Anti-Racism Work at BPC
At BPC we seek to live out our faith by actively working against racism in ourselves and our world. That work takes many forms. We partner with and are led in action by our local NAACP chapter and the local grass-roots organization Dialogue on Race.
We work to educate ourselves on local and national history of racism and current inequities. To that end, we’ve had classes and discussion groups, participated in a racial wealth-gap simulation, and re-examined our own history as a congregation in an effort to be honest about our own role in racism. We believe it is important to face the whole truth as we repent and commit ourselves to continuing to work for God’s vision for the world.
PC(USA) Matthew 25 initiative
‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:37-40
Matthew 25:31–46 calls all of us to actively engage in the world around us, so that our faith comes alive and we wake up to new possibilities. Convicted by this passage, both the 222nd and 223rd General Assemblies (2016 and 2018) exhorted the PC(USA) to act boldly and compassionately to serve people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned, or poor.
The PC(USA) Matthew 25 Initiative calls congregations to serve Christ by working to dismantle structural racism, eradicate systemic poverty, and build congregational vitality. The session of BPC voted in 2021 to become a Matthew 25 church focusing on dismantling structural racism.
