Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: Antiracism Training Manual Dedication
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Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: The Antiracism Training Manual of the Episcopal Church Diversity, Social, and Environmental Ministries Team Mission Department of the Episcopal Church Center 2011 ii Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: Antiracism Training Manual Dedication This manual is dedicated to all who work for justice and all who seek the truth: Especially to the Chairpersons and Members of the Executive Council Committee on Antiracism Training, Diocesan antiracism committees and commissions; Provincial Coordinators; Certified Antiracism Trainers; Altonia B. Lynch Support Staff Person Extraordinaire Tireless Worker Friend; and The Rev. Jayne Jones Oasin, Officer for Antiracism and Gender Equality (2001-2009) for her dedication to these ministries and the predominate role she took in preparing this document. Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: Antiracism Training Manual iii iv Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: Antiracism Training Manual nnn Table of Contents Preface to the 4th Edition, by the Rev. Jayne Jones Oasin . 1 Introduction . 3 Introduction to this Manual and the Training Methodology . 5 Getting Organized to Eliminate Racism . 7 Standards for Compliance with the General Convention Resolutions . 11 Notes for Trainers Common Mistakes Made by New Trainers . 15 Training Protocol . 16 Core Concepts . 22 Prayers Call to Worship . 35 A Creed of Affirmation . 36 Prayers . 37 Praying the Baptismal Covenant . 61 Trainer Worksheets 1. History of the Antiracism Commitment of the Episcopal Church . 65 2. Hopes and Concerns Instruction . 69 3. Personal Inventory Questions . 71 4. Definitions Activity . 75 5. Two Power Questions . 77 6. Power Activities . 79 7. Donor Center: Instructions and Debriefing . 83 8. Social Class in America . 85 9. Presenting the Definition(s) of “Race” . 87 10. Race to the Wall . 91 Participant Worksheets A. Ground Rules . 95 B. Guidelines for Dialogue vs. Debate . 97 C. Questions to Ask Myself if I am Having Trouble Staying with Dialogue . 99 D. Some Dialogue Definitions . 101 E. Stereotype Exercise . 103 F. Thoughts About Power . 105 G. Sources of Power . 107 Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: Antiracism Training Manual v H. Power / Power Assessment . 109 I. Donor Center: St. Ethics Hospital Memo . 111 J. Some Privileges of Racial Power . 113 K. Internalized Oppression . 115 L. Definitions of Racism / Forms of Racism . 117 M. The Power of Racism . 119 N. An Antiracist Transformation Continuum for Organizations . 121 O. Assessing Your Congregation’s Current Place on the Continuum . 123 P. Indications of Institutional Racism . 125 Q. Institutional Levels for Analysis / Institutional Assessment . 127 R. Characteristics of Multiracial Community Assessment . 129 S. It Wasn’t About Race. …Or Was It? . 131 T. The Co-op . 135 U. The Church Historian . 137 V. Culture Tree . 139 Participant Handouts 1. The Sin of Racism: A Call to Covenant . 143 2. Why, as Christians, We Must Oppose Racism . 151 3. An Essay on Power and Identity: Racism in the USA . 159 4. Resolution A047(GC’00) . 183 5. The Acts of Convention 1976-2006 . 185 6. Resolution for General Convention 2006 . 189 7. American Anthropological Association Statement on “Race” . 191 8. The Global Hierarchy of Race . 195 9. On Becoming Allies . 199 10. Suggestions for Talking about Racism . 201 11. Things to Do Address Racism . 203 12. Whom Do We Not Welcome or Serve? . 205 13. Building Bridges . 209 14. See Baby Discriminate: . 211 15. On the Power of Metaphor . 221 16. Electronic Resources used in Training . 223 17. Why is this Work Needed in the Diocese? . 225 18. On Defining “Race” and Colors . 227 19. “Whiteness” costs . 231 20. “Final Note to Participants . 233 Bibliography . 237 vi Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: Antiracism Training Manual nnn Preface to the 4th Edition Every new edition of a book or manual necessarily builds upon those that preceded it. Not only do we, as editors, want to include topics for dialogue, exercises, and activities that are still useful and serviceable, but more importantly we want to build upon the collective wisdom of past editors and contributors who pioneered this training methodology and then painstakingly molded it and perfected it for use. The chief editor of the 3rd edition and past chairperson of the Antiracism Committee of Executive Council, The Rev. Dr. Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook said that even though this manual is a “mosaic,” one pedagogical value has not changed: Participants in this training methodology (or any other, for that matter) are still responsible for their own learning; the role of the skilled trainer is to lead groups through a multilayered participatory process, and the focus is always on the learner, her or his past experience and not the trainer.” Repeatedly, participants are invited to enter this journey of awareness and understanding from any path on which they find themselves and to engage with the materials, other participants, and the trainers to begin to build inclusive communities of justice and equity/equality. This manual is not the work of two or three editors alone. Rather, the material, the training tips, the activities, the training, and worship resources are drawn from thousands of participants, scores of trainers, and more than fifty antiracism committees and commissions across the country that are steadfastly committed to achieving racial justice for their dioceses and communities. Telephone calls, emails, and face-to-face consultations have shown us that this way works better than that, or that this video or DVD is just perfect to illustrate prejudice, white privilege or institutional racism. Without their input, this revision could not have been possible and would not achieve the goals we have to make this much more accessible to those who sincerely want to be able to train others. To this end we have placed all activities within the section in which they are intended to be used. We have also included information about the electronic resources that we use. Dr. Kujawa-Holbrook noted that the previous manual was a work in progress. This edition is no exception. I can guarantee that within days and weeks of its publication and distribution, we will discover additional resources which are relevant, either because of a new national development or a newly published book or article In closing, we are affirmed by the responses we have received when we have presented this antiracism training manual to dioceses for the first time. As lead trainers we acknowledge the learning that we have received, and we sincerely thank all participants, particularly those who came to the training with doubts and fears and considerable hesitation. To witness their ‘aha’ moments was indeed a joy to our spirits and a balm in Gilead to our souls. When mutual learning happens authentically, God is indeed present. Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: Antiracism Training Manual 1 Finally, there are no words to express my gratitude to and love for my co-editors, Barbara Culmer-Ilaw and Lou Schoen. Over the past eight years, my admiration for them and my absolute dependence on them has grown exponentially. Our faith and our assurance that God is always present when we work for justice has been our ‘tie that binds’ and our support in the down times. As has been stated by many authors in the past, any brilliance contained in this manual is due to them, and all of the errors to me. What an incredible journey we have had, my friends. Bless you. The Rev. Jayne Jones Oasin September 10, 2009 Feast Day of Alexander Crummell Priest, Missionary, Educator, 1898 2 Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: Antiracism Training Manual IntrOduction nnn Introduction “But Sir, We would see Jesus” Working for justice is difficult at best, excruciatingly difficult at worst. Most of the time it seems as if the more exact word for this long-hoped-for state of being is ‘just-us’ and even ‘just-me.’ It is one thing for churches, and yes, this is true of many denominations, to pass resolutions that repudiate this blight on our nation and repent this personal and institutional sin, to say that we are against racism and exclusion, and that we are working for justice. It is one thing for us to say that we decry the artificial and illegal barriers erected between those who have power and those who seek their rights, between those who enjoy the rich economic resources of this country and those who cry themselves to sleep from continuous hunger and deprivation. It is another thing altogether to be the seeker and the advocate and the trainer and the record keeper and, and… Only the super strong can labor in that vineyard alone. Only the robotic can be immune to the waves of fatigue, self-doubt and hopelessness that frequently assail us as we work to actualize that which everyone professes to want without the pain of getting there. I submit that we can only do this work with God as our companion and guide. And, to paraphrase Martin Smith from his lovely book and tape, Co-Creation with God: God does not intend for us to do any of the difficult work of establishing the Reign of God on earth by ourselves. We are always to say to God, “What shall we make of this?” One truth seems clear: It is a relationship, a partnership, a working together wherein, God and we compact together in a let’s-try-this-and-see-how-it-works way of being. Working against racism and for justice is not the work of a Lone Ranger, even with a faithful companion by one’s side. Companion is one of the ‘C’ words that those of us who prefer to work in groups treasure.