Committees, Commissions, and Boards: Anti-Racism Commission (ARC)
What is ‘anti-racism‘?
A conscious, intentional, and proactive effort to understand the sin of racism and its ramifications and to work to eradicate it from our own lives, the Church, and society.
Our mission
The Anti-Racism Commission of the Diocese of New Jersey has embraced as its ministry the facilitation and ultimate transformation of this diocese into an anti-racist institution. This is a major undertaking requiring the long-term commitment by the people, the organization and the governing bodies of this Diocese.
We believe that the theological foundation for our work has been articulated in the examples of Jesus Christ our Savior, and in the Book of Common Prayer.
Our 20-Year vision
The Diocese of New Jersey is recognized as a part of the Body of Christ because its congregations joyfully celebrate their anti-racist, multicultural, embodiment of Christ’s love.
The Diocese provides intentional leadership in dismantling racism in the wider community by modeling the sharing of power and mutual respect, among all people, at all levels of diocesan life. Its mission, structures, policies and practices are used to perpetuate an anti-racist identity.
The Diocese’s anti-racist way of living together through its values of justice and equality is seen as a model for change and a sign of hope.
What the Anti-Racism Team can do for your church
We offer congregations a variety of formats that range from a 90-minute orientation to a full-day workshop, which can be customized to meet your congregation’s needs. This training can give new life to a congregation, helping members to live into the baptismal covenant of respecting the dignity of every individual. It opens our eyes to the insidious nature of institutionalized racism, and helps us to see how we are all — white people and people of color — adversely affected by the presence of this evil among us.
The training does NOT seek to inflict guilt or blame. It meets us where we are and helps us to continue this journey together with some common understanding of what we are fighting.
For more information, see the Ministry Institute and the courses and training we offer under its auspices.