Near the end of 2008, the Anti-Racism Team in Alabama-Northwest Florida developed a resource for congregations to use in giving witness to their identity as anti-racist/pro-reconciling congregations. The resource is in the form of a booklet and it is now referred to as the "True Community" booklet. This booklet doesn’t tell any individual or any congregation how to think or what to do about the issue of racism. It does, however, encourage congregations to be intentional in their efforts to address this issue. It even suggests that "True Community Teams" might be empowered to guide the congregations in their efforts. The booklet organizes its suggestions around the following actions: praying, studying, organizing, relating, giving, and working. It offers helpful ideas and points to resources which can be helpful.

The booklet has a commitment card attached to a perforation on the back page. Congregations were asked to make a commitment to an anti-racist identity and to use the "True Community" booklet as a guide to help them be intentional in their pro-reconciliation efforts. They were asked to tear off the commitment card and to have it signed (by moderator and minister) and returned to the Regional office.

The Anti-Racism Team and I are thrilled about the four congregations in the Alabama-Northwest Florida Region that have returned their cards saying that they consider themselves to be anti-racist congregations: They are:

First Christian Church, Anniston

First Christian Church, Birmingham

Snow Hill Christian Church, Mt. Willing

First Christian Church, Huntsville

I have to believe that many other congregations want to go on record as being intentionally anti-racist, but I do not have their cards. I want to believe that other Disciples congregations, which gather around a communion table of unity and grace each Sunday, want to see an end to the hurt and division caused by racism, but I do not have their cards. I want to believe that other Disciples congregations are willing to acknowledge that racism exists in the world and that it is not a part of God’s design for humanity and that God’s people, the church, must work against it, but I do not have their cards.

If a congregation is not willing to declare itself to be "anti-racist," then one might wonder if that same congregation is content with a "racist" identity, one which says that the reality of racism, which provides privileges to some and oppression to others, is not a problem or an issue for us. I cannot believe any Disciples congregation would hold to such an attitude. And yes, I do wish I had other cards so that we could print a long list of congregations in Alabama-Northwest Florida that are declaring themselves to be anti-racist and pro-reconciling.

I have been around long enough to know that with any promotion to congregations, many things can happen which diminish the response. Pastors and key leaders can miss meetings where new initiatives are introduced. Board agendas can unintentionally omit important items. Important letters and reminders can get lost in tall stacks of mail and other paper work. These occurrences are common place, and I realize that. However, it is not too late to let this important item re-emerge for your congregations.

So, as we look toward the annual Reconciliation Offering promotion in September, I want to believe that there are many, not just four, congregations that care about true community and are willing to say, "The church can count on our congregation to be a part of the movement to resist racism in all its forms, in the spirit of Jesus Christ." Participation in this important offering is an indication of your congregation’s commitment to an anti-racist identity.

We have a few True Community booklets still available. Multiple copies were hand-delivered to many pastors in 2008 and additional copies were mailed to all pastors and Board chairs/moderators. I hope each congregation can locate theirs. It may be found on the Region’s website by following this link:

http://www.alnwfldisciples.org/Portals/1155/reconciliationbooklet.pdf

I hope to include a section in future issues of this newsletter which lists the congregations that have returned commitment cards. I do hope all of our congregations, and not just four, will be proud to be included among those congregations that are committed to the resistance of racism in hopes that we may one day experience "true community" in the church of Jesus Christ.

Your partner in ministry,

John P. Mobley