The Anti-Racism Commission's monthly newsletter goes out to all ARC supporters and training participants. Please forward it to others who might benefit from our resources and workshops. And check out our blog site for past articles, training information and ongoing resources.

Photo: Clinician Carrie Lessene, Artistic Director, Intermezzo Choir Ministry, Philadelphia, at the Singing the African American Spirituals with Integrity workshop at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, Philadelphia, in March 2023.

Singing the African American Spirituals with Integrity

Sat. Oct. 5, 2024 from 2 to 5 pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

654 N Easton Rd, Glenside

Tickets: $20. Scholarships are available. Email arc@diopa.org.

This will be an in-person workshop and open to all.

Video-recorded, but not live-streamed.

Featured clinicians:

Dr. Jay Fluellen, Organist/Choir Director, African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, Philadelphia

Carrie Lessene, Artistic Director, Intermezzo Choir Ministry, Philadelphia

Jarrett Roseborough, Director, Pine Forge Academy Choir

Dr. Thomas Lloyd, Canon for Music and the Arts, Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral

Closing worship led by:

The Rev. Barbara Ballenger, Rector, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Glenside, and Co-chair, Anti-Racism Commission

Homilist:

The Rev. Toneh Smyth, Canon for Mission, The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

Guest musicians:

The Marian Anderson Historical Society Chorus - Jay Fluellen, Director

Sat. Oct. 26, 2024 from 9 am to 12 pm on Zoom

Fee: $20. Scholarships are available, especially for postulants and candidates for ordination. Email arc@diopa.org.

This training will challenge us to think about the ways in which we can be actively accountable for identifying, resisting, and responding to the racism that shows up in our lives and the institutions in which we participate. We will explore various ways to act, resist and transform systemic racism to create anti-racist environments. The 2025 Anti-Racism Training Schedule is available now on our blogsite.

The Anti-Racism Commission's anti-racism training series is facilitated by Lailah Dunbar-Keeys and designed to help participants understand the historic creation, preservation, and personal and institutional effects of a society built upon ideas of racial difference, which in turn support an unjust, racially based hierarchy.

Anti-racism trainings are mandatory for clergy and open to all. Completion of all 5 trainings over 2 years meets the initial clergy requirement for anti-racism education. Email arc@diopa.org to obtain a certificate of completion. For more information, questions or concerns, please email arc@diopa.org.

Download, print, and share this flyer with anyone you think would be interested in anti-racism training.

ARC Recommends: Barracoon

Co-written by Ernie Dixon, Commission Member, and Messapotamia Lefae

Ernie Dixon self-identifies as Black or African American and has been an Anti-Racism Commission member since May 2023.

I was deeply moved by a sermon by ARC Co-chair and Rector of St. Peter’s Glenside, The Rev. Barb Ballenger, who said that racism is one of the greatest sins of mankind. God is Love. Racism is hatred and hating oneself. I’m inspired to do what I can to combat racism and seek out ways to eliminate racism. The church has a big role in this journey. The Anti-Racism Commission brings together culturally-competent and motivated individuals working towards eliminating racism. The Adult Formation Book Group (Book Group) and other ministries, programs and collectives (such as Playback Theatre) provide a safe space to share experiences and explore racial understanding and repair. By sharing my stories with other Book Group members, I hope they understand the impact of racism on me, my family and other people like me. In turn, I strive to appreciate how others view racism and how racism impacts them.

In 2021, my wife and I joined the Book Group at Trinity Episcopal Church Ambler. Book Group meets every Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 pm on Zoom. Through Book Group, I learned more about racism, and had an opportunity to talk with my peers about racism. The Book Group provides opportunities for me to “kick open the door” and ask fellow Book Group members questions that I can not answer as a Black person. For example, do White people say things about Black people when they are in a room containing only White people? I found a community with whom I can have meaningful conversations about race and racism. I have many conservative friends and coworkers that avoid conversations about race or racist behavior. Members in the Book Group gave me suggestions on how to engage my friends and co-workers in these difficult conversations. The Book Group offers a safe space for all to engage in challenging conversations about race and racism. I trust all the members of the Book Group to listen with an open heart and mind, and to provide honest, constructive feedback. In turn, I strive to do the same so that we learn from each other. It is refreshing when my fellow Book Club members listen and reflect back what they heard, validate each other’s feelings, and even offer support. We tell stories of personal events that demonstrate injustices where we were the offender or where we were the recipient of injustices. At times, one of us may say something that we didn’t mean to say out loud. No problem; we treat this as a learning experience on the journey to end racism. We’re very lucky to have one another for intentional conversations to better understand and learn how to combat racism.

