Antiracism Initiave

Four programs are in place to further PW’s commitment to anti-racism:

1. Anti-racism Facilitator Training

In partnership with the Office of Racial Justice and Advocacy, Presbyterian Women offered training to 75 members of Presbyterian Women to become anti-racism facilitators in 2002–2005. They have joined a growing network of anti-racism facilitators, men and women, across the church who work in teams of at least two people to facilitate anti-racism training events from one hour to one day in length for congregation, presbytery and synod groups, as well as PW groups at all levels. In some cases, these events have included more experienced national-level facilitators and GAMC staff. For information related to scheduling training events, contact Teresa Sauceda, associate for racial justice and advocacy.

PW continues to provide support to those interested in improving their facilitation skills in anti-racism. With PW’s full financial support, six PW women received additional advanced training in anti-racism at the Ghost Ranch Conference Center in 2005, and PW provided six full scholarships for anti-racism training at the Ghost Ranch in August 2006.  For more information about the Ghost Ranch anti-racism training, contact Unzu Lee.

2. Transforming Presbyterian Women into an Anti-racist Organization

At the 2003 Business Meeting during the 2003 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women, PW adopted recommendations for structural changes proposed by the Structural Review Task Force. The task force reviewed and analyzed the PW structure, its programs and resources from an anti-racist perspective during 2000–2003. These recommendations were referred to various standing committees of the Churchwide Coordinating Team and are in the process of being implemented. Voting representatives at the 2006 Business Meeting will receive a report on the progress made on these recommendations. Read the report of the Structural Review Task Force.

3. Racial Ethnic Dialog

The Racial Ethnic Dialog group is playing a significant role in assisting PW to become an inclusive and caring community. Officially organized in May 1989, the dialog grew out of discussions during the 1994–1997 triennium of Presbyterian Women in response to concerns raised by National Asian Presbyterian Women and National Black Presbyterian Women. The group seeks to

• Intentionally find ways for women to share together and dialogue as partners in ministry
• Honor the gifts, perspectives and heritage of all God’s people
• Speak truth to power as we explore ways to form the “inclusive, caring community of women” spoken of in the PW Purpose
• Find new paradigms for working together as members of Presbyterian Women
• Celebrate our oneness in the living Christ.

Fully supported by Presbyterian Women, the group meets annually for three days usually on a PC(USA) racial ethnic school campus. The current membership consists of 25 women, which includes three white women representing CCT, six racial ethnic members-at-large from the CCT, two women from each of the six racial ethnic women’s constituency groups, two new immigrant women and two members of Racial Ethnic Young Women Together. Staff leadership is provided by Unzu Lee.

4.  Racial Ethnic Dialog Grant Program

Following the success of the Racial Ethnic Dialog at the churchwide level, PW at its 2003 Business Meeting approved a recommendation with funding to encourage PW groups in synods and presbyteries to start a Racial Ethnic Dialog group. A one-time grant, each synod was eligible to receive a grant in the amount of $2,000 during the triennium, 2003-2006.