for long term institutional change  (Acts 9:1 31). MCC is

the uniqueness of the Christian faith. 

88

committed to exposing what is behind nourishing and

In the magazine produced by the Presbyterian

sustaining racism. 

Peacemaking Program, entitled Breaking Down The Walls,

MCC knows that racism is sometimes hidden,

the Church challenges its members not to use scripture to

confusing, disguised, and ignored. It educates and

justify racism. The authors of this article point out that

encourages leadership and members to act on their faith

scripture does not condone or support racist views (See

against racism in several ways:

85

Isaiah 58: 1 12; Acts 10: 1 36; Acts 2:1 11, 43 47; and

Revelation 7: 9 12).

  Support organizations led by people of color working

The Church recognizes racism as a  cultural norm  in

for self determination and community improvement.

American society. Its roots are deeply embedded in the

history of this country. Hence, the Church is committed to

  Challenge the policies, practices and foundations of

confronting both institutional and individual racism. The

your church and workplace in order to remove

Church has proposed the following to eradicate racism.

otherwise hidden racism.

Confronting Institutional Racism

89

  Resist racist assumptions in the media.

1. Work with a racial [or] ethnic congregation in doing a

common mission project.

  Write letters expressing opposition to confusion  code

language  that describes people of color as the sole

2. Ask people from a racial [or] ethnic group in your

recipients of welfare.

community to teach you about their history and

culture.

  Read about the history of racism and how color

blindness, regardless of intent, does not end racism. 

3. Investigate hiring practices of companies in your

community you suspect of hiring an inadequate

  Find out how people with white skin are given power

number of racial [or] ethnic people. 

and privilege in America today.

4. Volunteer to work with the Human Relations

  Challenge comments and assumptions that undergird

Committee of your community in investigating

racist practice. 

discrimination in housing, banking, or employment.

  Pray that eyes might be opened to the wounds of racism.

5. Support legislation that assures that everyone is

protected against discrimination in housing and

The Mennonite faith community is a community of

employment.

action and encourages its well meaning members to not

ignore racism in the hope it will go away.  For this,

6. Support organizations that are working for a good

people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of

education for all children, not just your own.

hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might

not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and

7. Ask the session to either appoint a new committee or

understand with their heart and turn and I would heal

ask an existing one to help the whole congregation deal

them  (Matthew 13:14).

86

with both personal and institutional racism.

8. Find ways to deal with hate groups.

PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH (U.S.A.)

87

9. Hold a candidates' night in your church where they are

asked to address the important moral issues before the

The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) defines racism as an

electorate. Be sure that issues of institutional racism are

unholy triad that involves prejudice, individual racism

included on the agenda.

and institutional racism. The Church, of all

institutions, must actively struggle to eliminate this evil.

10.Trade with businesses owned by racial [or] ethnic

Since this evil has divided [the] nation, the PCUSA is

individuals or groups and seek help from racial [or]

actively promoting diversity and inclusiveness within its

ethnic professionals doctors, dentists, and lawyers.

membership. They believe they are called to  witness

19