Dismantling Racism Training All Across This Diocese
We broke an old cycle and we are thankful. In year’s past all of the mandated dismantling racism training sessions were held in one location at the Cathedral of St. Philip. Many of our sisters and brothers from the outlying areas of the diocese resented having to travel for a fair amount of time to come to that one location all of the time. So, a few years back the decision was made to change the venue and invite parishes around the diocese to host the trainings. They were asked to provide refreshments, lunch and space for the trainings. This invitation was met with great enthusiasm.
As of today, our trainings have been hosted in all of our Convocations and in several of them there have been multiple trainings hosted. The members of the hosting parishes have a sense of ownership that was not possible before we began this process and it has helped to create a more positive spirit toward the training because it is more convenient for more people now. Though there is still some travel involved in getting to a session, it is clear that an effort is being made to make it more accessible and folks have voiced their appreciation for that fact.
Our next goal is to have as many of the 114 worshiping communities as possible to serve as hosts as we go forward. In order to do this we will not go to the same parish for a second time until we get around to all of them. This work has to be owned by the parishes and every effort that we can make to help demonstrate our understanding of that fact is very crucial to its success.
Our re-framing of the training as a Eucharist-centered event and making it possible for many parishes to host the sessions, along with making it clear that this work is about spiritual formation and not simply checking off a box in order to be a church leader, has borne much good fruit. We have eight wonderful trainers for the mandated training and we have added three other trainers who will be presenting a contemplative focused quiet day of training for those who wish to go a bit deeper into the racial healing work. Also, we will be offering the opportunity for those who want to go even deeper into their racial healing journey to join the spiritual formation class which will help them to create a rule of life for dismantling racism and oppression. We will continue to share information about all of these opportunities as we follow the path to racial healing and reconciliation.
We broke an old cycle and we are thankful. In year’s past all of the mandated dismantling racism training sessions were held in one location at the Cathedral of St. Philip. Many of our sisters and brothers from the outlying areas of the diocese resented having to travel for a fair amount of time to come to that one location all of the time. So, a few years back the decision was made to change the venue and invite parishes around the diocese to host the trainings. They were asked to provide refreshments, lunch and space for the trainings. This invitation was met with great enthusiasm.
As of today, our trainings have been hosted in all of our Convocations and in several of them there have been multiple trainings hosted. The members of the hosting parishes have a sense of ownership that was not possible before we began this process and it has helped to create a more positive spirit toward the training because it is more convenient for more people now. Though there is still some travel involved in getting to a session, it is clear that an effort is being made to make it more accessible and folks have voiced their appreciation for that fact.
Our next goal is to have as many of the 114 worshiping communities as possible to serve as hosts as we go forward. In order to do this we will not go to the same parish for a second time until we get around to all of them. This work has to be owned by the parishes and every effort that we can make to help demonstrate our understanding of that fact is very crucial to its success.
Our re-framing of the training as a Eucharist-centered event and making it possible for many parishes to host the sessions, along with making it clear that this work is about spiritual formation and not simply checking off a box in order to be a church leader, has borne much good fruit. We have eight wonderful trainers for the mandated training and we have added three other trainers who will be presenting a contemplative focused quiet day of training for those who wish to go a bit deeper into the racial healing work. Also, we will be offering the opportunity for those who want to go even deeper into their racial healing journey to join the spiritual formation class which will help them to create a rule of life for dismantling racism and oppression. We will continue to share information about all of these opportunities as we follow the path to racial healing and reconciliation.