Recognizing the ways in which the lives of racialized groups affect each other across time and space, the Center for Indigenous Ministries (Disciples of Christ) stands with the National Convocation and all who commit themselves to exposing and eradicating the sin of racism from our world. Indigenous ontologies and cosmologies reflect the view that the cosmos is relational and in order to walk a moral path, humans must develop a moral consciousness that recognizes that all persons have moral worth, interests, practices, and customs. Thus, we affirm and support the call that Black Lives Matter!
We agree with Rev Dr. Timothy James admonition that “we must work within the church to have honest dialogue, confession, and deep conversation regarding the narrative that needs to be adjusted to bring about a change and the dismantling of racism.” As Indigenous and non-Indigenous people working for justice, the Center for Indigenous Ministries (Disciples of Christ) also commits to taking our Anti-Racist/Pro-Reconciling initiative to the next level—to not only remember George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, Atatiana Jefferson, and so many more, but also to commit to doing the hard work of exposing and rooting out the systemic and institutional racism in the church and society.
Rev Linda James
We are at a pivotal point in our country where bending toward justice has never been more fought against by many who claim Jesus as their savior. I am concerned that most conversations are done in denominational isolation. Disciples have a long history of ecumenism which makes me hope for a gathering hosted by CC(DOC) to bring those who disagree have time to talk and ti.e to listen. If decision is made by some and not all – we cannot claim to be one. Feel very distressed about lasting change.