The Church and Racism: Can Churches, Leaders Make a Difference?

Recent events in Ferguson, Mo., are a reminder that racial tensions — and racial ills — are alive and well. The shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white Ferguson police officer on Aug. 9 has called attention to underlying racial injustices in the St. Louis area.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon in November named the Ferguson Commission to work toward dealing with a host of issues related to racial inequity and injustice in the St. Louis area back in November in an effort to make real progress in dealing with structures and practices long overdue for overhaul.

Missouri lawmakers are proposing legislation to deal with the situation.

But what should be the role of pastors and their churches in dealing with the age-old cancer of racism? Do clergy and their congregations have the will to make a difference in race relations where they are? How can they effectively address this issue that may be nearly as old as creation?

Earlier this week, while this issue of the print version of Word & Way was being prepared for the printer, a coalition of religious leaders from various denominations in St. Louis — called the One Church Outreach Ministry — sponsored the We Are One unity event at Faith Church in Earth City, Mo.

A Sunday night rally was to draw various religious leaders and speakers to a cross-cultural rally to include a commitment to “unity and reconciliation” by St. Louis-area religious leaders.

Another group of diverse clergy, Metropolitan Congregations United, has been meeting and praying in St. Louis in light of the Ferguson situation as they seek to address it as faith leaders.

One of those is Traci Blackmon, pastor of Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant, Mo., a member of the Ferguson Commission, which is to offer constructive recommendations by Sept. 15.

Various other groups, including blacks, whites and others, have also gathered for prayer and dialogue to address cross-cultural relationships and to show support for those directly affected in Ferguson and beyond.

Some pastors have made efforts to help their members and others better understand racial pressures that they — especially if they are white — might not fully understand.

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