Join Us for Conversations on Race this Fall

Christ Church’s Racially Aware Group of Episcopalians is pleased to announce our fall programming line-up, which aims to help our congregation fulfill our baptismal promises to seek and serve Christ in all persons, strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. Join us as we Educate, Pray, and Act to end racism in all its forms. All parishioners are welcome! Please mark your calendars for these events:

· On Tuesday, September 21, 7:30p.m. – 8:30p.m., we will explore our own inherent biases. We ask those joining the conversation to take about 20 minutes to complete the Race Task Implicit Bias survey in advance, at https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html. Please note your results to keep in mind for Tuesday’s discussion. Zoom details to follow.

· On Saturday, September 25, 12:00p.m., we will install our parish’s “Reject Racism” signage on campus, to let all in our community know our stance in the ongoing fight against racism and systemic oppression. Father Manny will lead a short prayer service to commemorate the installation of the sign and our commitment.

· On Tuesday, October 5, 7:30p.m. – 8:45p.m., we will reflect on lessons from the popular podcast series, NPR’s Code Switch. Code Switch presents “…fearless conversations about race that you've been waiting for. Hosted by journalists of color, [it] tackles the subject of race with empathy and humor [and explores] how race affects every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, food and everything in between.” Zoom details to follow.

· On Tuesday, October 19 and Tuesday, November 2, 7:30p.m. – 8:30p.m., we will explore the local historical perspective on racism in our own community and identify specific actions we can take to help build up communities in Howard County whose lives have been impacted by our history with slavery, oppression, and systemic racism. Zoom details to follow.

· On Saturday, October 30, 9:30a.m. – 2:30p.m., we are invited to join members of St. John’s in Ellicott City in “Becoming Beloved Community: Witnessing and Sharing Sacred Stories and Histories of ‘Race’” (part of the John L. Rabb Lectures in Cotemporary Theology). The event will be led by guest-lecturer Katrina Browne, Director/Producer of the Emmy-nominated documentary Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North. Cost is $30, which includes a light breakfast/lunch. More details/information on registration will be forthcoming.

· On Tuesday, November 16, 7:30p.m. – 8:45p.m., we will reflect on lessons from the podcast The Crib, with Boston College sociology professor, Dr. C. Shawn McGuffey, expert on intersectionality in race, gender, sexuality and social class. Details to follow.

We hope you will join us in demonstrating God’s love through our day-to-day work to dismantle the persisting sins of systemic racism and white privilege in our world. If you have questions about this ministry, feel free to contact ministry leaders Duane Smith and Lexi Couch, or Deacon Denise.