Anti-racism Task Force

October 30, 2020

Dear colleagues in ministry,

In 2013, the Presbytery of the Pacific started committing our September meetings to address the three Critical Global Initiatives (CGI) of the Presbyterian World Mission: reconciliation in cultures of violence, addressing root causes of poverty, and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Realizing that systemic racism was a large part of CGI, in 2019 we held a day long seminar on introduction to systemic racism for pastors, elected leadership of committees and commissions, and Presbytery staff, which revealed that while we value diversity, we have much more work to do. 

When the death of George Floyd awoke our collective consciousness on systemic racism, especially by the video from Rev. Carlton Rhoden and the letter from the National Black Presbyterian Caucus – Southern California Chapter (NBPC-SC), Presbytery Coordinating Commission (PCC) committed the Presbytery of the Pacific to become an anti-racist institution. 

The first step was to form a dedicated Anti-Racism Task Force to do a race equity audit. The announcement was made at a presbytery meeting and we asked for applications, but we are now extending the deadline and asking for more applications. We need your help to encourage members of your congregations to consider serving on the task force. 

The details of the task force are as follows:

Work: To do an audit of policies, procedures, practices, and how we relate to one another as the presbytery.

Composition:  Ten (10) to fifteen (15) individuals. There will be four (4) from NBPC-SC, General Presbyter, the Presbytery Moderator, and others will be at-large members representing various segments of the presbytery. The ideal task force will be diverse including age, race, gender, ordered ministries/regular members, and experiences.

Duration:  The duration of commitment will be between 12 to 18 months or completion.

Apply:  Those who are interested are asked to fill out the three question application to help determine the motivation, skill set, and commitment to the length of service.  

• Why do you want to serve on this task force? 

• Why is the work of Presbytery’s Anti-Racism Task Force important to you? 
• Why is this work important to our churches and Presbytery?

Besides being attached with this letter, the application can also be found on the front page of the Presbytery website – presbyteryofthepacific.org.

Deadline:  The new deadline is December 1, 2020

Process:  PCC will read all applications sent to the Stated Clerk and select those who will be interviewed.  A committee of four individuals, two from NBPC-SC and two from PCC, will interview names PCC has forwarded to them. Following the interviews the committee will forward to PCC a set of names for the committee.  PCC will make the final determination as to the composition of the task force. 

It is vital to the future life and ongoing work of the Presbytery that the content of this letter be shared with your session and membership.  Please make every effort to do so.