Western Pennsylvania Conference
Commission on Religion and Race (C.O.R.R.) 

ANTIRACISM SUMMIT 2022
Towards an Anti-Racist Church:
The Intersection of Faith and Race

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."
    -James Baldwin

Watch invitation video from Peggy Ward, Coordinator of CORR Anti-racism Summit.

In 2008, the Western Pennsylvania Conference (WPA) of the United Methodist church became the first Annual Conference in the denomination to adopt the intentional practice of Dismantling Racism as a fifth focus into its strategic focus and goals. Although the WPA conference has made meaningful headway in combating racism, there is always more work to be done. The Anti-Racism Summit 2022 will be a three-day learning journey focused on equipping individuals who are currently involved in anti-racism work with the tools needed to transition into more active advocacy. The summit will provide opportunity for members of the conference, and those from surrounding areas, to investigate the history and nature of racism within the church and develop strategies for implementing anti-racism tools to combat systemic racism.

Hosted by the Conference Commission on Religion and Race, this summit will include workshops, Bible study, panels, self care, action, and more. This event includes a youth antiracism summit and connects with United Women in Faith. Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi will lead opening worship.

When: Thursday, October 20, 2022 to Saturday, October 22, 2022

Where: In Person (Warren UMC, Ingomar UMC, and Healthy Villages- McKeesport). This event allows for both virtual and hybrid Sessions

Audience: Those who are currently involved in anti-racism learning and are ready to move into action and/or those currently involved in advocacy activities.

Topics Addressed:
Historical background of racism
Racism and the church- what holds it in place and how to dismantle it
Self care for the journey-
Investigating how race operates overtly and covertly
Investigating one’s own culture and the culture of others
Moving into action on antiracism

Accommodations: Hotel rooms available at Holiday Inn Express North Shore. See information. 
 

See schedule

Download Communication Toolkit

Proclamation: By registering for the Anti-Racism Summit 2022, I am committing to being a participant who is:
● Dedicated to creating a courageous safe space for all participants of the Summit.
● Understanding that all sessions offered during the summit are developed and will be presented through a mindset that does not cater to White Fragility. Each session is also built within a framework which espouses that race matters, racism exists, and the pervasiveness of its existence  impacts the lives of People of Color daily.
● Willing to enter into conversations about race at a deep (versus a surface) level.
● Able to challenge myself to see and respect the inherent worth of those who do not agree with my perspectives, while respectfully sharing my viewpoints during the event.
● Open to the possibility that there will be some moments of uncomfortability during the learning opportunities provided and dedicated to persisting through the discomfort.
● Purposeful in engaging in exercises that interrogate my long held, core, beliefs.
● Interested in being a continual learner who uses the skills and tools gathered to dismantle racism in the contexts where I have the ability to do so.
(click here to register for the Summit)


 

 

Adjacent Events

Register for the Youth Summit

Register for the United Women in Faith Annual meeting by emailing Linda Thayer at lsthayer@gmail.com.