Response to Request for Statement on Racism

(Updated November 2002)

We, the delegates to the Sunset Convocation, are responding to the request for examples of ethnically inclusive ministry from the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon Ministry to End Racism. We do not wish to respond as a number of individual parishes and missions, citing specific examples, dates, and times for the official record. We wish to respond as a convocation, a group within the diocese united by faith and ideals as well as canons.

This is not to say that we do not, as a largely Caucasian/western European group, engage in ministry with other ethnic groups. We do. We support and invite preachers from African nations, we work shoulder to shoulder with Hispanic congregations and communities, we offer as a resource our physical plants to members of local Synagogues, we arrange for our youth to interact with facets of other cultures. But in doing these things we are neither acting deliberately—with people of color in mind—nor ministering against.

We are ministering for. For and to and with, as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commanded, all people. All. People. Period.

We believe that the term "racism" is both outdated and narrow of focus. We believe that the real issue, and therefore the focus, should be on any action that may be defined or qualifies as "discrimination." Discrimination takes many forms, not only against people of color and diverse ethnic backgrounds, but also because of gender, age, weight, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, education, geographical origin and/or location, and faith in God and the infinite manifestations thereof, just to name a few.

This is also not to say that we do not discriminate. All people engage in this practice, in both subtle and overt ways. As products of an infinite variety of environments, discrimination is an inevitable and inescapable fact of the human experience. Our goal, which we believe is a major goal of Christian ministry, is to consciously work at becoming ever more aware of the ways in which we impose barriers, as individuals and as a Church, and then take steps toward eliminating these attitudes and behaviors.

This is a constant and ongoing work, one that will always be with us. This work can and should take many forms, and we hope and pray it is present in our preaching, our teaching, our pastoral care, outreach and fellowship programs, stewardship, communication, physical plant, and especially in our worship of God, the creator of all.

Sincere blessings,

The Sunset Convocation

Roger Reynolds, Dean

Cynthia Reynolds, President

All Saints, Hillsboro; Christ Church, Lake Oswego; St. Alban, Tillamook; St. Barnabas, Portland; St. Bartholomew, Beaverton; St. Bede, Forest Grove; St. Catherine, Manzanita; St. Francis, Wilsonville; St. Gabriel, Portland; St. James, Tigard; St. John the Baptist, Portland; St. Michael/San Miguel, Newberg; San Pablo, Hillsboro