INSPIRATION

Inspired by 1 John 3:18, the project is entitled In Deed and Truth: Interrogating Legacies of Which Church in America (IDAT) and is a cohort-style program for historically predominantly white churches at least 50 years old located in the South. The cohort of churches will participate in virtual workshops with faith leaders and subject matter experts to guide them through a process of researching, understanding, and reckoning with their church’s history around issues of race. They will receive guidance and technical assistance from practitioners to engage their congregations in activities designed to ensure the process is a joint effort of the membership. And they will meet parishioners and clergy who have successfully led transformation processes in their own churches and can share promising practices.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Over the course of their participation in the In Deed and Truth project, participants will:

• Understand the biblical basis for truth-seeking, truth-telling, and work toward healing

• Learn the history of their church’s engagement around race and racism

• Develop skills and techniques to improve internal and external communication around issues of history, race, and other challenging topics

• Discern a new path forward in collaboration with church leadership and congregation members

PROJECT STRUCTURE

IDAT is structured as an 18-month, cohort-style program with monthly virtual workshops.  Each participating congregation will establish an IDAT committee of 3-5 people composed of clergy, lay leaders and congregation members to ensure representation of different perspectives. The committee members will attend the monthly workshops and hold the responsibility for taking what they have learned back to the broader congregation through activities built into the curriculum. 

The St. Charles Center for Faith and Action is The St. Charles Center is a neutral gathering place for community members and experts, a resource to the faith communities and faith leaders, and an incubator for ideas and partnerships that impact the region and the world beyond. The center hosts convenings, trainings, and programming around restorative justice and antiracism for community members, clergy, lay leaders, and community organizations.

E Pluribus Unum (EPU) Founded by former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu in 2018, E Pluribus Unum (EPU) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to build a more just, equitable, and inclusive South, uprooting the barriers that have long divided the region by race and class. EPU is focused on changing the divisive narratives that perpetuate systemic and interpersonal racism, cultivating and empowering courageous leaders who are advancing racial equity, and championing transformative policy change.

Module 1: Laying the Foundation

This module focuses on establishing the biblical basis for truth seeking and reconciliation, as well as preparing the participants for engaging in challenging discussions about race. Participants will receive foundational equity learnings to increase their understanding of the context of America’s racial history. They will learn and practice techniques for participating in uncomfortable discussions. And they will hear from leading ministers about how this work is tied to their faith and the scripture. 

Module 2: Understanding Our History

This module focuses on supporting the participants through the process of researching their church history. They will receive tips on where to look for information and how to organize the research process from archivists and church historians familiar with the challenges common to older institutions such as lack of official records, poor recordkeeping, damaged or lost historical documents, etc.  Participants will then connect their church history with the local and national events of the time regarding race and race relations in order to understand how their church engaged with the topic of race and with their community members of different races.

Module 3: Reckoning with the Truth

This module focuses on process what the participants have learned and providing tips and support for dealing with the impact this may have at the individual and congregational level. Advice and tips from experts on emotional health will be presented. As well, participants will hear from leaders and parishioners who have experienced this period of transition and the related challenges. Participants will explore issues such as dissent and tension in the congregation around the project, church members leaving the institution, and community members responding negatively to the church’s transformation work. 

Module 4: The Path Forward: Congregational Discernment of Action

This module focuses on leading participants through a spiritual process to determine what is next for their church. Participants will hear from congregations and faith-based community groups that have gone through transformative processes and incorporated new lenses, approaches, and programming into the way that their church engages internally and with the community. During this time each committee will work with their church membership to identify concrete action steps to move the transformation process forward, articulate goals and milestones for their congregation, and take a clear step toward their next phase. Advisors in planning and project management will support the development of realistic, attainable goals and approaches for successful implementation of their plans.