The Caribbean and North American Area Council

One Response to “Living out the Core Priorities of WARC’s 24th General Council”

1. Oliver Patterson said:
   April 14th, 2009 @ 9:45 pm

   To: CANNAC & WARC Members
   From: Dr. Oliver Patterson

   FIRST REFORMED CHURCH JAMAICA HOSTS AFRICAN-AMERICAN COUNCIL, RCA GATHERING:

   CONFRONTIING RACISM: WHAT’S A CHRISTIAN TO DO?

   The gathering was held Saturday, October 13, 2007 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the “termination” of the transatlantic slave trade. There were two broad purposes: 1) to educate ourselves about institutionalized and internalized racist oppression that lead to social and economic injustice; 2) to align the community mission projects of the churchess gathered so that they are a blessing to the families.

   The workshops were:
   (1)Belhar Confession
   Presenters: Elder Sarah Smith, Rev. Banks
   (2)Hip Hop Music and its mpact on Culture
   Presenter: Rev. Larry Williams
   (3)Internalized/ Institutionalized Racism
   Dr. Oliver Patterson

   Panel Discussion: What is God Leading us to?
   (1)Community Development (2) Leadership Development (3) Mission Services
   Chair Panel: Rev. Dwayne Jackson, Dr. Oliver Patterson, Elder Sarah Smith, Rev. Paul Glover, Micheal

   Celebration of the Past, Present and the Future

   Evaluation of the AAC Commemoration of the
   Abolition of the Slave Trade
   Positive Dimensions

   • Given the context of increased racist acts in the society, the theme was clearly appropriate: Confronting Racism: What’s a Christian to do?
   • We were correct to go beyond the surface issues, nooses, Jena 6, racist language, massive incarceration of Black men, rampant aids etc. and to focus on institutional racism and internalized racist oppression.
   • We were also correct to focus on the role of the church as one agent of education and human service, and the need for churches to work with families, schools, and community based organizations.
   • We were correct to challenge the churches to work collaboratively to meet community needs.
   • We were correct to structure the gathering as if we were applying for a grant. Rev. John Vaughn, Director, 21st Century Foundation, stated that most of the grants he receives only speak to good works and rarely discuss policies that support gross inequality.
   • We were correct to choose the Belhar confession as the theological foundation for our work. Each participant received the Belhar Confession and the new Accra Confession (AC)Study Guide. It is important to note that AC is a faith declaration, not a doctrinal confession.
   • We were correct to include in the program: Hip Hop Music and its Impact on Culture. It appealed to many teenagers (over 25 in attendance) and to adults.

   Dimensions to Improve

   • Time. The workshops should have been scheduled for at least 90 minutes. Sixty minutes was simply too short.
   • The numbers attending the workshops should be no more than 25.
   • The gathering should be a single day, from 8:00 AM – 3:00PM, and not a two day affair especially if the Friday session is going to end after 10:00PM.
   • We should have invited key pastors and elders from different denominations to join us.

   Implications for Our Work

   • It is time to move forward. I would suggest that we work through our organizations. In the United States, CARE and the Ecumenical Justice Network are groups to begin the process.
   • African Christians and Africans in the Diaspora need to seek unity in the message of Jesus Christ and in their own history as they have transformed Christianity into an authentic religion.
   • Members of CANNAC need to be present at significant gatherings of folk from Canada and the United States.
   • Our European brothers need to hear the cry for justice and how they can work to oppose policies that produce inequality.

   
   Steps Needed to Move Forward
   •Develop a timeline and a schedule of work to be accomplished.
   •Identify key folks who have a passion for racial justice.
   •Provide finances for the work to be done.
   •Create a network of folk who will work collaboratively.

   Appendix
   CONFRONTING RACISM: WHAT’S A CHRISTIAN TO DO

   EASTERN REGION GATHERING – FALL 2007
   CONFRONTING RACISM: WHAT’S A CHRISTIAN TO DO
   Friday, October 12, 2007
   Dinner ~ 6 pm

   Commemoration of Ancestors African Drums ~ Malik

   Praise & Worship ~ 7 pm
   Congregation Selection
   Prayer of Confession
   Scriptural Reading ~ Rev. Anna Jackson
   Greetings ~ Irma Patterson

   Statement of Purpose
   Dr. Oliver Patterson

   Dance Selection

   Introduction of Speaker ~ Rev. Mark Kellar

   Gathering Speaker
   Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock

   Devotions Invitations
   Belhar Litany
   {Free will offering}
   Musical Selection

   Offertory Prayer ~ Rev. Patricia Singletary

   Prayer for Good People ~ Rev. James Seawood

   Closing Remarks

   Benediction

   CONFRONTIING RACISM: WHAT’S A CHRISTIAN TO DO

   EASTERN REGION GATHERING – FALL 2007

   Saturday, October 13, 2007
   Breakfast ~ 8 am

   Praise & Worship ~ 9 am

   Scriptural Reading ~ Rev. Paul Glover

   Morning Prayer ~ Rev. Winston Clarke

   Greetings:
   Rev. Glenn Missick, Executive Director, AAC
   Elder Wilbur Jones, Vice President, AAC

   Gathering Workshops 10:00 am – 10:50 am
   (1) Belhar Confession
   Elder Sarah Smith, Rev. Banks
   (2) Hip Hop Music and its mpact on Culture
   Rev. Larry Williams
   (3) Internalized/ Institutionalized Racism
   Dr. Oliver Patterson

   Break ~
   Reporting/ Discussion Workshop Leaders

   Lunch ~
   Panel Discussion: Where is God Leading us to?
   (1)Community Development (2) Leadership Development (3) Mission Services
   Chair Panel: Rev. Dwayne Jackson, Dr. Oliver Patterson, Elder Sarah Smith, Rev. Paul Glover, Micheal

   Celebration of the Past, Present and the Future

   HOLD THE DATE!!!

   THE EASTERN REGION
   African American/Black Council
   Reformed Church in America

   Invites You to

   A SPECIAL FALL GATHERING

   Theme:
   “Confronting Racism: What’s a Christian to do?”

   Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, Senior Pastor
   Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA

   + Guest Choirs and Groups

   Friday & Saturday, October 12 & 13, 2007

   First Reformed Church of Jamaica
   Queens, NY

   Workshops: Racism, Hip-Hop Music, Church Growth & Health, Leadership Development, Spiritual Gifts, Missional Church, etc.

   * Registration materials forth coming

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