Ethno-cultural Associations

The Journeys of Black Peoples in The United Church of Canada is a growing network of self-identified Black peoples who together strive to assess, promote, and support the well-being of Black peoples within The United Church of Canada.

Mission Statement

To assess, promote, and support the well-being of Black peoples within The United Church of Canada.

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Strategic Goals

• create awareness of structures and their functions within The United Church of Canada
• advocate for reconciliation and justice in the United Church and in our communities
• sensitize The United Church of Canada about the experiences of Black peoples in the United Church and society
• create intentional support and a continuous program of care, education, and ministry with and for the Black community
• celebrate our faith journeys within The United Church of Canada

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Background

Inclusion has been a challenge for the church since its beginning, when the early church had to struggle with the inclusion of the Gentile community. Acts 15 describes the early church leaders meeting to consider their response to what God was doing in the world. They listened to the stories of those who had witnessed God's activity and decided they should not stand in the way of what God was doing, and subsequently God blessed the emerging church community.

The Journeys of Black Peoples came into being through concerns raised by United Church members and from a commitment to living out The United Church of Canada's anti-racism policy adopted at the 37th General Council. The Human Rights and Reconciliation Program of the Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit took leadership in calling together a national consultation of Black peoples to reflect on becoming a racially just church, from a human rights perspective and as experienced by Black peoples in church and society.

Growing Network

At the national consultation in April 2005, participants renamed the four areas of the United Church's anti-racism policy—participate fully, organize for diversity, act justly, speak to the world—as outcomes to work toward. The nearly 50 attendees determined that a network of Black peoples would alleviate some of the isolation and marginalization that many Black peoples had expressed, and would continue the process of becoming a racially just church.

The Journeys of Black Peoples is now a dynamic movement seeking to address the unique concerns of Black peoples in the United Church by asking critical questions about inclusion and advocating for justice so that together Black peoples can make more meaningful contributions to the whole church.

The Journeys continues to connect Black peoples who feel isolated, and seeks to unite people who understand their common experiences in the church. Regular gatherings and proactively working for racial justice in the church and wider society, creating worship resources for the wider church, and hearing and responding to the concerns of Black peoples in their church communities are key components of this growing movement of Black peoples in The United Church of Canada.

Into the Future

The Journeys of Black Peoples is now an important body within the Diverse Communities in Mission Unit. The network of Black peoples strives to support people and celebrating who they are and the unique gifts that they bring to the church. Affirmation for peoples who sometimes do not feel a part of the church is essential to start a spark, so the gatherings offer intentional experiences of belonging that they can take with them to their home congregations. There are multiple communities of Black peoples, but there are common experiences shared among Black peoples. The Journeys of Black Peoples is currently working on

• HIV/AIDS in the Black community
• creating resources for Black History (African Heritage) Month
• cultivating regional clusters
• developing intentional pastoral care for Black peoples in the church

This community of Black peoples endeavours to faithfully respond to the call to become church together. Just as the early church leaders struggled with questions of inclusion of some communities (Acts 15), the Journeys of Black Peoples also reflects on a transformed and united church community. As the movement of Black peoples grows, they seek to balance being in community, celebrating the identities of Black peoples in the church, advocacy, networking, support, and critical analysis, while grounded in faithful consideration of how, through their communities, God could impact the whole church.

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Join the Journeys!

If you self-identify as a Black person in The United Church of Canada, and are seeking to be part of a growing movement of Black peoples who are impacting the whole church-join the Journeys of Black Peoples in The United Church of Canada. Be part of the visioning and strategic planning as we strive toward justice and reconciliation, advocacy, identity formation, and support for Black peoples participating in United Church congregations across the country.

To become a member of this transformative movement, please

• contact the Diverse Communities in Mission Unit
• join the Facebook* group
• come to the national gatherings