Race Relations News | Noticias de Relaciones Raciales

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Good Morning! In this issue we comment on a few of the racial ground shaking events of the past few months. We also offer up some book reviews and other news links. But most important are the opinion pieces on recent events. After we paused to take some time to process, we wanted to respond in a manner that opens conversations on race relations in the CRC. Respond in a way that doesn’t label or call out in a confrontational manner, but names racism for what it is: SIN and the ongoing by-product of a broken society.

CRC Statement On The Death of George Floyd

The CRC denomination in the US and Canada has entered into a moment of national conversations on racism. Read the statement we co-wrote and act on it! Along with the statement there is a list of actions you can perform personally, communally, and systemically to help dismantle the causes and effects of racism in our nations. Although there is disagreement on some of the resources, we should all be able to agree upon the evil of racism and rejoice in our unified identity found in Jesus Christ.

My Thoughts After Watching the Killing of George Floyd

A mother of two grown adults shares her thoughts and raw emotions she felt after watching the video of George Floyd slowly being killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. Read through her journey of sleepless nights to eventual resting in the hope of God's promise to never leave us in the midst of chaos.

Book Reviews

The books Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015) and Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol (1995) are informative books dealing with growing up as a person of color. Read these reviews in this post.

Seeing It Differently

“A Nation that Forgets its Past Has No Future” - In light of recent events, everyone seems to be scrambling to learn about racism. How can we as a nation and denomination honestly confront the racist reality we've accumulated over centuries? In her latest blog post, Race Relations Advocate Viviana Cornejo addresses the first step.

Read Blog

Swords to Plowshares

Practical Practices for Dismantling Racism: The work of racism is so complex that people would rather not talk about it until it's too late. Race Relations Advocate Rudy Gonzalez offers up some practical tools to engage the conversation in his latest blog post.

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Meet Paula Tang

We want to welcome Pisudtiporn Tangsirisatian to the Office of Race Relations. She is joining ORR through an internship program sponsored by Calvin University. Learn more about her unique background, passions and aspirations in this post.

Recent Recognition

The CRC Office of Race Relations Canada was recently noted as a good source for Christian anti-racism resources by Flourishing Congregations Institute, a study centre out of Ambrose University in Calgary, Alberta. Racism looks different in Canada, but is no less important. ORR Canada offers contextualized resources to resource and support churches and ministries in the work of racial reconciliation in Canada. We are currently looking to fill the position for a Canadian staff person. See the mention and read the informative article, “Is Your Church Truly Anti-Racist?” at the link below.

Web Bytes

Article: 7 Thoughts in the Wake of #GeorgeFloyd (by Shiao Chong)

Webinar: a recent recording on Understanding Racism by Spirit and Truth Fellowship Church in Philadelphia

Upcoming Events

Antiracism Virtual Workshop - CORR event - Aug. 6,7,13,14 (9am-1pm)

Workshop - RACISM: Looking Back. Moving Forward - Sep. 26 for the Board of Directors of South West Chicago Christian School

Workshop - The Blanket Exercise - Sept. 17th, Grand Rapids, MI (time TBA)

Antiracism Virtual Workshop - CORR event Sept. 25,26 (8:30am-5pm)

All Nations Heritage Week - October 4-10 Worldwide

Antiracism Virtual Workshop - CORR event - Oct. 7,14,21,28 (6-9pm)

COD dialogue on antiracism (week of October 12)

Workshop - RACISM: Looking Back. Moving Forward - Oct. 15-16 Grand Rapids, MI (time TBA)

Let’s Do It Together

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Race Relations News is brought to you by Race Relations, a ministry of the Christian Reformed Church.

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