The Work
The twin sins of White Supremacy and Racism are constantly innovating. Constantly finding ways to deceive us; to pull us away from our Baptismal Covenant. The Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing is one of the church’s pre-eminent spaces for doing the hard work of Dismantling Racism in all its guises.
We believe this work is essentially spiritual work. A practice that strengthens and deepens as we lean into it more profoundly. We have developed a number of programs that deepen that spiritual practice.
The Center offers a model of prayerful education that forms and reforms individual and collective action: a defined curriculum, thoughtful training, pilgrimages, and dialogue. Guided by faith and led by intention, the Center will continue its important work until our work is no longer needed. We seek the beloved community and the rewards of living life in that community - free of racism.
Dismantling Racism Training
This is the Center’s most widely practiced program and the cornerstone of our core belief that dismantling racism is, above all, a spiritual practice. Grounded in Jesus’ great commandment to “Love your neighbor as yourself,”
Dismantling Racism Training is a day-long journey–led by a group of seasoned trainers–to help participants start to develop an understanding of their own racial assumptions and how they most likely fit into a worldview that divides and destroys us.
The training is centered on the sacred connection between us that is present, most visibly, in the Holy Eucharist. We are united in Christ’s body and blood, as we share the sacramental bread and wine. In fact, most of our training sessions begin with a celebration of the ancient Rite.
AUC Campus Ministry
Founded in 1958; Father Warren Scott first chaplain and its longest serving ministerial presence. The Center’s main building is named in honor of Father Scott.
Most notably, the Center housed members of SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) organizers when Spelman, Morehouse, and Clark University wouldn’t provide space to meet.
In the early 1990’s, the center undertook an expanded vision of helping identify and inspire future generations of leaders, especially in the Church. Our existing building grew out of that expanded–and inspiring–mission.
Racial Healing
The damaging effect of Racism impacts everyone. The Center’s focus on healing comes from the latin root of salvation--salva, safe or saved--and incorporates a variety of programs that seek to heal–to save–us and our society from the ravages of the sin of racism.
This is a combination of internal work and external outreach. New programs are always being developed based on changing needs.
Some programs currently in development:
Developing A Spiritual Practice for Racial Healing. Building off the tradition of Benedictine Spirituality, how can we create a personal practice that builds a spirit-centered skill set to personally address Dismantling Racism?
Exploring a History of Racism in America.
Fr. Ken Swanson has put together some powerful work in this space. Perfect for Sunday adult education forums or Dismantling Racism Groups,
What's New?
Youth Dismantling Racism Training
Rooted in faith, the Absalom Jones Center developed a Christian formation program specifically for youth (grades 6-12). Dismantling Racism: A Youth Curriculum is a 6-session curriculum that will help Middle School and High School youth have conversations about race, become allies, and build relationships to address systemic racism in their context. The goal is to help youth connect their faith with racial healing in our communities.
Dismantling Racism en español
We are currently working on an updated Dismantling Racism Course that addresses the unique situations and experiences of our Latino/a brothers and sisters.
Day Two Training
Children's Training
This five-session formation curriculum is designed to help children in grades K-5 understand their own belovedness and the belovedness of their neighbors. Living God’s Dream is a curriculum for children built from activities designed to cultivate the practice of seeing the image of God in everyone. Encouraging children to action, service, and relationships, the curriculum helps children resist ideas that treat others as outsiders.
We're excited to announce the creation of a Day Two training program that lets us go deeper into the constantly evolving understanding of racism and its effects. Day Two will feature deep dives into Microaggressions, Racial Bias, Racial Trauma, White Fragility, and the ability to have difficult conversations.
We anticipate a launch date for the training in 2025. Keep an eye out!