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Critical Cultural Competency Digital Workshop- an Introductory Antiracism Training

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Synod of the Covenant Edition

Critical Cultural Competency, an Introductory Antiracism Training
 

The Synod of the Covenant will be offering through our partner Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training on the following dates:

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On Tuesday and Wednesday, February 11th and 12 from 1:00 - 5:00 pm (EST)

Friday, February 21st from 4-8:00pm and Saturday, February 22nd from 10:00am-2:00pm. (EST)

“Facing Racism: A Vision of the Intercultural Community,” the PC(USA) Churchwide Antiracism Policy adopted by the 222 nd General Assembly (2016), states:

 

“The Bible insistently reveals that God loves diversity and justice. This is seen in the wide variety of creation in which God delights. It is heard in the words of the prophets, who reject oppression and commend justice as true worship. It is embodied in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, who resists the power of empire and values all persons, regardless of status, as children of God. Jesus gathered a community of people around him that crossed over every social and cultural boundary (page 3).”


The churchwide policy invites Presbyterians to embrace, celebrate, and seek liberation for the diversity manifested in God’s creation. The report continues:


“In our affirmation that God loves difference, we will honor diversity as a good in which God delights. In our conviction that God desires justice, we will learn from others to broaden our understanding of equality. In our humility as sinful people, we will listen openly to diverse voices regarding how racism functions in our society. In our gratitude for God’s grace, we will turn again and again towards the vision of whole community found in the Word of God. In our joyous response to God’s love, we will love one another (page 6).”


All Presbyterians are called to acknowledge their shortcomings in affirming and loving all that God has made good. As the United States continues its journey toward transcultural and intercultural polarization, this call is both timely and crucial. How can church leaders actively participate in God’s holy affirmation of diversity? How can they disrupt practices and values that diminish those who are
“not like us”? What role do power imbalances play in this diminishment? Crossroads’ Critical Cultural Competency workshop aims to address these pressing questions. The workshop is designed to help organizational leaders enhance their intercultural capacities.


Workshop participants will:


1. Develop a shared language and frameworks to understand culture and cultural dominance.


2. Examine how uncritical engagement with cultural power within institutions can undermine
commitments to diversity and inclusion.


3. Reflect on how dominant culture conditions institutional leaders, regardless of racial identity, in
ways that hinder intercultural efforts despite stated commitments to diversity.


4. Envision and confront what it means to become critically cultural institutions and leaders.


Hosted on Zoom, this interactive workshop will employ various learning methodologies, including
individual reflection, small group work, large group discussions, framework presentations, and
collaborative work in a digital workspace.

Critical Cultural Competency Digital Workshop- an Introductory Antiracism Training

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