Pro-Reconciliation/ Anti-Racism
Keep up with the Ohio Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Commission
on Facebook and join the conversation.
If you have questions or would like more information please contact the
Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Commission Chairs
Thomas Barnes and Heather Schimmel at reconciliation@ccinoh.org.
PRO-RECONCILIATION/ ANTI-RACISM AWARENESS CONVERSATION
March 25th ~ 9:00am – 4:00pm
at Camp Christian, 10335 Maple Dell Rd., Marysville, OH 43040
Click HERE to register online now!
This workshop is designed for new and current ministers wishing to gain or maintain standing with the Christian Church in Ohio. United Church of Christ and other Ministers are also welcome to attend for their denominational requirements.
This workshop is also opened to any lay person wanting to be apart of this conversation.
Attendees will gather for a day of conversation to help raise awareness about Pro Reconciliation and Anti-Racism and how each of us can effect change. We will discuss various aspects and experiences of Racism and provide a safe place to start conversations in hopes of moving each of us forward in our Pro- Reconciliation and Anti-Racism Ministry commitment.
For more information about the annual Reconciliation Offering, click on the image below:
The Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Commission, in its ongoing work to fight racism and promote reconciliation, is reestablishing grant funding for churches and church related organizations in Ohio. These grants will be in the range of $1,000 to $5,000 and are intended to help initiate new and/or existing fund projects that target racism/bigotry or help to move organizations toward an anti-racism identity.
Grants will be awarded for one-year projects. Grants may be submitted at any time and are evaluated twice a year. Typically each congregation or organization is eligible for funding once in any 12-month period.
Mission Statement
The Anti-Racism / Pro-Reconciliation Commission is a ministry of the Christian Church in Ohio, a covenant network of congregations in mission. As an integral part of that covenantal network the mission of the Anti-Racism / Pro-Reconciliation Commission is to work to transform both the regional manifestation of the Christian Church in Ohio and its congregations into anti-racist organizations.
This commission will work to accomplish this mission through three initiatives:
- Examining and restructuring the Regional Board, Ministries, and Committees to become intentionally anti-racist.
- Continuing and expanding anti-racism training for all clergy, the Regional Board, regional staff, all commission and committee members, and other key lay leaders in congregations.
- Training and supporting congregations and congregational teams as they work to transform themselves into anti-racist organizations.
In addition the commission will hold itself and its individual members accountable both for the work that must be done and for serving as a model of an anti-racist organization for the region and beyond.
The purpose of this work is that the following vision and goals can one day become a reality:
Vision
The Christian Church in Ohio is a gospel-centered anti-racist community of faith where the gifts of its diverse people are welcomed, encouraged and celebrated. It is accountable to people of color. Positive transformation is institutionalized in our regional structure. Congregations are building reconciled relationships that are intentional about sharing power.
Goals: The Christian Church in Ohio and its congregations will meet the following goals in order to claim an anti-racist identity:
-
Analyzing: will have developed an analysis of systemic racism in the region and have obtained ownership of this analysis
-
Training: all clergy, the Regional Board, regional staff, all commission and committee members, and other key lay leaders in congregations will have participated in the one-day anti-racism training
-
Leadership Development: will have expanded the leadership on the Anti-Racism Team, all of whom have participated in the anti-racism analysis (Phase 1-3).
-
Deepening spiritual roots: will have a growing understanding that living the gospel message of Jesus Christ means claiming and embracing an anti-racist identity
-
Creating a community and culture of openness and trust: will have developed means of communication across institutionalized racial lines, especially helping white people to listen to and learn from people of color, thereby developing the ability to follow their leadership
-
Structuring accountability: the Anti-Racism Team will be a standing committee. The Anti-Racism Team will be accountable to and report to the Regional Board, the Regional Assembly, and communities of color
-
Institutionalizing financial support: the standing committee will have a line item in the regional budget
-
The region will be ready to commit to a process of intentional, institutional restructuring based upon anti-racist analysis and identity.
