On February 1, 2019, The Episcopal Church announced a new film-and-reading based dialogue series on race and faith. This is part of the church’s continuing commitment to racial reconciliation, a priority set by General Convention and upheld by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies Gay Jennings.
The series includes the stories of Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian American histories “as they intersect with European American histories. . . Sacred Ground is especially targeted to help white people talk with each other about racism past and present, their own racial identity, and the interwoven issues of class, region, and ideology.”
In the introduction Katrina Browne, producer and director of the documentary Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, asks us to engage with open hearts and minds, to reach across all kinds of divides as she invites us to reckon with the history we all share. She suggests groups consider forming an inter-racial group, urges people to be proactive in doing so — that perhaps an all-white congregation can partner with other racial groups in other congregations.
The series is perfect for a Lenten study, but also suitable for any group concerned with racial reconciliation. The full curriculum will be available February 22. On the link below you can sign up to be notified when it is released.
Sacred Ground: New dialogue series from The Episcopal Church
exploring race and faith
[February 1, 2019] Sacred Ground (https://www.episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground) is a film- and reading-based dialogue series on race and faith. Participants will walk together through America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in the threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. It’s an invitation for small groups to gather to learn, share, and prepare to become Beloved Community.
Built around a curriculum of powerful documentary films, videos, and readings, this 10-part series considers some of the major chapters of the United States of America’s history of race and racism. It focuses on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian American histories as they intersect with European American histories. Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to challenges and divides in the present day – all with a deep foundation in faith and love.
[Watch Bishop Curry video here https://www.episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground]“Sacred Ground is a time and opportunity to hear the story of our past with regard to race, to hear our stories of our pasts,” said The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. “By listening to those stories and hearing them, and then telling our own stories together, and then looking possibly at the stories of our very faith, somehow, from the travail and the reality of all of those stories may emerge hope for a new day.”
Created by Katrina Browne, producer and director of the documentary Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, this small group resource is part of Becoming Beloved Community (https://www.episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community), The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. Sacred Ground is especially targeted to help white people talk with each other about racism past and present, their own racial identity, and the interwoven issues of class, region, and ideology.
“I’m excited to share some powerful, thought-provoking films and readings with groups eager to take next steps on this collective journey,” said Browne. “I’m convinced that dialogue, especially among white people, can be a key, healthy step on the road to transformation.”
Click here (https://www.episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground), for additional information about Sacred Ground and to sign up to be notified when the curriculum is released. Information about Becoming Beloved Community is available here (https://www.episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community).