Our commitment to pursuing racial justice
In early 2022, a task force at LifePath Church was formed to help identify opportunities to grow into a church that that expresses racial justice as a core element of our community identity, founded in Jesus. After interviews and conversations both within the LifePath congregation and in our broader region, recommendations were then presented to the congregation and the Vision Team. The leadership at LifePath accepted, affirmed, and committed to these recommendations in April of 2022. This page will serve as an overview of those priorities and a regularly updated list of specific action steps that we are taking together. We commit to walk in the love and compassion of Jesus in a world where racial inequity and inequality continues to affect lives. Our specific work will revolve around 3 primary commitments:
- LifePath will concertedly foster, encourage, and maintain conversations on race.
- LifePath will directly address statements that may be a hindrance to cultivating productive and meaningful conversations on race within the church.
- LifePath will be intentional and creative about incorporating racial equity and justice into its leadership, operations, community, and work.
- LifePath will concertedly foster, encourage, and maintain conversations on race.
- LifePath will directly address statements that may be a hindrance to cultivating productive and meaningful conversations on race within the church.
- LifePath will be intentional and creative about incorporating racial equity and justice into its leadership, operations, community, and work.
Commitment #1: LifePath will concertedly foster, encourage, and maintain conversations on race.
To do this, we will hold, declare, and protect our conversational space as open, safe, and sacred.
We will simultaneously acknowledge and confront discomfort.
We will come from a place of humility and learning, particularly around worldviews that could affect our views on race.
To do this, we will hold, declare, and protect our conversational space as open, safe, and sacred.
We will simultaneously acknowledge and confront discomfort.
We will come from a place of humility and learning, particularly around worldviews that could affect our views on race.
Commitment #2: LifePath will directly address statements that may be a hindrance to cultivating productive and meaningful conversations on race within the church.
There are many statements that can halt conversations about race or minimize a person's voice. There are phrases that are unhelpful or hurtful, and there are attitudes that move us toward avoiding discomfort or casting blame. Our commitment is to name these moments as they emerge, so that understanding and growth can occur in an environment that is safe and brave.
There are many statements that can halt conversations about race or minimize a person's voice. There are phrases that are unhelpful or hurtful, and there are attitudes that move us toward avoiding discomfort or casting blame. Our commitment is to name these moments as they emerge, so that understanding and growth can occur in an environment that is safe and brave.
Commitment #3: LifePath will be intentional and creative about incorporating racial equity and justice into its leadership, operations, community, and work.
We will do a better job at understanding the demographics and needs of our broader community, so that we can engage in projects that are reflective of the community and its needs.
We will make racial equity a priority in our church leadership and church decision-making. This includes a full buy-in from leadership, diverse voices in decision-making, church communication, and culture creation, and accountability measures, both internal and external.
We will build relationships, and share in ministry, with churches outside of LifePath, particularly churches whose community makeup and leadership are not predominantly white.
We will engage our LifePath community more in service and relational connections to Las Americas ASPIRA Academy.
We will be creative and consistent in integrating more diverse voices, perspectives, and postures of worship into our Sunday Gatherings and churchwide communications. The Pastoral Team will initiate these movements.
We will explore issues of cultural diversity, racial equity, and racial justice both inside and outside of the "formal" church environment. This may include compassion teams, book studies, new service and partnership opportunities, public lament, and informal cultural learning experiences.
We will do a better job at understanding the demographics and needs of our broader community, so that we can engage in projects that are reflective of the community and its needs.
We will make racial equity a priority in our church leadership and church decision-making. This includes a full buy-in from leadership, diverse voices in decision-making, church communication, and culture creation, and accountability measures, both internal and external.
We will build relationships, and share in ministry, with churches outside of LifePath, particularly churches whose community makeup and leadership are not predominantly white.
We will engage our LifePath community more in service and relational connections to Las Americas ASPIRA Academy.
We will be creative and consistent in integrating more diverse voices, perspectives, and postures of worship into our Sunday Gatherings and churchwide communications. The Pastoral Team will initiate these movements.
We will explore issues of cultural diversity, racial equity, and racial justice both inside and outside of the "formal" church environment. This may include compassion teams, book studies, new service and partnership opportunities, public lament, and informal cultural learning experiences.
| Click here for the Full Task Force Recommendation Document |
Current Action steps
Summer 2022
- Keith reaching out to 3 sister churches for feedback on what has worked well in their racial justice teams/initiatives.
- Launch summer book study group on racial equity and discipleship
- Pastoral meeting scheduled with Aspira principal to explore healthy continuing connection between Aspira and LifePath
Spring 2022
- Webpage established for information, accountability, and feedback
- Racial Justice update and check in was added as a standing Agenda item for every monthly Vision Team Meeting
- Commitment to monthly Sunday morning updates about current action steps (also given via print/email)
- Keith reaching out to 3 sister churches for feedback on what has worked well in their racial justice teams/initiatives.
- Launch summer book study group on racial equity and discipleship
- Pastoral meeting scheduled with Aspira principal to explore healthy continuing connection between Aspira and LifePath
Spring 2022
- Webpage established for information, accountability, and feedback
- Racial Justice update and check in was added as a standing Agenda item for every monthly Vision Team Meeting
- Commitment to monthly Sunday morning updates about current action steps (also given via print/email)