*Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
Becoming an Anti-racist Church
Through the work of our Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches, and the American Baptist Churches, USA, Queen Anne Baptist Church has begun the work of becoming an anti-racist church. This is a work in progress.
Queen Anne Baptist Church has roots among the Swedish and German Baptists in Seattle. The congregation's racial and ethnic makeup has changed over the years and is shifting from being a predominantly Euro-American church to having members and leaders who are Asian, Black, Latinx, and of other racial and ethnic backgrounds.
But we are a work in progress. For our white members, we are engaging in ways of becoming an anti-racist church. It is not enough to say we are not racist. We must work to dismantle the sin of racism in our society and culture, and especially in our church.
Currently, our work involves these areas:
Education: we hold a monthly Book Discussion (or Video Discussion) in which we engage authors of color, mainly Black and Indigenous. Our reading and conversations lead us to action, such as providing our Children's Church resources with images of Jesus other than white, and providing curriculum and books with a variety of cultural representation. Education has also led to changes in our worship service.
Representation: besides our Children's Church materials, we are consciously looking at the art in our building, especially art that depicts Jesus, and looking to support Black artists and Black representations of Jesus. We will be unveiling a new picture of Jesus for our parlor soon.
Support for Black and People of Color Businesses: We are currently ordering takeout meals for our monthly meal support for New Horizons Youth Ministries. We are choosing to support restaurants owned by Black and other People of Color. You can help us with purchasing those meals by clicking on Give and choosing the option for New Horizons.
Worship and Liturgy: we are choosing prayers and liturgy written by Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color to use in our worship service.
We are continually looking to grow in our own understanding of how racism and white supremacy have been perpetuated by the church. We are working to actively engage and dismantle it in our church and society.
Queen Anne Baptist Church has roots among the Swedish and German Baptists in Seattle. The congregation's racial and ethnic makeup has changed over the years and is shifting from being a predominantly Euro-American church to having members and leaders who are Asian, Black, Latinx, and of other racial and ethnic backgrounds.
But we are a work in progress. For our white members, we are engaging in ways of becoming an anti-racist church. It is not enough to say we are not racist. We must work to dismantle the sin of racism in our society and culture, and especially in our church.
Currently, our work involves these areas:
Education: we hold a monthly Book Discussion (or Video Discussion) in which we engage authors of color, mainly Black and Indigenous. Our reading and conversations lead us to action, such as providing our Children's Church resources with images of Jesus other than white, and providing curriculum and books with a variety of cultural representation. Education has also led to changes in our worship service.
Representation: besides our Children's Church materials, we are consciously looking at the art in our building, especially art that depicts Jesus, and looking to support Black artists and Black representations of Jesus. We will be unveiling a new picture of Jesus for our parlor soon.
Support for Black and People of Color Businesses: We are currently ordering takeout meals for our monthly meal support for New Horizons Youth Ministries. We are choosing to support restaurants owned by Black and other People of Color. You can help us with purchasing those meals by clicking on Give and choosing the option for New Horizons.
Worship and Liturgy: we are choosing prayers and liturgy written by Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color to use in our worship service.
We are continually looking to grow in our own understanding of how racism and white supremacy have been perpetuated by the church. We are working to actively engage and dismantle it in our church and society.