By Claire Woodley
Canon for Congregational Support in the Diocese of Long Island (retired)
As Canon for Congregational Support in the Diocese of Long Island, I was first introduced to FaithX through an online workshop led by its president, The Rev. Ken Howard, titled “Mapping and Mitigating Systemic Racism around St. Paul’s in Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY.”
Having just participated in a diocesan-wide experience of the Sacred Ground anti-racism curriculum, people were prepared for a deeper look into the present-day structural racism present in their own geographical area of the Diocese of Long Island. In partnership with FaithX, we created the StoryMap for our Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly resource, a set of interactive maps that reveal the presence and power of systemic racism within Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties of Long Island, NY.
The four counties of Long Island, where Episcopal churches are located, each contain areas of great poverty and great wealth (click here to view the StoryMap). Used alongside another anti-racism project in Long Island, Uncovering our Parish Histories, individual parish histories of racism in their roots, which were often absent in “traditional” parish histories. Using the present-day StoryMap helped parishes identify their participation in the structures of racism and see, with fresh eyes, how to build expressions of reparation and reconciliation. Congregations had profound experiences together in both personal and community reflection, lamentation, and transformation into more deeply anti-racist communities.
According to The Rev. Lindsay Lunnum, Rector of Zion Church, Douglaston…
“In the work of uncovering our parish’s connections to American slavery, we discovered that 12 of the 18 founding members had enslaved 43 human beings. All that we had been taught in school that slavery was a ‘Southern thing’ dissolved when we realized that slavery’s tentacles were woven deeply into our own story. We learned that people are complicated, that we are still grateful for the faithfulness of those who founded our parish, but also ashamed that they enslaved God’s children. We believe we are called to both claim the gifts and help heal the wounds of our legacy. There is still a lot of work to do.”
Being able to access the work of structural racism today enables these congregations to make ministry decisions congruent with their history and the information they have today on structural racism. Knowing the data then and now clarifies the work and helps move congregations from sentimental expressions to justice actions. When we understand our roles in the story, we can take steps to change the narrative and our course of action going forward. It takes effort, hard effort, but very meaningful effort.
Interested in learning more about FaithX tools to help your congregation or judicatory? Contact FaithX at info@faithx.net.
