Friends General Conference

Together we nurture the spiritual vitality of Friends

Help Your Meeting Challenge Racism

Image credit: Marta Rusek/FGC
Enrichment

Do you want to help your meeting challenge racism and work for racial justice?

Do you feel led to travel in the ministry with a concern for racism?

Are you looking for ways to connect with other Friends of Color?

The Ministry on Racism Program at FGC offers assistance and support to meetings and yearly meetings that want to develop their racial and ethnic awareness, increase their diversity, and strive to address the impact of the institution of racism on our Society.

FGC connects Friends and meetings doing work and witnessing about racism and racial diversity, supports individuals traveling in the ministry with a concern for racism, and identifies resources to help people engaging in this work.

Keep reading below to learn about the virtual offerings from the Ministry on Racism.

Virtual Worship for Friends of Color

In 2018, Friends General Conference began hosting virtual worship for People of Color. FGC established this practice as a result of a request by Friends of Color who participated in a retreat that summer. During that weekend Friends of Color expressed their pain of feeling oppressed in their meeting which caused them to stop attending. These Friends were clear that Quakerism and worship was core to their lives and wanted an opportunity to continue to worship in community. FGC agreed to support these Friends with providing monthly virtual worships on Zoom. These worships are provided as a place for Friends of Color to come together in community and worship in an environment with Friends who experience marginalization in their lives and Quaker meetings because they are a Person of Color.

During this time of the global COVID-19 pandemic, FGC has agreed to offer these virtual worships on a more regular basis. There are two weekly virtual meetings for worship.

The midday weekly worship is on Wednesdays at 1:00 PM EDT / 12:00 PM CDT / 11:00 AM MDT / 10:00 AM PDT.

An evening weekly worship is held on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM CDT / 6:00 PM MDT / 5:00 PM PDT. 

These weekly worships will be in addition to the already-scheduled monthly meetings for worship, which happen on the third Sunday of each month at 8:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM CDT / 6:00 PM MDT / 5:00 PM PDT.

If you identify as a person of Color and would like to join us for our worship, please complete this form:

Register here

 

Virtual Open House for Friends of Color

FGC is excited to provide a virtual Open House for Friends of Color. It is held on a recurring basis every other Friday from 7-9 PM EDT. The next Virtual Open House will be on Friday, July 31st. This is an unstructured space as a time for Friends of Color to spend time together. You are invited to come to share how you are feeling, a song, dance, poetry, story, or something that is meaningful to you. You are not expected to be present for the full two hours. It is an event that is fluid, you can spend 5 minutes or the full two hours with us. We can also provide an opportunity for folks to spend time together in a breakout group just talking. We are excited for everyone to come together and enjoy each other's company!

If you identify as a Person of Color and would like to join us for the Open House, please fill out the form below to register. You will receive a Zoom invitation upon registration. This event is free. 

Register here

 

Virtual Worship Sharing for Friends of Color

In addition to offering weekly unprogrammed worship during this time of the global COVID-19 pandemic, FGC's Ministry on Racism has agreed to hold spaces for worship sharing among Friends of Color. These weekly Worship Sharing spaces will be held on Tuesdays at 5 pm EDT / 4 pm CDT / 3 pm MT / 2 pm PDT. They will alternate between 60 and 90 minute sessions; on August 4th, the worship sharing will be 90 minutes long. The space is in the care of a rotating team of leaders.

If you identify as a Person of Color and would like to join us for our weekly worship sharing, please complete this form:

Register here

 

Virtual Worship for White Friends Confronting Racism

The Ministry on Racism is hosting a weekly virtual Meeting for Worship for White Friends/Friends of European Descent confronting racism and White Supremacy. As we continue anti-racism work in our home contexts, it is important to stay connected and supported in community. This worship seeks to nourish our communal anti-racism committment. It will be held every Friday at 12 PM EDT / 11 AM CDT / 10 AM MDT / 9 AM PDT. It is in the care of a rotating team of co-facilitators.

If you are white/of European descent and would like to join our worship, please complete the form below:

Register here

 

Each year, the Ministry on Racism Program sponsors annual opportunities for Friends of Color and their loved ones to come together to build multi-generational community through worship, mutual support and sharing, and activities that tighten the bonds among us. These events are:

FGC also plans and holds retreats to create opportunities for:

  • Learning about racism
  • Training in building racial diversity
  • Sharing experiences of the impact of racism
  • Community building
  • Worshipping together around the issues arising from the impact of racism

The annual FGC Gathering:

  • Provides opportunities for mutual support and sharing for individuals engaged in challenging racism
  • Hosts the People of Color Center where Friends of color can connect
  • Holds meetings for worship for racial healing
  • Provides a Pre-Gathering Retreat for Friends of Color and their Families

     

 

 

 

 

Invite a Visitor to Your Meeting

Further Resources

African American Quaker Profiles
Service Resource
Beyond Diversity 101 Workshops
Service Resource
Yearly Meeting Work on Racism
Challenging Racism
Quaker Meetings Toolbox -- Spiritual Education: Eldering, Inclusion, Racism and More
Meeting Resource
Spiritual Education -- Eldering, Inclusion, Racism and More
Meeting Resource
The History of Central Committee and Diversity
Challenging Racism
Yearly Meeting Resources on Race and Racism
Challenging Racism