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09/15/2019 12:00 AMIn keeping with its mission to speak out about social injustices, the First Congregational Church in Madison, the Church on the Green at 26 Meeting House Lane, will host a three-day workshop on Undoing Racism/Community Organizing Workshop, on Friday, October 18 through Sunday, October 20.
This intensive workshop will challenge participants to analyze the structures of power and privilege that hinder social equity and will prepare them to be effective organizers for justice.
FCC’s Minister of Community Life, Rev. Sarah E. Vetter, said the workshop is an outgrowth of efforts to promote work on anti-racism on the shoreline. The Church has hosted a number of “Conversations on Race” already and this workshop is a significant next step towards that goal, she said.
“We believe in loving our neighbors,” Rev. Vetter said. “Given the divisive nature of the times we live in, we are hoping this workshop will be a powerful step towards reconciling some of that divisiveness and building together a more just, safe and inclusive community for everyone.”
Among the things workshop participants will do is: develop a common definition of racism and an understanding of its different forms: individual, institutional, linguistic, and cultural; develop a common language and analysis for examining racism; understand one’s own connection to institutional racism and its impact on his/her work; understand why people are poor and the role of institutions in exacerbating institutional racism; understand the historical context for how racial classifications in the United States came to be and how and why they are maintained.
“We trust that participants will be challenged to think deeply, listen to other perspectives, create community, and experience transformative learning together,” Rev. Vetter said. “We will emerge with a common language, common definitions, a deeper sense of history and analysis of race and racism. With these common understandings we can have a conversation moving forward and be effective in addressing real life issues, rather than continuing - as we seem to be doing in our culture - to have ‘the debate’ – talking past one another, or in circles.”
Rev. Vetter said the hope is that “participants will share what they learn, and feel inspired and equipped to organize for a difference.”
The cost of the workshop is $400 per person, although partial and full scholarships are available. There is a request for scholarship on the application, so cost should not impede participation. The application can be found here: http://justmoves.nationbuilder.com/
The dates and times for the workshop are: Friday, October 18, and Saturday, October 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and on Sunday, October 20, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Along with hosting this workshop and various discussions on race, FCC members have conducted forums on Plastics & the Environment, are working on projects to help Refugees and conduct Beach Clean-ups. FCC recently celebrated the 18th anniversary of becoming an Open & Affirming community.
If you would like to learn more about the First Congregational Church, check out https://www.fccmadison.org/ or follow us at https://www.facebook.com/fccmadison/.
You can also call us at 203-245-2739, ext. 10, or e-mail us at mainoffice@fccmadison.org.