Next Steps in Our Conversations About Racial Justice and Reconciliation
Friends,
On Monday we held a City Church Forum entitled “In Richmond as it is in Heaven.” If you weren’t able to join us, you can watch it here.
Our intention was to offer an entry-point for introspection and engagement surrounding the longstanding complex of issues highlighted by the ongoing demonstrations about racial injustice in our city and nation.
We didn’t do this because it is trendy or because we want to seem relevant. We did this because we believe that the vocation of the church is to worship God by living “on earth as it is in heaven.” The ethical life of the church is to reflect the ethical realities of the Kingdom of God that was inaugurated by the person and work of Jesus and will be consummated upon his return through his eternal reign as our good and perfect King.
In short, this means that our church must be continually concerned with justice as an act of loving our neighbors and pointing them to the God who is justice’s ultimate source, definition, and agent.
Erik ended our time together by reminding us that sanctification is as much corporate as it is individual. This is especially true for the pursuit of justice. In light of that, I want you to invite you to join us in a few next steps.
This summer we will facilitate a book discussion group using Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism by Drew G.I. Hart. You can find more details and register here.
On Saturday, August 15th we will visit Church Hill North, a development that’s part of the Creighton Court revitalization.
In Erik’s pastoral letter on behalf of the session, he reiterated our commitment to pray for justice and peace in our city. One opportunity to do this is to join us for a day of prayer this upcoming Friday to celebrate Juneteenth. Another way to do this is to join us for our regular morning prayer time on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 6:30am in the church office.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact myself or any of the church leadership or staff.
Best,
Harrison
Additional Resources
Report of the PCA Ad-Interim Study Committee on Racial Reconciliation - In 2018 our denomination adopted a study committee report that provides a succint Biblical Theology of racial reconciliation and helpful suggestions as to how our churches can become reconciling communities. City Church has sought to follow these suggestions since their adoption.
The Color of Compromise - A video series on Amazon Prime that accompanies Jemar Tisby's book about the history of the American church's complicity in racial injustice.
The Antiracism Starter Kit - Mentioned in the forum by Ross Catrow, this describes the stages of becoming antiracist.