Dear Westwood Family,
I pray this email finds you all doing well. There are so many things happening in our church community this week, and I wanted to highlight one that aligns with a retreat I am co-facilitating. A few months ago, some members of our church reached out to me about starting a new small group specifically for people of color. We held our first gathering a few months ago, and it was a delight. Listening to people share their stories, I realized how much racism impacts everything we do, and how even some of our experiences at church have left us with painful awareness of how difficult belonging can be, even in places where you are wanted. However, it is the fact that we are wanted – that diversity is wanted – that encourages us to stay, teach, encourage growth, and welcome others. To that end, below is an invitation drafted by members of the People of Color (POC) Affinity Group that they would like to extend to all POC community members for their potluck this Sunday, May 3rd, at 12:10 in the Wesley Room.
“Have you always wished we had a People of Color affinity group here at Westwood? A few of us got together and decided we wanted to provide a place where we could feel more at home, be in community with other people of color, raise our concerns and advocate for issues we care about. We also want to go on outings together like festivals, museums, and plays. Please join us on May 3rd for a get together and potluck lunch at 12:10pm in the Wesley room. To stay in the know, please join our WhatsApp group here: Join POC group here or contact Karen Pang for more details.”
In other events this week, I am delighted to welcome back and to welcome new participants of the Racial Resilience cohort to our church. The majority of last year’s cohort will be in attendance, and we welcomed 15 new people into our second cohort. For those new to our community (or if you skipped church that Sunday!) Racial Resilience is an intensive anti-racism training method that helps individuals develop an anti-racist conscience and act as change agents within their institutions to help them develop an anti-racist ethos. Dr. Schoen and I have developed a unique approach that utilizes compassion-based contemplative practices as the foundational lens through which we interpret the impact that racialization has on our bodies and worldview. From this foundation, we teach participants key critical race theories so that they can authentically and sustainably create and implement an anti-racist project within their communities. Given the rise of White Christian Nationalism in America, Seth and I felt called to do more than just critique this terrible theology; we wanted to cast a vision for an alternative that could appeal to those who might feel lured towards a nationalist Christianity. I ask that you please keep us in prayer as we continue this important work this week.
Love and Solidarity
Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter
