We Are Committed to Working for Social Justice
We invite you to join our Racial Justice Task Force. This group is concerned with exploring issues of racial justice and discerning what next steps should be for our church community. Our church has been designated by the PCUSA Mission Agency as a Matthew 25 church committed to dismantling structural racism.
RPPC Racial Justice Task Force Mission Statement
As people of faith, we seek to understand the causes and effects of racial injustice and to engage others in our congregation in this work with the goal of identifying and carrying out activities as a church to help reverse racial inequities in our community and city.
In response to long-standing racial inequities and injustices in our society, the RPPC Racial Justice Task Force endorses the PC(USA) Policy Against Racism(1) and feels called to explore ways to pursue racial justice through our church. We affirm that action is required to overcome the racism that has been embedded in our society for hundreds of years; inaction is not an option. Guided by the words of scripture in Micah 6:8(2) and Matthew 22:37-40(3), we recognize that this work requires humility, love of God and neighbor, and a continual search for ways to act as God intends.
1 “Racism is the opposite of what God intends for humanity. It is the rejection of the other, which is entirely contrary to the Word of God incarnate in Jesus Christ. Racism is a lie about our fellow human beings, for it says that some are less than others. Because of our biblical understanding of who God is and what God intends for humanity, the PC(USA) must stand against, speak against and work against racism. Anti-racist effort is not optional for Christians. It is an essential aspect of Christian discipleship, without which we fail to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.”
2 “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
3 “He (Jesus) said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
If you are interested in joining the Racial Justice Task Force or would like more information about our next meeting, please contact office@rolandparkchurch.org.