Journey Toward Racial Justice Work Sets Foundation

“The sin of racism must die; our African American brothers and sisters in particular need to hear that the responsibility for its demise is not in their hands alone. We all have a role and a responsibility in removing it from our society forever.”

–An excerpt from the letter signed by Bishop Michael McKee, the Appointive and Extended Cabinet, and the Journey Toward Racial Justice Coordinating Team in response to the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breona Taylor, and the discrimination experienced by Christian Cooper

 

At Covenant Day in January of this year, Bishop Michael McKee cast a vision for a new initiative, the “Journey Toward Racial Justice.” This work will center on three particular focus areas:

• Vital Conversations, which call us to engage one another in conversations about racism, cultural diversity and institutional injustice in ways that are candid, respectful, holy and transformational.
• Intercultural Competence, which calls us to cultivate leaders with the skills and awareness to make disciples across cultures so that the North Texas Conference will be more diverse and better reflect our mission field.
• Institutional Equity, which calls us to build systems, policies and processes in the North Texas Conference that level the playing field for all people.

We are excited to announce that the work of the JTRJ has officially begun. This work is being driven by two teams, the Lead Coordinating Team and the Supporting Advisory Team. The JTRJ has drafted and approved its own constitution made up of the following founding statements:

Mission Statement: to create disciples of Jesus Christ who are courageously anti-racist in a broken and hurting world.

Vision Statement: to end active and passive racism and create an equitable future for all people in the North Texas Conference and the communities we serve.

Foundation Scripture: Romans 12:2 (NRSV) – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

JTRJ Activity Matrix: we will fulfill our mission and achieve our vision by coordinating our activities and energies through our activity matrix. The activity matrix creates simple pathways for engaging systems and people groups through our three overarching portals/strategies.    

We will work to impact the systems and people groups:

• Annual Conference
• Bishop and Cabinet
• Districts
• Clergy
• Laity 
• Greater Community  

You will see and hear regular updates about the work of the JTRJ as they execute the plans and strategies that will enable them to fulfill their vision of ending active and passive racism and create an equitable future for all people in the North Texas Conference and the communities we serve.

Coordinating Team	Advisory Team
Rev. Andy Lewis, Assistant to the Bishop	Jurrita Williams Louie
Rev. Edlen Cowley, Chair	Rev. Andrew Fiser
Rev. Silvia Wang, Vice Chair	Rev. Cammy Gaston
Rev. April Bristow	Rev. Emma Williams
Cynthia Dooley	Rev. Richie Butler
Rev. Allison Jean, Secretary	Rev. S Dianna Masters
Rev. Joshua Manning	Fred Marsh
	Rev. Doris Smith
	Rosedanny Ortiz
	Rev. Rosalyn Hilburn
	Rev. Peter McNabb
	Rev. Wally Butts
	Rev. Levy Laguardia
	Rev. Kenneth Park
	Sharon Spratt

Published: Monday, July 6, 2020