Diocesan Racial Reconciliation Team Launches Resources to Support Congregations’ Racial Healing Efforts
The Diocesan Racial Reconciliation Team (RRT) is pleased to announce the launch of three resources to support congregations’ racial reconciliation and racial healing efforts. These resources include a dedicated page on the diocesan website, an educational video series, and grant funding to enable congregations to invite people of color from their local community to present first-person perspectives on race in Vermont.
Racial Reconciliation/Racial Healing Landing Page. Located on the diocesan website, the Racial Reconciliation/Racial Healing Landing Page provides links to training guides developed by the wider Episcopal Church and customized for local use by the RRT. Additionally, the page houses a sample syllabus and agenda designed for congregations seeking to host a racial healing workshop.
Where Do We Go From Here Video Series. Hearing the first-person stories of people of color is an integral starting point in the Diocese’s Four-phase Racial Healing Process. To provide an opportunity for our congregations to hear local perspectives on racial healing from Vermonters of color and white allies pressing for positive change locally, the RRT has provided a series of videos entitled, “Where Do We Go From Here?”. Recommended for use in workshops and adult forum settings, the videos are downloadable and may be shared freely!
Speaker Honorariums. While videos make it possible to access first-person stories from fellow Vermonters, nothing beats live, face-to-face interaction. Consider enriching your congregation’s racial healing workshop with a presentation by a local special guest! To assist in this effort, the RRT has acquired grant funds to enable congregations to pay their guest speaker an honorarium.
Clergy, lay leaders, and social justice teams, please consider hosting at least one, intensive racial healing workshop within the next 12 months. The RRT can assist!
Next Steps. The table has been set, so to speak, and congregations are encouraged to dig in! Clergy, lay leaders, and social justice teams, please consider hosting at least one, intensive racial healing workshop within the next 12 months. Once you’ve determined a possible date for your event, please contact the RRT for support. We can provide varying levels of consultation based on your vision and needs, including recommending guest speakers, curricula, and activities that may work best for your congregation. To reach the RRT, please email co-facilitators Maurice Harris (mharris@dioceseofvermont.org) or the Rev. Rob Spainhour (holytrinityrector@myfairpoint.net).