Racial Justice and De-Colonizing the Church  

The Executive Committee on behalf of the full WJIECC designed the first of the series of conversations on dismantling racism. This action is an outcome of the Executive Committee’s conferring with our Leadership Team Chair, Donna Pritchard that the WJIECC is supporting the Western Jurisdiction’s bold ministry in fighting against racism or eradicating racism. The first conversation was held on January 5, 2021 at 6:00-8:00 pm via Zoom. There were 233 registrants and 189 attended the conversation.  
  
The conversation speakers were the Rev. Michael Yoshii, a retired clergy from the California-Nevada Conference; Pastor Ann Jacob, a young clergy serving as one of the pastors at Edmond UMC in the Pacific Northwest and Deborah Bass, Vice Chair of the National Black Methodists for Church Renewal, and the Chair of the Conference Committee on Strengthening the Black Church for the 21^st Century of the California-Pacific Conference.  
  
Purposes of the Conversation
 
(1) Strengthen work of advocacy on racial justice in the five main Caucuses in the WJ:  

• Asian American Coordinating Committee  
• MARCHA (Metodistas Asociados Representando la Causa Hispano Americano) -West 
• Committee on Native Americans  
• Black Methodists for Church Renewal  
• Pacific Island National Caucus United Methodists-West  

(2) Promote to develop programs in churches in working and standing up in dismantling racism through the Conference Committees on Ethnic Ministries and Outreach, CC on Religion and Race, Conference Committee on Lay Leadership Development  

The Executive Committee and members of the IECC will gather ideas, comments, questions received in the breakout room/group and main room conversations and from the chat box to find helpful resource in its next steps to the work of dismantling racism.  

Please find the Zoom recording of the Conversation on Dismantling Racism as a resource for your use in your local churches, Caucuses and other support groups in our collective work in standing up against racism.

• Dismantling Racism RECORDING   Access Passcode: 9^G11cju

Attachment

• Information and bio of speakers
• Written presentation by Rev. Michael Yoshii