Anti-racism education team offered new curriculum

by Women of the ELCA

by Inez Torres Davis

Last summer, 24 women met in Kansas City, Kansas, for anti-racism education training through Today’s Dream: Tomorrow’s Reality (TDTR).

Most of the women trained in Kansas—some ordained—were new to the movement.  All are committed to racial justice in the church and society.

In April 2017, Women of the ELCA’s network of anti-racism educators and advocates will be 20.

Of the first 110 who began TDTR education 20 years ago, about 35 have continued the training.  It has been a journey of looking into and rebuffing evil. It has brought the healing of God’s grace into our lives. Over the years, Women of the ELCA has developed several resources for racial justice advocacy.

In 2016, we developed a new three-part TDTR curriculum.  Each part includes a Bible study, resources and a PowerPoint.

Part one: “How We Got Here” traces White privilege from the Doctrine of Discovery to #blacklivesmatter.

Part two: “Where We Are” connects us to each other as we struggle to do God’s will.

Part three: “Having Helpful Conversations” focuses on the tools and skills needed to talk constructively about race in the church.

Women of the ELCA also offers many free racial justice advocacy resources online at welca.org/racialjustice.

At the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans last summer, the assembly referred a motion (CA16.05.23) to the Church Council to form a task force for “the purpose of developing a comprehensive set of strategies to equip congregations and synods to work towards becoming a more authentically diverse church.” 

The work of the task force included consulting with Women of the ELCA because of our racial justice advocacy work.

To get in touch with a trainer in the TDTR network, contact Inez Torres Davis at [email protected].

Inez Torres Davis is director for justice for Women of the ELCA.