PC(USA) Self-Study on Racism
The Presbyterian Historical Society is in the process of developing a resource and/or training to help churches research and write their own histories through an anti-racist lens. To inform our process, PHS staff would like to hear directly from churches and mid councils on what would be most useful for you as you engage in this work via this survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SNPM69N
In June 2020, the 224th General Assembly passed item 00-29, "On the Church in this moment in history," which called Presbyterians to corporate repentance: "Repenting, both personally and corporately, for the role we as individuals and as a predominantly White-dominated church played in history and continue to perpetuate today, even if unknowingly, in systemic racism and White Supremacy, especially in terms of our own local silence, silencing those who attempt to speak or act, and our failure to act regarding police brutality, voter suppression, educational and healthcare inequality, and other acts of systemic racism on federal, state, and local levels."
In response, many churches and mid councils began work to study their history of racism. In June 2022, the 225th General Assembly passed item RGJ-12, directing "the Presbyterian Historical Society to create an online historical self-study tool for congregations and mid councils to investigate their own history" to better equip more churches to undertake this work. As part of this effort, PHS is collecting and preserving products of self-study undertaken by PC(USA) congregations and mid councils and providing access to them via the PC(USA) Self-Studies on Racism digital collection.
Use this form to submit your church or mid council's self-study product to be preserved and added to the digital collection.