At the time of its formation in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, all the members of the Book Group were White. The majority of parishioners at Trinity Ambler were White and many may not understand systemic racism. Now, there are 11 members with diversity in sex, race, and employment/retirement: 8 women, 4 men, 3 Black, 4 White, 9 retired. The diversity in the group supports our ministry. As Book Group members shared stories about their personal experiences concerning racism, these stories resonated with other people’s stories about discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community, Indigenous People, women and others. Making these connections helped us to understand how hatred works, hatred’s hand in racism, and how to have empathy for communities who are hated.

Several Book Group members have multi-racial families (i.e. in-laws, children, grandchildren). Through these relationships, we can see discrimination within our families. We also gain a direct appreciation of how racism impacts our loved ones. We also come from different regions of the country. Several members were reared in the South (Virginia, Alabama, Georgia) while others were reared in the Northeast. The Book Group allows a safe space to discuss disagreements and different viewpoints within our respective families and how our environment influences the way we see and experience racism today. I learned, but was not surprised, that several Book Group members have had very little interaction with People of Color. One member shared that her interaction with a Black person during her childhood was limited to the houseworker. While another member shared that she had no interaction with Black people through her college years and beyond. These are tough conversations, and I really appreciate the courage of these members to tell their stories. We agree that interaction with people that differ from you is vital to understanding. This interaction must be beyond a business or casual relationship. We must get proximate to others. Although our experiences may differ, we are all committed to learning about racism and ending racism.

When my wife and I joined the Book Group, we were the only People of Color in the group. I think the other members saw this as an opportunity to talk directly to People of Color about race. It’s not that my wife and I represent every Black person in the country, but as a focus group, each member provided a sampling of their experiences and opinions. One member was impressed by the resilience Black people have in the face of racism. She noted that despite the atrocities that Black people endured, and continue to endure, it is remarkable that they can still exist and strive. Her statement impressed me and shows empathy and love.

I shared a story with the Book Group recently. I was riding a bike north of Phoenixville with a group of 5 guys, who happened to be White. Due to construction on the bike trail, we had to go off the path and cut through private property. I was reluctant given that we were in a remote location, however the other guys didn’t hesitate for a moment. Without a working understanding of the trauma caused by systemic racism (such as sundown towns and lynching), it’s hard for some people to relate to the fear. As I shared a bit of my story with the Book Group, I explained that these threatening situations are common to people like me.

Unlike many White people that I know, members of Book Group have progressed past guilt and apology, a place where many White people tend to get stuck. They are more interested in improved understanding and closing the distance between us. As I told my story, I could feel Book Group’s receptiveness and support.

Book Group recently read Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston. (A barracoon is a small, closely-guarded barracks historically used to confine slaves or convicts for a limited period of time.) Barracoon is about the last African brought into the US as a slave, Cudjo Lewis. Hurston wrote this book in the 1930s. She interviewed the person and chronicled his story in his own words. He told his story from the time he was brought over on the slave ship until he was no longer a slave. This first-hand account personalized the challenges that slaves had to face coming into the country and the things they went through that most people haven’t heard about. Barracoon is a challenging read for anyone. The first-person biographical storytelling made it possible for everyone to see what he saw and feel what he felt. Reading Barracoon and other books that highlight US history (emphasizing African American history) and racial injustice provides the Book Group a basis for discussing racism. 

From our weekly meetings, I have made personal commitments to take actions towards improving race relations at work and with my family and friends. The journey continues with my Book Group family by my side.

Email arc@diopa.org and let us know what resources would help you in your anti-racism work. Visit our blog The ARC for more anti-racism resources.

Join the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice

The Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice is a voluntary association of Episcopal dioceses, parishes, organizations, and individuals dedicated to the work of becoming the beloved community. All groups and individuals at every level of the church who faithfully engage in the work of truth-telling, reckoning, and healing for racial equity, justice, and the dismantling of White supremacy are invited to join the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice by completing an online questionnaire and signing on. Learn more.

Commitment to Racial Reconciliation at General Convention

At the 81st General Convention in Louisville, KY, numerous resolutions that address a wide range of racial justice and reconciliation issues received approval from both houses and passed. Learn more.

Download, print, and share this flyer with anyone you think would be interested in ARC's virtual anti-racism training and racial healing circles, and in-person workshops like Singing the African American Spirituals with Integrity or ARC's playback theatre workshop series Telling Our Stories.

The Anti-Racism Commission was created by diocesan convention resolution in 2005 with the mandate “to affect the systemic and institutional transformation in the diocese away from the sin of racism and toward the fulfillment of the Gospel and the baptismal mandate to strive for justice and respect the dignity of all persons.” Consisting of 12 members, a mix of clergy and lay and persons of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, the commission aims to increase awareness of the history and legacy of racism in our country and to engage members of the diocese in dismantling its effects. To learn more about how ARC can help your parish engage in the work of racial justice and repair, contact The Rev. Barbara Ballenger (barbballenger@gmail.com) or The Rev. Ernie Galaz (frernie@christchurchmedia.org), ARC co-chairs.