First Presbyterian Church in Victor

Anti-Racism Policy

Part I - Defining Justice, Righteousness and Loving Kindness

“Let justice roll down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” Amos 5:24

“Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness” Jeremiah 22:3

“Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is righteous, for soon my salvation will come” Isaiah 56:1

“what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to desire loving-kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord” Hosea 12:10

The Hebrew Prophets consistently insist on the following words: Hesed, Tsedaqah and Mishpat. Hesed is translated as Loving Kindness, Steadfast Love or Mercy, Tsedaqah is translated as Righteousness or Right Relationship and Mishpat as Justice. In Hebrew, these terms carry with them an explicit sense of community, and not only community, but community with an eye towards inclusion, caring for the most vulnerable, leaving no one behind and ensuring equity. This commitment to community means that the Prophets are not just calling us to avoid doing the wrong thing, but instead to actively work to ensure that communities are just for all members, not just a few. This commitment to Justice, Righteousness and Loving Kindness is central to everything we do as a community of faith, and requires us to actively work to ensure each of these are present and regularly affirmed by our community of faith.

God intends for us to live in communities centered in Justice, Righteousness and Loving Kindness.

Part II - Defining Diversity

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a plentiful people, and I will bless you…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3

…many will come from east and west and will take their places at the banquet with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:11

In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith…There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; Galatians 3:26-28

I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb Revelation 7:9

The Bible consistently affirms that all creation is made in the image of God and worthy of God’s Love. There is not only a place, but a role for all nations and people. This affirms the diversity of the world around as an intended aspect of God’s creation and therefore worthy of celebration and honor. Beyond the scripture passages above, God’s intended diversity is also made evident in Acts 13 where when encountering the early leadership of the Church we see individuals from nearly every corner of the known world participating. The day of Pentecost is another clear example where God’s word comes in all the languages of those present, making itself available to all without limitation.

God intends for us to live into the gift of diversity, which is given through the Love of God.

Part III - Defining Racism

Racism is a system of inequality based on racial prejudice and the belief that one race is innately superior to all other races. This creates hierarchies that are not at all aligned with God’s gift of diversity, or our call to commit to Justice, Righteousness and Loving Kindness. The history of the world contains a myriad of examples of persistent racial hierarchies that damaged communities, including examples from our own nation’s history. Jesus’ time was not much different, where the Samaritans were regularly held as being inferior to Judeans. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus speaks to overcoming those racial prejudices, just as he speaks to us in our own time. Racism within any community stands in direct contrast to the imperatives of the Prophets towards Justice, Righteousness and Loving Kindness. Racism abuses God’s gift of diversity in our world. Racism is a lie about our fellow human beings, for it says that some are less than others. It is also a lie about God, for it falsely claims that God favors parts of creation over the entirety of creation.

Racism is the opposite of what God intends for humanity.

Part IV - Defining Anti-Racism

We confess that turning away from God’s intentions has led to the creation of many barriers along racial and ethnic lines and that these barriers have separated us from one another and deprived many of rights and opportunities. The fruits of racism are prejudice, bigotry, discrimination, and dehumanization. It is evident that progress has been made, however, the damage from generations of systemic race-based exploitation has not yet been erased.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we stand against racism in all its myriad forms. We state unequivocally that racism and all forms of discrimination and marginalization are sins against humanity and God, inconsistent with our values and are unacceptable within our walls or out among our neighbors.

It is not enough for us to say that racism is bad; our faith compels us to speak up and take action against oppression and injustice. As a church we are called to confess the sin of racism, condemn the ideology of white supremacy, and strive for racial justice and peace.

Beyond statements and prayers, we are called to also act and respond to injustices. We define anti-racism work as the practice of confronting and changing policies, behaviors, and beliefs that perpetuate racist ideas and actions.

Anti-Racism work is an important part of living into being the communities God intends us to be.

Part V - Our Commitment

We commit ourselves to do the work of countering racism in our witness to the Gospel. In our affirmation that God loves difference, we will honor diversity as a good in which God delights.

In our conviction that God desires justice, we will learn from others to broaden our understanding of equality.

In our humility as sinful people, we will listen openly to diverse voices regarding how racism functions in our society.

We will support allies who speak out against persons and systems that perpetuate racial injustice.

We will act courageously and creatively to turn away from individual and systemic racism and towards the diversity and justice that God desires.

In our gratitude for God’s grace, we will turn again and again towards the vision of whole community found in the Word of God - knowing that all people are made in God’s image and all persons are equally valuable in the sight of God.

In our joyous response to God’s gift of life, and as followers of Christ, we will welcome all in worship and fellowship as we share God’s love in service.

Primary Resource

Facing Racism: Vision of the Intercultural Community

Churchwide Antiracism Policy as Approved by the PC(USA) 222nd General Assembly (2016) The sessions, presbyteries, and synods of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) may use sections of this publication without receiving prior written permission of the publisher.

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/wp-content/uploads/facing-racism-policy.pdf

Other Resources

Reformed Church in America Anti-Racism Policy (2022)

A Charter for Racial Justice Policies: United Methodist Church (2016)

First Presbyterian Church in Victor

Anti-Racism Policy

First Presbyterian Church in Victor

70 East Main Street, Victor, New York 14564