Sacred Conversations to End Racism (SC2ER) is a restorative justice journey created to move people beyond anti-racism conversations to active engagement intended to challenge people's thinking and behavior based on assumptions of privilege and superiority over non-European people. SC2ER provides new language, strategies, and realities that engage all the intersections of our lives to unmask, dismantle, and eradicate racism in America, including the Christian Church. SC2ER seeks to restore humanity, eliminate myths and stereotypes and engage in deep truth telling about the construction of whiteness and white skin superiority.

SC2ER was created in order to either begin or continue dismantling racism work leading to:

Understand the divisive nature of race categorizations and the creation of racism
Teach others what you have learned
Recognize overt racist behaviors and racial microaggressions towards people of color
Recognize internalized racism and oppression as a person of color
Invite others on the journey
Invite the leadership of your church to participate in all four phases of SC2ER
Work toward actively dismantling and eradicating racism within your church, community, city, state, and nation

Every UCC congregation is invited and encouraged to form groups and journey through all four phases of Sacred Conversations to End Racism. SC2ER is a guided resource and requires training. The SC2ER Facilitator applications and introductory videos are available HERE.

The United Church of Christ has a long history of working towards eradicating systemic and institutional racism. In 2003 General Synod 24 adopted a resolution calling for the UCC to be an anti-racist church stating that “racism is rooted in a belief of the superiority of whiteness and bestows benefits, unearned rights, rewards, opportunities, advantages, access, and privilege on Europeans and European descendants.”

In 2008, racial justice advocates within Justice and Witness Ministries developed the online curriculum Sacred Conversations on Race. The Sacred Conversations Resource Guide was designed to address the needs of local congregations, pastors and laypersons with interest in starting on a journey towards racial justice and reconciliation.

Over the last nine years many UCC congregations have used the Sacred Conversations Resource Guide to develop meaningful relationships, delved into the impact of systemic and institutional racism, planned events and activities highlighting participants growth and awareness of the issues communities of color face.

Where are we today regarding race relations within the Christian Church and Society?

The United Church of Christ remains committed to being an anti-racist church, however, we are facing a resurgence of tactics and behaviors that call for a deeper commitment to eradicate the ongoing practices of oppression, hate speech, individual bigotry, and overt violence against communities of color.

What is needed in this present moment?

I believe we can Reclaim God’s Love and Justice through Sacred Conversations to End Racism

Scripture teaches us that God’s love for humanity remains foundational to the mission vision and purpose of reconciliation with God and neighbor. The greatest commandment in the Scripture is: Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind.”[Mt 22:37]. Jesus continues teaching the command with, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” [Mt 22:38] The Scripture is an ancient reminder to us in the twenty-first century that love is a priority within the Christian community when we believe in and follow Jesus.

Sacred Conversations to End Racism: A Restorative Justice Journey

“Racism is a philosophy based on contempt for life. It is the arrogant assertion that one race is the center of value and object of devotion, before which other races must kneel in submission.” (MLK, Jr.)

You are invited to begin a journey with Sacred Conversations to End Racism. The updated curriculum is introduced in 4-Phases. Each phase is 6 to 8 weeks and is intended to lead participants into conversations leading to sustainable actions that are historical and foundational to the how race was constructed, who constructed and sanctioned race as a model for American society, and what role the Christian Church played in supporting the division of humanity by skin color categories as a means for instituting the global European colonialism project.

Phase I through IV are culturally inclusive learning modules. The goal each week is to deconstruct whiteness as the norm in America—social, political, and religious life. Truth telling begins the reality that there is no one culture that is dominant over others. God did not create race nor assign Europe and Europeans over and against other human beings. Sacred Conversations to End Racism is a curriculum inviting, nurturing, and sustaining participants to be on a journey that values culturally inclusive narratives and people groups. The learning modules rightfully place all God’s people on the margins. God is the center, creator, and sustainer of everything that exist.

Enter the Journey through Phases I through IV

Each phase is inclusive of:

Understanding who, how, and when the Christian Church and European colonialism created, sanctioned, and supported racism
Engage culturally inclusive biblical texts
View webinar sessions
Listen to personal stories, poetry, and contemporary and sacred music
Review short documentaries
View culturally inclusive artwork
Engage deeply with participants through group and one-on-one processing
Develop meaningful relationships and commit to the journey to dismantle racism

Will conversations end racism?

Sacred conversations alone will not end racism. We are people of great faith who believe in and trust the living God. We can disrupt, dismantle, and eradicate systems that prevent people from living freely within the United States, We can create a movement towards activism protecting undocumented immigrants from being deported. We can show up when communities of color are threatened by militarism and police violence, and we must take a stand and declare that Black Lives Matter. The Good News as reported 2 Timothy 1:7 states,

“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, of courage and resolution, to meet difficulties and dangers; the spirit of love which will carry us through opposition.”

Join the journey and begin today engaging with Phase One of Sacred Conversations to End Racism.

For more information contact Rev. Dr. Velda Love, Minister for Racial Justice Lovev@ucc.org or at 216-736-3719.