One Body Collaboratives

One of the focus areas of One Body Collaboratives is Racial Justice and Racial Reconciliation.  We host a variety of educational events for our faith leaders to learn about resources in this area and also to learn from one another in regards to how Racial Justice is discussed within our local churches. We have complied the resources below for your reference in this area:

Barna Resources
Guest Column: Reading the Bible Through Racial Lenses
Chad Brennan is coordinator of the Race, Religion, and Justice Project, and founder of Renew Partnerships, a Christian research and consulting ministry that focuses on diversity and race in faith-based organizations. He, along with others at the Racial Justice and Unity Center, partnered with Barna to conduct the Beyond Diversity study. Brennan is also co-author, with Christina Barland Edmondson, of the forthcoming book Faithful Antiracism: Moving Past Talk to Systemic Change (IVP, March 2022).
Guest Column: Reading the Bible Through Racial Lenses - Barna Group

Most Christians Assume Diverse Community Will Improve Race Relations (February 9, 2022)
What can one person do to help address racial injustice in America?
Beyond Diversity, a recent Barna study created in partnership with the Racial Justice and Unity center, covers key trends in Americans’ fluctuating motivation to pursue racial justice. With insights from experts, the report highlights ways congregations can grow in this area—and urges that statistical diversity is not the end goal.
Most Christians Assume Diverse Community Will Improve Race Relations - Barna Group

What Is the Church’s Role in Racial Reconciliation? (July 30, 2019)
August 2019 marked 400 years since African slaves were brought to the United States and traded to European settlers in exchange for money and food. Many historians note the summer of 1619 as the beginning of slavery in America, and as our country nears the anniversary of this horrific event, many are taking time to reflect on the history of racial injustice in America and their responsibility in healing the wounds of inequality that have been inflicted on black Americans over the last four centuries.
For a recent study on race and equality in America, conducted in partnership with The Reimagine Group, Barna set out to contribute to a broader understanding of race relations in our present moment and equip church leaders with context for challenging conversations. This new report, titled Where Do We Go from Here?, represents the first of several new Barna efforts to study race and the Church and assesses perceptions of the nation’s reputation and what practicing Christians—across racial, denominational and political fault lines—feel should be done to repair the damage.
What Is the Church’s Role in Racial Reconciliation? - Barna Group

National Resources
Be The Bridge
Authentic racial bridge-builders.
Our vision is that people and organizations are aware and responding to the racial brokenness and systemic injustice in our world. People are no longer conditioned by a racialized society but are grounded in truth. All are equipped to flourish.
www.BeTheBridge.com

Local Resources
Eliminate Racism 815
Home | Eliminate Racism 815 (er815.org)

YWCA
Racial Justice & Civil Rights | YWCA Northwestern IL (ywcanwil.org)

Please note this is not an exhaustive list of all avaialble resources in this area, but rather a starting point.  If there are additional programs or organizations that you would recommend us adding to this list, please email: Mary.Cacioppi@OneBodyCollaboratives.org