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Racial Justice
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Awakening to
Racial Justice

Becoming Beloved Community is the Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice.
 
Becoming Beloved Community represents not so much a set of programs as a journey, a set of interrelated commitments around which Episcopalians may organize our many efforts to respond to racial injustice and grow a community of reconcilers, justice-makers, and healers.
 
We, the Episcopal Church in Delaware, commit ourselves and our resources to do this Holy work with God’s help. We are led by the Racial Justice & Reconciliation Commission. Meet the commission.

Mission

The mission of the Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission is to be the catalyst that ensures the Episcopal Church in Delaware achieves diversity, equity, and inclusion by advancing racial justice, healing, and reconciliation.

Vision

The Episcopal Church in Delaware will be known for its commitment to racial justice as an essential component of becoming Beloved Community.

Education series

Racism in America — The History We Didn't Learn in School

6-part course, Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., via Zoom

  • April 18
  • April 25
  • May 2
  • May 9
  • May 16
  • May 23
Registration

Understanding the often untold breadth and depth of our country’s history brings greater clarity to the issues we face – political, social, economic – and offers insight into the actions needed to keep the ongoing consequences from harming us all.

The commission is partnering with YWCA Delaware and Westminster Presbyterian Church to offer this not to be missed course. 

Racial justice videos:

Bishop Kevin S. Brown shares his experience after returning from a racial justice pilgrimage to Selma and Montgomery, Alabama
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's opening sermon to General Convention 80
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Sutton's sermon at General Convention 80: "Walls"
A conversation with Robin DiAngelo
Amanda Gorman — The Hill We Climb
Desmond Tutu visits Wilmington
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Articles written exclusively for the Episcopal Church in Delaware:

Information and Resources

  • Profound Unrest
  • Video statement from Bishop Brown
    • Injustice
    • Outrage
    • Inhumanity
    • Time of Pandemic
June 3, 2020
Office of Government Relations
 
 
Siblings: God commands us through Jesus Christ to love one another. In baptism, we promise to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves and to strive for justice and peace, and respect the dignity of every human being. Let us now honor those vows and pray for our nation in this election season, for wise and just leaders, and for the needs of others throughout our country and the world.
 
We pray for continued blessings on all peacemakers, on leaders who value peace, and on everyone who promotes nonviolent solutions to conflict. We pray for a speedy end to all violence and warfare around the world.
 
God of peace and gentleness,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for the strength of heart and mind to look beyond ourselves and address the needs of our siblings throughout the world; for the rural and urban poor; for the rebuilding of our communities; and for an end to the cycles of violence that threaten our future.
 
God of generosity and compassion,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for all nations, that they may live in unity, peace, and concord; and that all people may know justice and enjoy the perfect freedom that only God can give.
 
God of liberty and freedom,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray that the Holy Spirit may embrace the most vulnerable members of our society; we pray also for an end to the growing disparity between the rich and poor; and for the grace and courage to strive for economic justice.
 
God of all gifts and blessings,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for an end to prejudice throughout our country and the world; that we will respect all people as precious children of God; and that racism, sexism, and all other forms of discrimination will be forever banished from our hearts, our society, and our laws.
 
God of fellowship and equality,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for a reverence of creation; that we will have the tools and the will to conserve it; that we will use its bountiful resources in the service of others; and that we will become better stewards of all that has been entrusted to us.
 
God of nature and the universe,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for all immigrants, refugees, and pilgrims from around the world, that they may be welcomed in our midst and be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.
 
God of outcasts and wanderers,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for the sick, the aged and the infirm; for those with physical or mental disabilities; that all may have access to proper health care; and that God’s loving embrace may be felt by all who suffer.
 
God of comfort and healing,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for all prisoners and captives; that a spirit of forgiveness may replace vengeance and retribution; and that we, with all the destitute, lonely, and oppressed, may be restored to the fullness of God’s grace.
 
God of absolution and mercy,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for all children and families, and particularly for the orphaned, neglected, abused, and those who live in fear of violence or disease; that they may be relieved and protected.
 
God of children and families,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for the reconciliation of all people, and for the Church throughout the world, that it may be an instrument of your healing love.
 
God of outreach and restoration,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for all who have died as a result of violence, war, disease or famine, especially those who died because of human blindness, neglect, or hardness of heart.
 
God of eternal life and resurrecting love,
Hear our prayer.
 
Almighty God, you have promised to hear what we ask in the name of your Son. Watch over our country now and in the days ahead, guide our leaders and all who will vote, guide them in all knowledge and truth and make your ways known among all people. In the passion of debate give them a quiet spirit; in the complexities of the issues give them courageous hearts. Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
AMEN.
  • Website includes statement of solidarity, mission, videos, and a virtual resource center

Preaching Black Lives (Matter)

  • Preaching Black Lives (Matter) is an anthology that asks, “What does it mean to be church where Black lives matter?”

Racial Justice & Reconciliation

  • From the Episcopal News Service.
  • Episcopal Church Releases Racial Justice Audit of Leaders
    The report offers insights into race and power in the church. After two years and more than 1,300 surveys, the ground-breaking Racial Justice Audit of Episcopal Leadership is now available to the wider church and public. The audit identifies nine “patterns” of systemic racism – ranging from the historical context of church leadership to current power dynamics — that will also be highlighted in three public webinars in May and June. More information in English and Spanish here
  • Becoming Beloved Community – complete document
  • Becoming Beloved Community grants available for local and regional efforts Applications due April 12, 2021 The Presiding Officers’ Advisory Group on Beloved Community Implementation is pleased to announce the availability of grants to catalyze the church’s work of racial healing, reconciliation and justice. Allocated by the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, the intent for this funding is to build capacity and increase Episcopal engagement in four primary fields: telling the truth about our churches and race, proclaiming the dream of Beloved Community, practicing Jesus’ way of healing and reconciliation, and repairing the breach in institutions and society. Read more (In English and Spanish): http://iam.ec/pa2021BBCGrants
  • Sacred Ground: A Film-Based Dialogue Series on Race & Faith
  • Read Presiding Bishop Curry’s Word to the Church: When the Cameras are Gone, We Will Still Be Here
  • Responding to Racist Violence as the People of God
  • Episcopal Peace Fellowship
  • Supports Episcopalians who pursue social justice and seek to dismantle the barriers that separate us from living as one human family.

Seminary Built on Slavery and Jim Crow Labor has Begun Paying Reparations

One night in 1858, Carter Dowling, an enslaved Black man forced to work without pay at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Northern Virginia, made the brave decision to escape.

He made it to Philadelphia, where he met the famed abolitionist William Still. He then continued north to Canada and, after the Civil War, returned to Washington, D.C., where he was able to open a bank account for his children. He eventually went on to work as a labor organizer in Buffalo.

To this day, Mr. Dowling’s family line continues. And, most likely for one of the first times in American history, his descendants could receive cash payments for his forced labor.

Read entire article here.

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