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Clear the Way

January 24, 2006

By pwrdf

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Canadian Churches’ Racial Justice Week March 19 – 26, 2006

Hanta Yo
God of surprises,
You call us
From the narrowness of our traditions
To new ways of being church
From the captivities of our culture to
Creative witness for justice
From the smallness of our horizons
To the bigness of your vision
Clear the way in us, your people,
That we might call others to freedom
and renewed faith.
(Hanta Yo means “Clear the way” in the Lakota language of the North American Plains) drawn from the resource kit worship service

Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network

The Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network (CEARN) has produced a resource kit to assist church members to explore issues and experiences of racism in the church as a way to mark Canadian Churches’ RACIAL JUSTICE WEEK 2006 March 19 – 26, 2006.
This network is an expression of Canadian churches working together to support anti-racism programs and educators who are working in member churches, sharing resources and learning among anti-racism educators, and supporting long-term change in Canadian churches and church organizations. Cheryl Curtis,  our Executive Director, represents PWRDF on the CEARN Steering Committee. The network is housed in the Canadian Council of Churches.

New Resource Kit

The Resource Kit includes:

  • Story, sermon notes
  • Worship resources
  • Bible study
  • Song suggestions
  • Workshop: “Reflections on racism in my church”
  • Young Adult workshop
  • Further Resources for ongoing anti-racism learning

The contributors to this resource kit come from a variety of traditions. Each of them has worked from the heart, offering the best of what they know now of the topic at hand. The Steering Committee has emphasized the learning journey of this work and is eager to receive feedback on this project. The kit also includes an evaluation form for this purpose.
Download the Resource Kit (pdf version)

What is Racism?

Racism: A system of advantage and privilege based on “race’ in
which one group of people exercise abusive power over others on
the basis of skin colour and racial heritage. A set of implicit or
explicit beliefs, erroneous assumptions and actions based upon an
ideology which accords inherent superiority of one racial or ethnic
group over another or others. Racism is measured not by intent, but
by its effect on those oppressed. Racism can be overt or covert,
individual or systemic, intentional or unintentional. Racism confers
privilege on and sustains the dominant/powerful group. Racism exists everywhere in our society, all institutions, and in our church.

Racism is deep, deep in the ways of the world, always to the advantage of the privileged — and many Canadian congregations,in world-wide terms, are privileged. The protection of privilege runs so deep that we find ourselves helpless to change what racism has wrought in ourselves and in our society and in our churches — helpless to change– unless we look steadfastly at what has poisoned us, and let ourselves be truly transformed.
– Dr. Janet Somerville

Further Information

Week for Racial Justice Flyer in French (pdf version)
March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial DiscriminationPWRDF Culture of Inclusion Policy (pdf version)

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For media requests please contact Communications Coordinator Janice Biehn at (416) 924-9199;366.

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