white privilege

What ‘laying down our lives’ looks like

Laying down our life for others means putting other people first, which takes commitment and action — especially standing up for racial justice.

‘That’s what we need to root out’

One moment emerged above all the others recently during a “Vital Conversations” webinar hosted by the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Office of Vital Congregations. While discussing how it feels to enter a room full of white people, the Rev. Shanea D. Leonard, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s associate for Gender & Racial Justice, talked about scanning the room for a person of color to chat with. Sometimes the search produces no one.

Synod of the Sun network aims to help confront and dismantle racism

Some symptoms of racism might be obliterated with a wrecking ball approach, but a new Synod of the Sun network aims to help dismantle the structure and proactively remember grim events of the past, including the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.

What white churches can do about racism

What should predominantly white churches do to help their communities address racial disparity and systemic racialized oppression? A panel convened by two Union Presbyterian Seminary organizations — the Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership and the Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation — had some ideas Tuesday during an hour-long webinar.

Seeking justice in the death of George Floyd by honoring his life

Before some 60,000 supporters met together at Houston’s Discovery Green park to join the family of George Floyd in a peaceful march to City Hall this week, about 200 clergy from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds gathered in the ballroom of a nearby hotel to pray.

Former Co-Moderator Denise Anderson joins Presbyterian Mission Agency

Denise Anderson, Co-Moderator of the 222nd General Assembly (2016) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has accepted a new position with the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Anderson has been called as the new coordinator for racial and intercultural justice, working in connection with the agency’s Compassion, Peace & Justice and Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries.

Facing up to our racism

In a few weeks, many of us will make our way to a place we call home in observance of Thanksgiving, our most religiously secular and secularly religious holiday. Gathered around a table of plenty, we will partake and share, acknowledging God’s gracious bounty to all and giving thanks for it.

White parents, black sons

Martin Luther King Jr. spoke these words at Glenville High School in Cleveland on April 26, 1967. Several things have happened that have had me mulling on this concept of “somebodiness” and how, 50 years later, MLK’s words here are still so strikingly relevant.

We are the racist culture

I can still remember my first encounter with an overt racist. I must have been 8 or 9, and my friend and I were in the back seat. Her mom was driving and started talking to me.