commissions

AntiRacism Commission

The Anti-Racism Commission leads the diocese in living into Goal Seven of the Strategic Plan: "Called to serve the diverse, multi-cultural, and divided society in which the Church exists, we must become an organization dedicated to overcoming racism, and model a community life that breaks down racism and all other barriers that divide us."

The commission performs ongoing analysis to identify the institutional racism that as a result of our national history has been built into almost every part of our Church structures and life. ARC members seek out other diocesan members to discern the racism endemic in the congregations or other diocesan institutions in which they are active, and to help them organize satellite anti-racism teams to identify and eliminate this racism in its localized manifestations.

ARC organizes two and one-half day workshops in the spring and fall to clarify for participants the reality of racism in our society and institutions, and to motivate and equip them to organize against it.

Diocesan members who have received this training include the bishops, and lay and clergy members of diocesan staff, Standing Committee, Diocesan Council, and other bodies with jurisdiction in the diocese. Several congregations have sought out this training. It is the ARC's goal to engage every diocesan congregation in the ministry of anti-racism, and commission members are actively seeking individuals to investigate and initiate this educational and organizational process. Any interested congregation should contact the commission chair:

Derrick Dawson co-chair

773-960-5355 

Karen Ziech  co-chair

(815) 725-6909

TRAININGS                                                                                                               

The AntiRacism Commission of the Diocese of Chicago sponsors two and a half day workshops, Analyzing Systemic Racism, in spring and fall. Contact: Derrick Dawson (773) 960-5355 derrickcharlesdawson@gmail.com

Analyzing Systemic Racism Workshop