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Introduction to Social Justice
March 1, 2022
The North/West Lower Michigan Synod and Justice Leaders Collaborative are partnering to provide an Introduction to Social Justice course to deepen our understanding and commitment to social justice in regard to race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and ability.
The course will be held via Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm, beginning March 1 and running through April 5, 2022. The course will be open to anyone in the Synod who wishes to participate, but is limited to 30 people.
If you are interested in participating in the Introduction to Social Justice Course, please complete the registration form by February 21, 2022. Register Now.
As you consider participating in the upcoming course, check out the following endorsements of the course from those who participated:
I found the class to be very valuable in recognizing my own bias and the pervasiveness of all the “isms”. The experience in the group gave me a framework of how to initiate these conversations with parishioners and others.
I appreciated the broad topics that were covered during this training – including understanding and key issues related to social identities, racism, classism, sexism, and privilege. I learned new information relative to topics I thought I understood at a high level that helped me with further discernment.
The Introduction to Social Justice course reminded me that being anti-racist is an ongoing process. There is no fixed finish line where I will completely “get it.” There will always be more that I can learn, from the history of racism in this country, to tactics to being anti-racist, to the new ways racism presents itself in this country.
JLC consistently challenged us with the thought of “how do we show up as Christians” in racial justice matters.
The material is informative and the breadth of issues extensive. Spending time in the sessions and with the material was a reminder for me that “social justice” is the work of self evaluation, a willingness learn, and to act, no matter how long or deep I have already traveled the path.
Having participated in Anti-racism training with other organizations, it was especially meaningful for me to gather with other church leaders for this purpose. We cannot be “God’s work. Our hands.” without committing to social change. Recognizing systemic racism and confessing our part in it are instrumental in being church.