A Statement on Structural Racism and Our Move Toward Structural Love

Guided by the Word of God and the Confessions of the church, the leadership of FPCS has adopted a statement naming the existence of racism imbedded within the fabric of our society as a first step in our labor “for the abolition of all racial discrimination and to minister to those injured by it.” (The Confession of 1967, 9.44.a)

We, the leadership of First Presbyterian Church, are learning to see the brokenness of our society and the systems within it that favor white people over people of color. We are sorry that we have not publicly  acknowledged these issues until now.

We pray that God will continue to show us how we have played a part in the both the systemic and individual sin of racism. We ask God’s forgiveness, so that we might be freed to move forward in love to work for God’s justice.

We condemn the unjust killing of people of color by systems or individuals, and we will look for, and seek to implement, solutions to this problem, both large and small, individual and corporate. 

We are grateful for our members of color who enact the grace of God as we, finally, seek to listen and to learn. 

We trust that as we seek to be as Christ to our community and beyond, that the Spirit within us will continue to prod us to bend the arc of justice more insistently.

Signed:
Rev. Beth Utley, pastor
The Session (governing board):
Roxanne Kaiser-Antonowich
David Smith
Bill Yaden Pam Hoy
Don Ayers
Paul George
Eva Rhodes
Rob Riedmiller
Chris Grape-Garvey Curt Hargash Kelly Possinger
Robert Schrey Deborah Freeborn Bill Lee