Dealing with Individual Racism

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that racism is a sin. The PCUSA is committed to

1. Be aware of your own racist feelings and thoughts...If

spiritually confronting the idolatry and ideology of

possible, ask yourself why you have these feelings.

White supremacy and White privilege. The PCUSA

confesses its complicity in the creation and

2. Don't let feelings and thoughts turn into behavior.

maintenance of racist structures and systems in all

Don't say the thoughts out loud or allow the feelings to

parts of our nation's life, including the church itself.

turn into racist behavior.

The PCUSA rejoices in its witness of resistance to

3. Instead of explaining that a person's behavior (which

racism provided by past and current PCUSA leaders

you don't like) results from his/her race, think of other

and individuals and echoed by congregations and

reasons for the behavior.

governing bodies. The PCUSA recognizes that it has

not spoken boldly enough, nor acted courageously

4. Commit yourself to discourage and to disagree openly

or creatively enough, in response to racism.

with racist comments, jokes, or actions among those

around you. Research indicates that when those

God created human beings, a diverse family, to live

around you in authority actively discourage racist

together and to love one another as God loves us.

behavior or words, such incidents decline.

We violate God's intention for the human family by

creating false categories of value and identity, based

5. Learn about the nature of the differences in customs

on identifiable characteristics such as culture, place

and traditions between your racial [or] ethnic group

of origin, and skin color. We use these categories to

and another racial [or] ethnic group. Learning that

create a race based system, which benefits some

there are differences in customs and traditions and

while oppressing others. Racism is fundamentally a

understanding those differences can reduce racism.

spiritual problem because it denies our true identity

as children of God.

6. Commit yourself to working on institutional racism.

(See the list above).

In Jesus Christ, God frees us to love and teaches us,

through the empowering presence of the Holy

7. Be aware of the privileges that you have as a white

Spirit, how to live as a family. We are led by the

person. 

Holy Spirit to participate in transforming personal

lives, dismantling institutional racism, healing racial

8. Remember that God is redeeming the world and

prejudice and hatred, and building  The Beloved

bringing an end to racism. Pray that God may

Community  for all of God's children.

empower you to be a part of God's work. 

These recommendations are further supported by the

ROMAN CATHOLIC

following excerpt from Facing Racism: A Vision of the

Beloved Community, which was adopted by the 211th

The Catholic Church declares racism is a sin  that divides

General Assembly in 1999:

the human family, blots out the image of God among

specific members of that family, and violates the

The PCUSA covenants to embrace racial and

fundamental human dignity of those called to be children

cultural diversity as God given assets of the human

of the same father. 

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family. The PCUSA covenants to become an

The Church recognizes that racism has a direct

antiracism community, resisting oppression and

relationship with numerous variables, such as economics

working to overcome racism within its own life and

and poverty.  Discriminatory practices in our labor

the life of the society by blending social analysis,

markets, in educational systems, and in electoral politics

institutional reconstruction, and individual healing

create major obstacles for Blacks, Hispanics, Native

with discernment, prayer, and worship based action.

Americans, and other racial minorities in their struggle to

improve their economic status; such discrimination is

The PCUSA affirms that racism violates God's

evidence of the continuing presence of racism in our

purpose for humanity and is contrary to the gospel

midst. 

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of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the PCUSA recognizes

Catholic Bishops, in particular, have labeled racism a

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DENOUNCING RACISM