Church Stories

The Kenilworth Union Racial Justice Committee came into existence in the summer of 2020, following the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, at the request of the ministers and Board of Trustees.

Our members include Dana and Laura Connell (co-chairs), Bill Evertsberg, Susan Bondurant, Sally Campbell, Michael Holling, Tommy McAtamney, Scott Myers, Diane Rand, and Henry White.

We know that we do not have all the answers. But we know that racism is incompatible with Christian values and Church teaching. As Christians we endeavor to “do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with the Lord our God” —Micah 6:8.

The Racial Justice Committee was founded on the following three guiding principles, all in the spirit of being an educated and welcoming church community:

• Education/Awareness: We are aware that there is a lot to learn about the history and impact of racism. We pledge to bring a variety of education opportunities to our members of all ages to examine and expand our experiences and understandings. We hope this will include unique opportunities within our church. In the spirit of not re-inventing the wheel, we also hope to utilize existing resources and publicize broader educational opportunities for interested members.

• Bridge Building: We are made to live in community with one another. We hope to make connections with our broader community and create the opportunity for more diverse relationships. We also intend to connect and organize with other local churches that have hopes like ours.

• Action/Justice: We respect all members, their perspectives, and levels of interest. For those interested members, we hope to provide ways to put their faith into action in a positive way. We recognize that change will not come over night, but we believe in the possibility of change.

Please reach out to any of our members with ideas. Thank you for your support.

Posted on October 1, 2020