We are becoming Anti-Racist. We have made this important commitment as a church. Now we want to invite you, whoever you are, wherever you are, to join us. Here’s your opportunity to take part in this commitment to learn and enact change in our community.
Who We Are
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is an open community of Christians helping others find and give hope through Jesus Christ. However, through the discernment of our members, staff, and Governing Board St.Luke’s has determined that we cannot fully live into this mission without declaring a commitment to become an Anti-Racist congregation.
“Our commitment has been influenced by the racial division and injustice we’ve seen across our country. However, this is not just a reaction; this is a requirement. Micah 6:8 in the Bible shares God’s requirement for us: love mercy, do justice and walk humbly with God. So when we do this work, we are doing it to make an impact in our community, and also to live out God’s requirement for us,” says Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross, pastor of Outreach and Mobilization at St. Luke’s.
The first step in this commitment was the revision of St. Luke’s Open Statement. “Unanimously adopted by the St. Luke’s Governing Board, our new Open Statement reflects the deep prayer, vulnerable conversations and shared vision of laity, staff and community members to declare who our church is and who we are called to be. We want to learn and seek racial justice throughout our community and nation,” says Curtis Rector, St. Luke’s Governing Board chairman.
Already this summer more than 300 church and community members joined St. Luke’s to be a part of a book study (I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown). The St. Luke’s staff, of more than 50 people, is focusing on Racial Justice issues during their weekly staff chapels. The sermon/teaching series throughout worship services in August and September is titled, “Justice or Just Us?”
“St. Luke’s is committed to offering ongoing teaching, learning opportunities, ministry programming, community outreach, and involvement to support this important Anti-Racist mission,” says St. Luke’s Senior Pastor Rev. Rob Fuquay.
“Through our bold efforts within our church and into our city, we seek to build a church and community that looks more and more like God’s Kingdom,” Rev. Fuquay
What This Means For You
We know that in our community, just as we have seen while learning as a church, that we come to the table with different experiences and in different places on our journey to become Anti-Racist. We want to meet you where you are and commit to moving forward together.
To start this community commitment, we are providing a free training that is open to everyone. Hosted on zoom, this is an opportunity to understand what it means to be Anti-Racist and increase your understanding no matter where you are on the journey.
We hope you will join us for, “Becoming an Anti-Racist Community,” on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. It will be offered completely online (through Zoom) This training will be led by the Rev. Michelle Ledder, Director of Equity and Anti-Racism of the General Commission on Religion & Race through The United Methodist Church. To learn more and register for the training, click here.
So, will you join us? Will you walk alongside us in this journey to become Anti-Racist?
NEWLY ADOPTED - St. Luke’s United Methodist Church’s Open Statement
