Are you looking for solid resources to help your church progress in understanding and practicing anti-racism? The resources listed below are known to members of the WCC’s network, and can help you approach racial justice work with courage and authenticity. If you find a great resource that you would recommend, let us know.
General Resources
- “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi (Book)
- “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness” by Austin Channing Brown, WCC’s 2019 Winter Forum Speaker
- The Next Question hosted by Austin Channing Brown, Jenny Booth Potter, and Chi Chi Okwu (web series)
- Black Like Me hosted by Rev. Dr. Alex Gee, pastor of Fountain of Life in Madison (podcast)
- Black History for a New Day: African American History Course hosted by Justified Anger Coalition
- Anti Racism Resources Compiled by Rabbi Bonnie Margulis at Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
Faith Based Resources
- Vital Conversations (web series) – from United Methodist Commission on Race & Religion
- Letter from A Birmingham Jail, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US (book) – by Lenny Duncan, Pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
- All the Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America (book) by Michael Eric Dyson, professor at Georgetown University, Baptist Minister
- Trouble the Water: A Christian Resource for the Work of Racial Justice (book) by Michael-Ray Mathews, Marie Clare P. Onwubuariri, Cody J. Sanders.
- Resource Center On Racial Reconciliation (website) from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
- The Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery: A Biblical Reflection from the United Church of Christ
- Anti-Racism Resources from National Council of Churches, including list of denominational resources from a wide variety of partners
- Unbound Chaplain – reflection from Christa Fisher (Milwaukee) examining “equality” and what it means to care for those who are marginalized.
WCC Resources
- WCC’s Statement on Institutional Racism and Social Justice (statement)
- On Behalf of Our Children: Wisconsin’s Racial Disparities and the Call of the Gospel (study guide)
- Becoming Welcoming Communities: Immigration in Light of Biblical Faith (study guide)
- Wrestling with Whiteness (webinar recording) featuring Rev. Dr. Zachary Moon, professor at Chicago Theological Seminary
- Beyond the Slogans: A Panel Discussion (webinar recording) featuring Rev. David Hart, practicing attorney, womanist ally author and lead pastor of Sherman Church, a growing church in Madison, WI; Angela Hicks, Peace & Justice Commission Chair, WI Council of Churches, volunteer for Common Ground, lay leader at Bradford Memorial AME, Milwaukee; Pardeep Kaleka, Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, former police officer, anti-racist speaker and educator on white supremacy; Linda Ketcham, Executive Director of Just Dane (formerly Madison-Area Urban Ministry), experienced advocate for systems change
Worship Resources
- “Confession, Repentance and Commitment to End Racism Sunday” from Sept. 6, 2015 (ELCA) | PDF | DOCX |
- Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Justice and Jesus by by Britney Winn Lee | BOOK
- “A Prayer in a Time of Anger, Unrest and Injustice” – includes original hymn (PCUSA) | PDF
- Presbyterian worship resources – hymns, prayers, statements (PCUSA) | PDF
- Responding to Racist Violence – collection of prayers and scripture (Episcopalian) | WEBSITE
- Re:Worship – prayers related to racial equality and the Black Lives Matter protests | WEBSITE
- A Prayer Service for Racial Healing in Our Land (Roman Catholic) | WEBSITE
- Blog of Rev. Wil Gafney, PhD – Womanist Scholar and Priest, includes scripture reflection and sermons (Episcopalian) | BLOG
- A Litany for Gun Violence Prevention (Episcopalian), Prayer Responding to deaths of Anisa Scott and shooting of Jacob Blake (PCUSA) | PDF
Policing in America
- Graham (podcast) – Podcast about court decision on use of force that shaped how policing is done today.
Action Challenge!
When we’re asked by churches for book studies, links to recordings or speaker recommendations, we don’t hesitate to offer the best of what we know of. That being said, anti-racism isn’t merely a journey of self-improvement. This is a matter of life and death. We do what we do out of love for God, self and neighbor; for the sake of the realm of God. With that in mind, we offer these challenge questions for you to consider. If you wish to increase your efforts as an individual and as a faith community, explore some of these questions as a group. If you’d like to explore these with others in the ecumenical community, let us know.
- Where are you in stepping out of your comfort zone? What is your sense of urgency? What contributes to it?
- What will help you change your framework from “not racist” to “anti-racist”?
- How will you move from study to action? How will you process what you encounter as you take action, without withdrawing?
- How can you move from monologue to dialogue?
- What concrete steps will help you move from internal conversations to building relationships?
- If you are a person with privilege: How willing are you to not set the agenda, to join a movement or action, to lend your resources, to stay in the background and allow others to take the lead?
- When it comes to financial matters, are you willing to move from charity to justice? What will that look like for you?
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