Blanket Exercise (due to COVID) will be, and how to participate.
Visit Karios.ca and sign up for a course to listen and learn from Indigenous.
Find out whose traditional territory you live on - Native Land website.
Sign up for Indigenous Canada. A free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.
Write to our local Friendship Centre in Niagara-on-the-Lake and in Fort Erie expressing support and/or donating and giving as an act of reconciliation.