Antiracism training added to busy assembly agenda
The Layman Online, February 21, 2001
Besides the normal agenda of 12-hour days for committee meetings and plenary sessions, the 2001 General Assembly in Louisville, Ky., on June 9-16 will jump-start a half-day early with a 4½-hour mandatory session on antiracism sensitivity-training.
The 1999 General Assembly ordered the training for all commissioners.
Normally, commissioners arrive at the General Assembly on Friday night or Saturday morning in time to attend the opening plenary session on Saturday afternoon, when the election of a new moderator is held.
This year, however, most commissioners will have to register in time to be on hand for the antiracism training Saturday morning, June 9.
The schedule for the 2001 General Assembly was reviewed on Feb. 19 by the Committee of the Office of the General Assembly and the General Assembly Council.
Members of the two groups were given a handout that explained the antiracism training, which will be conducted by the Office of the General Assembly and the Racial Ethnic Ministries office of the National Ministries Division of the General Assembly Council.
“Antiracism training is designed to help people develop an in-depth understanding of the nature and structure of racism and ways of dismantling it,” the handout said. “It begins a lifelong journey of personal and social transformation that includes transforming individual lives, dismantling institutional racism, healing racial prejudice, overcoming racial hatred and building ‘The Beloved Community of God’ for all God’s children.”