Over the last two and half years, over 100 Redeemer parishioners have engaged in anti-racism work by participating in Sacred Ground dialogue circles. Parishioners in small groups have spent several months learning about and reflecting on our national history and our faith, to come to a deeper understanding of ourselves and racism’s deep roots in our country. After completing Sacred Ground, many have asked “What’s next?”
To move further toward racial healing and the embodiment of justice, the national church envisions four dimensions of work, four important next steps patterned on the quadrants of a labyrinth: telling the truth, proclaiming the dream, practicing the way of love, and repairing the breach. The promise is that by walking this way together, we will become a community of reconciliation.
To begin to answer the question of what’s next for Redeemer, the Vestry passed a motion at our February 2022 meeting to create a working group to research the history related to Redeemer’s land, buildings, and actions over time. We proceed with humility and in thanksgiving for the native people who once lived here, for the Perine family and our other foundational benefactors, mindful of the shoulders on which we stand. By researching and documenting the history of our church, we can know our family narrative and gain insight into the mission and pathways ahead for our parish.
The motion as unanimously approved reads:
Resolved that a working group be appointed by the Rector to research the relationship between The Church of the Redeemer and (1) the institution of slavery, (2) the adoption of Jim Crow laws, and (3) other practices in Maryland that disenfranchise communities, and report to the Vestry within 18 months the effect of these relationships on the holdings, wealth, character, and mission of The Church of the Redeemer.
This working group is charged with research and discovery and to report to the congregation what the group has learned, inviting discussion and response.
The Vestry invites you to participate in this important truth-telling by joining this workgroup. So far the group includes Sean Goldrick, Nancy Bowen, Doug Riley, Keri Frisch, Dixon and Janet Harvey. Please reach out to Keri Frisch if you would like to learn more. This isn’t easy work, but it does allow us to fully live out our faith and follow the way of Jesus.
Keri Frisch
Senior Warden