Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Conference, this committee proposes thatthe Conference judge:that there is among the conferees and inour churches a general acknowledgementthat racism is in conflict with the Word ofGod and therefore a sin from which menmust be called to genuine repentance andrenewed obedience.that readiness to recognize andacknowledge the presence of racistbehavior in ourselves, our churches, andour society varies considerably among theindividuals and congregations representedby our denominations. In answer toquestionnaires, few acknowledge themselvesas being racist, and manycongregations see little or no problem ofracism in their membership.that more thorough and more effectiveefforts must be made to sensitize thepeople of our churches to concrete formswhich racist attitudes and behavior take inour churches and in our society.that faith and action must be more firmlyjoined in our relationships between theraces in our churches and countries; whiletheologizing apart from deeds ofobedience is dead, action without a livingfaith in Christ and the power of the HolySpirit is vanity.and recognizing that the urgent needs ofthat, in order to reflect faithfully the love our neighbor, both within and without theof Christ, our congregations need to household of faith, continue to multiply inbecome more aware of and more actively the areas of housing, employment, andconcerned about their own moral involvementeducation; and recognizing that thesewith the injustice, oppression, physical needs cannot continue to beand suffering of their fellow human beings. neglected by the body of Christ without(adopted without dissent) compromising the credibility of herII. In response to the experience ofthis Conference and the confrontation withChristian responsibility which it has involved,we recommend:spiritual concern for the whole man, thateach congregation budget equal fundingfor both the ministry of the Word and theministry of mercy; and that in order to beThat every delegate at theRES Conference commit himself to thetask of working for racial understanding inhis area of responsibility:1. by educating himself in racial understandingthrough literature, resourcepersons, and by active participation.2. by the faithful proclamation and — orteaching of the Word asit applies to ourChristian responsibilities in racial understanding.3. by giving encouragement and leadershipin programs of education and in activitiesdesigned to improve racial understanding.(adopted by a standing vote)III. (excerpts) Believing that thechurches need suggestions for ways to actin combatting racism, the RES Conferenceon Race, through conference actiongroups, has gathered the following list ofproposals which are conveyed to thechurches and their related institutions fortheir use.Proposals regarding Christiancolleges and seminaries:that the Christian colleges, in consultationwith each other, establishminority studies programs.LOVE."that the Christian colleges, in consultationwith each other, establish a mandatorycourse designed to produce an understandingof the nature of racism, as wellas the cultural, intellectual, and religiousfactors contributing to the establishmentand continuation of racism.that «4he denominations and relatedcolleges establish and conduct programs ofrecruitment among minority groups,establish an Advisory Minority Council,employ full-time minority recruiters, andestablish a denominational minoritystudent scholarship fund.Proposals regardingdiaconal ministries:the churches'Recognizing that the ministry of the Wordwithout an accompanying ministry ofmercy, i.e., diaconal concern, is contraryto the teaching and example of our Lord,able to implement this proposal, eachcongregation sincerely reappraise its needfor any or all of the following: elaboratefacilities used part-time for worship andeducation activities, salaried musicians,luxurious parsonages, and affluent lifestyles among its members.Proposals regarding mission policiesand practices, and ministry priorities:that the mission boards and the individualcongregations of our churches re-examinetheir expenditure of funds and invest moreof their resources in areas of desperatehuman need and in work among minoritygroups, since the treatment of the poor andthe oppressed has always been a Biblicaltouchstone of God's judgment of a society.Proposals for educating suburban ornon-inner city churches:that a model be prepared for facilitatingattitude change ("mind liberation"), amodel that can be used in large groups orsmall, formal or informal, a model thatgives the Holy Spirit the freedom to accomplishthrough us His task of sanctification,a model that could be called: I"LOVING THEM INTO CHRISTIANthat all ministers be urged, in spite ofpossible opposition, to preach the wholecounsel of God regarding the rights,privileges and duties of all Christians, tothe end that believers will know theirresponsibilities towards their fellow menand will be impelled to practice trueChristian love and justice towards them.Proposals for the church facingchanging communities:that since it is our duty to sustain a minito the changing urban communities inwhich God has placed us, urbancongregations seek to establish a moreinter-congregational style of ministry,through consultation, sharing, and study ofmutual priorities for church and community,and furthermore that therespective classes or presbyteries subsidizethese inter-congregational ministries.Proposals regarding legal justice:that programs be designed to sensitizewhite churches to the injustices to whichminority groups have been subjected andfrom which majority identificationexempts whites. This can be accomplishedby: encouraging churches to inviteknowledgeable people, especially thosewho are themselves exposed to socialdisabilities, to expose the white man's longstandingtolerance of a system of justicewhich, in practice, is discriminatory andselectively oppressive. The purpose of suchpresentations would be to foster amongChristians a "holy rage" against injusticesin the land.that the above be implemented by:establishing Information and PublicizingCenters either as an official deaconalprogram or less specifically ecclesiastical,to provide information regarding the lawand one's individual rights.establishing Christian Legal Aid Service tocounsel individuals caught in unjust legalsituations.forming Political Action Committeestoward mobilizing the Christian community.RES Newsletter.16 COVENANTER WITNESS