Our Anti-Racism Work
FPCH is committed to the work of anti-racism. The statement below is offered by our Anti-Racism Team.
The FPCH Anti-Racism Team is deeply committed to fostering a community grounded in justice, equity, and inclusion, rooted in the teachings of Christ and inspired by the Presbyterian Church's Matthew 25 vision and Facing Racism campaign. We recognize that racism, in all its forms, stands in direct opposition to God's vision for humanity. As a faith-driven community, our mission is to actively confront and dismantle systemic racism, both within our congregation and the broader society, ensuring that our actions align with our spiritual commitment to love, justice, and mercy.
We seek to create a transformative environment where ongoing education, reflection, and action against racism are integral to our community life. To support this, we provide a wealth of resources, including a dedicated section in our library, online courses, and the 21-Day Challenge, which encourages members to engage in reading, watching, listening, and reflecting on issues of race and justice. These resources are designed to deepen our understanding, inspire meaningful conversations, and equip our congregation to be agents of change in the fight against racial injustice.
Our team believes that by confronting racism, we are not only upholding the teachings of Christ but also working toward the fulfillment of God's vision for a world where all are treated with dignity and respect. We commit to offering educational opportunities, such as regular book studies and curated content, to foster continuous learning and engagement. Additionally, we are dedicated to developing and maintaining an anti-racism policy that will guide our actions and decisions as a congregation. This mission extends beyond our immediate community as we strive to influence broader societal change. We believe that the church has a crucial role in challenging the structures that perpetuate racial inequality and in advocating for policies that promote justice and equity.
Through our collective efforts, we aim to build a community that reflects the rich diversity of God's creation, where every individual is valued, and where our shared commitment to anti-racism is evident in our actions, our worship, and our witness to the world. Together, we embark on this journey of transformation, understanding that the work of anti-racism is ongoing and requires the active participation of each member of our congregation. We are all in this together, striving to become the best version of our community, united in our pursuit of justice and equality for all.
Through Fall 2023 our Faith Formation Committee led interested congregants in a study of William Yoo’s What Kind of Christianity? This powerful book explores the complicity of the majority of Presbyterians in promoting, supporting, or willfully ignoring the enslavement of other human beings. William Yoo demonstrates that to understand how Presbyterian Christians can promote racial justice today, they must first understand and acknowledge how deeply racial injustice is embedded in their history and identity as a denomination.
This is an important book that everyone should read!