INTRODUCTION

January 2002

In 1998, NCCJ was asked by former President Clinton to continue his Initiative on Race within the faith

community of the United States. A Planning Committee was identified after a summit with 38 diverse faith leaders at

The White House Conference Center, who gathered to design and implement a set of bold initiatives to engage

America's faith community and their leadership in eliminating bias, bigotry, and racism. On March 9, 2000, more than

150 senior faith leaders from across the country attended an historic meeting with former President Clinton at The

White House to translate their ideas for racial unity into concrete commitments. Many faith leaders renewed their

enthusiasm and dedication to create a more inclusive and just nation. In cooperation with the Planning Committee,

NCCJ created a list of 12 commitments toward racial unity, one of which is Denouncing Racism: A Resource Guide of

Faith Based Principles (see Appendix A for additional deliverables).

This resource guide presents a collective voice and commitment among faith communities to denounce racism.

Within its contents are theological underpinnings, scriptural concepts and policy statements from denominations and

faith based organizations, which invite people to dialogue and to take action on race related issues, both within and

transcending their faith traditions. Furthermore, it recognizes that the need to eradicate racism and to advance racial

justice through faith and interfaith communities is shared by most faith traditions. Most significantly, it is an

acknowledgment that faith and community leaders across  have unique opportunities to transform and

empower individuals to boldly advance racial unity and social justice. 

The information compiled in this resource guide was gathered from the following sources: publications, resolutions,

and policies provided to NCCJ from individual faith communities; statements submitted to NCCJ from community

leaders; the Internet; and a Task Force comprised of individuals from NCCJ's Faith Leaders Initiative Planning

Committee (see Appendix B for Planning Committee members). In addition, NCCJ reached out to numerous

denominations and faith based organizations that have been involved with our Faith Leaders Initiative, including

individuals from the following faith traditions: Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam,

Jainism, Judaism, Native American traditions, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, Unitarian Universalism, and

Zoroastrianism. These faith communities were contacted to advise NCCJ of any scriptural texts and faith policies

within their traditions that denounce racism. The information included in this resource guide is limited by the

responses made available. The length of each entry does not denote the weight of any group versus another; rather, it

reflects what was provided. Please contact me at (202) 682 2322 ext. 24 or via e mail at dglosser@nccj.org if you have

additional information regarding the scriptural texts and faith policies that denounce racism within those traditions not

represented. 

Danielle Glosser

Director of Public Policy

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DENOUNCING RACISM