Antiracism and Intercultural Change Team

August 2021

Dear Western Presbyterian Church, 

Greetings from Session in the name of Jesus. At our June meeting, members of Session shared our hopes and fears regarding antiracism and discussed how we felt God was calling us to act. Session then adopted two resolutions. They are as follows: 

“We as the Session of Western Presbyterian Church pledge to lead Western into becoming an Antiracist, Intercultural Church Congregation. This missional journey will encourage personal work of members of Western, communal work of the congregation, and engagement with communities beyond Western, particularly marginalized communities. We also commit to participating in and envisioning the work of Antiracism as a long-term ministry, recognizing the need for the financial support necessary to carry out the mission of Antiracism. All the while, we will rely on prayerful discernment to guide us through this transformative journey.” 

“The Session will commission a working team (the “Antiracism change team”) to be responsible for researching and guiding this missional journey of the Western church congregation as faithful followers of Christ. The Session will designate a member to participate in this working team.” 

We are writing to you now to describe the process by which Session will form this antiracism and intercultural change team and the skills and gifts that will be needed among its members. We invite each of you to consider the possibility that you might offer to serve in this capacity. Our hope is that the congregation will join us in the work ahead and that together we will approach this commitment as a community of faith. 

The team will seek to discern God’s call to antiracist, intercultural ministry through

Western Presbyterian Church. The team will lead the creation of a shared vision of community that is fully inclusive and is welcoming of all God’s children: that is, both antiracist and intercultural in nature, through joyful worship and nurturing of values essential to living in an intercultural society.  

Members of the team will need to see themselves as change agents and, at the same time, understand that they cannot make meaningful change working alone. An effective team requires members who want to see positive change, who practice healthy emotional skills, who develop empathy for one another in the team, and who practice good listening skills. Given the nature of this missional work, the team will need to practice the discipline of regular prayer, both in the group and individually. 

Session would like to know which members of Western might feel called by the Spirit to commit the time and energy the work of the team will require. We ask you to please read carefully the information that follows, and to prayerfully consider whether you might have some of the skills and gifts needed.

SKILLS AND GIFTS

 We believe that all who serve on the antiracism and intercultural change team at Western must have the following: 

1. A strong commitment to and some experience in the work of antiracism and social justice.
Antiracism work is to learn values and behaviors that do not result in racism. It is to become conscious of cultural and institutional patterns of power and privilege that perpetuate racism and other forms of injustice. The nature of antiracist work is missional work, that is, to create authentic relationships that honor those who have been defined as “other.” 

2. Spiritual gifts of empathy, perseverance, and faith.
Antiracist change in predominantly white organizations brings new levels of discomfort, sometimes in areas that aren't obviously related to racism. The work is challenging and long-term and will inevitably test one’s patience. 

3. Commitment to positive cultural change in oneself and in the community.
To become an intercultural community is to experience a broader understanding, vitality, and wholeness of God and the complexity of God’s creation through the sharing of many cultural viewpoints. It is to relinquish the pride of being “right” and instead to work intentionally to empathize, welcome, and actively ensure that those who may be otherwise marginalized are central to the life of the community. 

4. Commitment to making this missional work a personal priority.
It will require significant time and energy. We anticipate that team members would give 8 to 10 hours monthly, beginning this fall. We ask that individuals plan to serve for two years and arrange their other responsibilities so as to allow for active participation in the team—the work of which we expect may at times be emotionally challenging. 

5. A spirit of inquiry.
We don't expect anyone to have all the right answers, but we're hoping to find people who can ask the right questions. 

In addition to the five attributes described above, we hope that the team chosen to serve also would collectively have the following skills and experiences: 

● Commitment to leadership of the Western church congregation
● A positive spirit and some skill in helping make positive change happen
● Organizational development background for the sake of assessing the congregation’s current dominant cultural patterns and organizational structure
● Appreciation for contributions from the whole congregation as part of a strategic process to accomplish Western’s goals
● Openness to and ability to call forth the diversity of viewpoints and life experiences of persons in our community and neighborhood

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

 As you read this letter and the description of individual attributes and collective qualifications for serving on the team, we hope you will commit your heartfelt prayers to supporting the work and those who lead it. We ask that you open your heart to what we believe God through Spirit is calling us to do as a community of faith, and to what you might feel called to do to support this work. 

This work won't be easy, and we trust that this change team will experience God's grace transforming our culture and church in ways we are just beginning to imagine. 

If, after prayerful thought, you would like to offer your name to Session for consideration—or if you would like to talk with someone as you are deciding—please contact one of the following Session members: 

Becky Koenig, at rebeccalynnkoenig@gmail.com, 703-901-4811 

Ray Kim, at kim.ray.y@gmail.com, 310-874-0514 

Greta Morris, at gretanmorris0612@yahoo.com, 703-399-4439 

If you would like to nominate someone other than yourself for consideration, please include in your submission that you have spoken with the person you are nominating and that they are willing to be considered. 

The Session will review all nominations submitted in light of the individual attributes and collective skills sought, and with a commitment to commissioning a team that reflects the diversity of the congregation. 

While not all who are nominated may be commissioned for the antiracism and intercultural change team, there will be other opportunities for all who are interested in helping with this missional work. 

We would like to move forward with reviewing nominations for the team as soon as
possible, so we ask that you respond by September 6, 2021. 

Thank you,

Session of Western Presbyterian Church
Laura Cunningham, Moderator and Pastor