Page 9 - PC Fall 2023

presbyterian.ca
FALL 2023
Confession Regarding Racism within the PCC
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN
9
By PCC national office staff
The 2023 General Assembly adopted a confession before God, fellow siblings in Christ and in the community of the church, con- fessing the harm caused by rac- ism in The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Originally prepared by the Special Committee re. Listen- ing, Confession and Association, the confession was named as part of a process in the continuing conversion of the church into the community of Christ which the church is called to be. Members of the denomination are encour- aged to work individually and as congregations and courts of the church to live out this confession so that harm caused by racism does not continue.
The confession is addressed to God and also to each other in the presence of the whole church. It acknowledges sin the church has committed, which runs contrary to God’s desire. God desires that people live with and treat each other with love and care, but rac- ism is a denial of the love God desires for all people. This con- fession then calls the church to confess racial bias; turn from the sins of racism, cultural arrogance and spurning the Spirit; seek for- giveness from God and those who have been harmed; and turn from harm to empathy.
Through the repor t of the Spe- cial Committee re. Listening, Confession and Association, the Assembly received information about how the Special Committee continued, through 2022 and into 2023, to listen to stories from both those who had been welcomed by the church and those who had not been welcomed. Resources to assist in learning about actions the church has taken to address racism, as well as resources the church has created to learn more can also be found on the Anti- RacismwebpageofthePCC’sSo- cial Action Hub at presbyterian.ca/ justice/social-action/anti-racism.
The full confession was read during the Assembly. Additionally, a recommendation was adopted that the General Assembly Office coordinate a service of repent- ance to be held before the end of 2023 at which the confession can be presented in the context
of worship with members of the multi-racial community of the PCC present. Presbyteries were encouraged to coordinate ser- vices of repentance within their bounds in which the Confession can be presented in the context of worship. The Life and Mission Agency was also directed by the Assembly to provide documents to accompany the Confession, in order to deepen the church’s understanding of the concept of race and the role its members share in the important work of anti-racism.
The full text of the Confession
Reading and responding to this confession cannot be done with an unredeemed heart, still filled with prejudice, judgement and self-righteousness. To read and understand this document is go- ing to require a transformed ver- sion of ourselves, cleansed and renewed by Jesus Christ. Racism is deeply rooted in Canadian cul- ture. That racism has infected the church in Canada, including The Presbyterian Church in Canada, its congregations and people. Racism is to regard our own race as superior to other races, leading to actions and attitudes of prejudice, discrimination or antagonism against a person or people on the basis of their mem- bership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized. These minority and marginalized com- munities become racialized by the majority or dominant group who judge those they have racialized through particular pre-determined criteria. Colonialism, rooted again in the assumption that one’s race and culture is superior to others, gave permission to the colonizers to subvert the colo- nized peoples, denigrating their views, experiences, and expres- sions of worship. While the church has said it rejects racism and colonialism, the tendrils run deep and the church desires to be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. This confession is not the final word, but rather is part of a process in the continuing conver- sion of the church into the com- munity who bears witness to the Lamb and to the one who sits on
the throne of heaven, the Triune God of grace.
Before God, our fellow siblings in Christ, and in the community of the church,
We confess we have not been the church we have been called to be,
for we have failed to live into your desire “to unite all people in Jesus Christ” (Living Faith 7.1.2).
In our cultural blindness we have judged people by the colour of their skin instead of recognizing them as a fellow child of God. We have not humbly listened to those of other races and cultures, in our pride assuming the supremacy of our race and culture. We have been shaped by the racist values of the dominant culture, rather than being transformed by the gospel vision of persons “from all nations, tribes and peoples and languages” gathered in praise and worship of the Triune God of grace. (Revelation 7:9)
We confess our racial bias.
We turn from our sin of rac- ism and seek to live into your vision.
In our ministry we have not em-
braced the spiritual gifts brought to The Presbyterian Church in Canada by persons “from all na- tions, tribes and peoples and lan- guages,” instead we have acted as gatekeepers of the gifts of Spirit. In our arrogance we have elevated persons of the dominant culture, overlooking those of oth- er races, languages and cultures. Our words and actions have told people of some other races that despite their spiritual gifts and their qualifications they can serve the church in some tasks, but that they are “not good enough” to re- ally belong, “not good enough” to be allowed to lead. We have treated some congregations of the Christian community as out- siders, as tenants, marginalizing them, rather than recognizing them as members together with us in the body of Christ.
We confess our racial bias.
We turn from our sin of spurn- ing the Spirit and seek to live into your vision.
In our Assemblies, synods, and
presbyteries we are consumed by doing the business of the church, rather than living out the gospel’s call, such as showing
hospitality to the outsider, offering sympathy and empathy to the al- ienated among us and protecting the stranger. We have placed our culture’s way of decision mak- ing above the patterns used by other cultures represented in our congregations. In the process we have blocked the full flourishing of people of every tribe and lan- guage and race within the life of the church.
We confess our racial bias.
We turn from our sin of cultural arrogance and seek to live into your vision.
May the Holy Spirit transform
us. Holy Spirit, move us beyond the limitations of accommodation and co-existence into the won- der of engagement and empathy. Teach us to die to our sin of rac- ism, so that with the people of eve- ry ethnicity and language we can be drawn beyond the divisions of race into the reign of Jesus Christ.
Then together with the great multitude that is beyond number, we shall sing, “Blessing and glo- ry and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to God forever and ever.” (Revelation 7:12)
THE PRESBYTERY OF CALGARY-MACLEOD IS SEARCHING FOR A GENERAL PRESBYTER
This part-time position will act as a support and resource to the 14 congregations in the presbytery, will respond to emergent situations with the support of presbytery committees, and will encourage stronger relationships among the leaders within the presbytery. The ideal candidate may be clergy, ruling elder or layperson, will have a university degree relevant to the skills needed, a strong faith, and a sense of pastoral care.
Learn more at presbyterian.ca/calgary-presbyter Interested candidates should contact Sandra Cameron Evans at sandracameronevans@gmail.com