Bethany Community Church Statement of Commitment in Response to Racial Injustice
In this present moment, it is Bethany Community Church’s identity and call to stand up
for our stated priority of racial justice and reconciliation. We claim our core beliefs that
all humans are image-bearers of God (Gen 1:27), that diversity is God’s very-good
design (Rev 7:9), that Jesus has broken down the dividing walls of human separation
(Eph 2:14), and that Jesus calls and equips His followers to be His co-agents of
reconciliation and justice (2 Cor 5:18-19).
We acknowledge, lament, and repent of the Church’s complicity in racism in America.
We acknowledge our blindspots at Bethany, which often maintain the status quo, and
we desire to see more significant progress. We seek God’s healing, reconciling, and
redemptive work in us and through us. We stand against racism, racial injustice, and
systemic oppression in our midst and reaffirm our commitment to the integration of
racial justice and reconciliation in the full life of our church. We commit to actionable
steps of lament, listening, and anti-racist engagement as leadership and as a
community.
The Ministry of Racial Justice and Reconciliation (MRJR) is a culmination of the ongoing
efforts of many individuals across all six Bethany locations to integrate awareness and
understanding of cultural and ethnic diversity in our community as well as reconciliation
and justice into our formation as disciples of Jesus. For the last five years, MRJR has
sought to help bring reconciliation to our neighborhoods in the Greater Puget Sound
Region and in 2016 this became a Strategic Priority at Bethany.
We invite you to find out how you can get involved.
In Christ,
Bethany Community Church Leadership
MINISTRY OF RACIAL JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION (MRJR) GUIDING STATEMENT
March 7, 2019
At Bethany Community Church, we believe all humans are image bearers of God (Gen. 1:27) and diversity is God’s very-good design (Rev 7:9). Therefore, we strive to stop racism and see God’s image in all people, including all variety of bodies, skin color, ethnicity, national origin, language, faith, and citizenship status. Jesus Christ is ultimately the One who breaks down dividing walls to dismantle racism. At the same time, Jesus calls and equips his followers to be his co-agents of reconciliation and justice. (Ephesians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
Toward this end, Bethany Community Church has made racial justice and reconciliation a strategic priority and established the Ministry of Racial Justice and Reconciliation (MRJR) in order to build a long-term community of reconciliation that restores broken relationships and systems.
Goals
The Ministry of Racial Justice and Reconciliation is committed to three over-arching goals:
1. Building a cohesive Bethany-wide MRJR movement.
2. Actively dismantling racism and pursuing justice.
3. Ensuring God’s multi-ethnic kingdom is increasingly reflected in Bethany’s staff and congregation and leadership.