Racial Justice

As an historically white denomination, we find it incredibly important to stand in solidarity with Communities of Color, to the best of our ability. We try to listen and learn.

Racial Justice Mission Statement

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our Mission

We walk together in the path of Jesus to create a racially equitable spiritual community within and beyond our walls.

Values

Truth and honesty • Respect • Solidarity• Humility • Community • Empathy • Inclusion • Growth • Connection • Justice and Equity • Fairness

Our Action Steps

  1. White people will educate each other about the origins and effects of white supremacy and white privilege.
  2. Conduct Racial Justice training in First Church with the aim of including the congregation in racial equity work; everyone has a role.
  3. Work with other local racial justice organizations.
  4. Center the voices of Black, Indigenous, and other People of  Color.

We examine our exclusionary beliefs and change our behavior to act in ways that are inclusionary so that we collectively eradicate racial harm.

 

Racial Justice Resource List

click here

 

 

 

 

 

NAACP-First Church Partnership

First Church, the Middlesex branch of the NAACP, and community members in Middletown, gathered for a series of conversations about how to disrupt the school-to-prison-pipeline. We realized there are so many different factors, layers and entry points to this issue, and that we still have a lot of work to do

Sacred Conversations on Race

The UCC has a program to hold local communities accountable to doing the much needed work around race.

Mass Incarceration

As the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, we passed a resolution of “Implementation to End Mass Incarceration for Non-Violent Offenses.” Our role in the local churches is to discern how best to stand to this. At First Church, one thing we do is we spend time with kids in the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, as well as try to educate ourselves and our communities about this injustice.