Whereas Scripture offers important teachings such as:

• God’s call and commandment to love God with all of one’s being (Deut. 6:5), and to love one’s neighbor as one’s self (Matthew 22:37-40)

• God’s call through the prophets to “act justly and love mercy” (Micah 6:8)

• God’s call through Jesus “to do unto others . . .” (Matthew 7:12), to see the despised and oppressed as children of God, as in the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman (John 4:4-30), and in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37)

• God’s vision of the church as a people “drawn from every nation, all tribes, peoples, and languages” (Revelations 7:9); and

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Whereas the church has understood itself to be called by God to speak and act on behalf of the outcast and oppressed from many cultures and throughout the ages; and

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Whereas since 2016, we have witnessed significant increases in the incidents of hate speech, hate crimes, assault, and harassment, directed at African Americans, Asian Americans, immigrants, Jews, LGBTQ individuals, Muslims, Native Americans, and others;

Therefore, be it resolved

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That the 2020 Synod of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion calls upon the congregations of the ECC to denounce all forms and expressions of white supremacist hatred and violence; and

Be it further resolved that the 2020 Synod of the ECC exhorts all congregations of the ECC to speak and act in solidarity with all who are the targets of hate speech and white supremacist violence; and
 

Be it further resolved that the 2020 Synod of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion urges all members, congregations, and ministry settings of the ECC

• to engage in reflection, learning, self-examination, and repentance for the ways in which white supremacy has influenced, and continues to influence, our personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural lives;

• and to seek out opportunities for transformative dialogue and relationship with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, including both targets and supporters of white supremacist rhetoric and action, with special attention to assisting congregants of white and/or European descent to acknowledge their responsibility to use their privilege to disrupt bigotry rooted in whiteness; and

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Be it finally resolved that the 2020 Synod of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion encourages each congregation of the ECC to join with other communities of faith to proclaim our shared commitment to Racial Justice and denounce white supremacy.

This is an adapted version, by the ECC Truth & Reconciliation Commission of the Office of Presiding Bishop, of the resolution “Denouncing Acts of Violence, Hatred, And Racism Carried Out in The Name of White Supremacist Ideologies” set forth at the Thirty-Second General Synod of the United Church of Christ; this adaptation was done with permission.