Overcoming Racism One Relationship At A Time
6-4-2020
As a faith based organization, ABCCM has stood with oppressed people of color and those in poverty, including condemning the violence that grows out of racism such as with George Floyd and the countless numbers who have suffered before and will continue to suffer until we build relationships and values that not only respect – but protect the dignity of every human being.
ABCCM was born in 1969 after a Bible study and pastoral leadership of Reverend John Christy. He and Reverend J. T. Jones chose to do something about racism and poverty rather than study it. The first principles they laid down were that we must “listen to each other to understand each other;” and “we must respect and preserve the dignity of every man, woman and child - no matter what…” They did a radical thing at a time when separate bathrooms, fountains, and stores were still the norm, by suggesting and then modeling what it was to “work together, because we can accomplish more together than we can individually.”
I have shared this powerful story before. In 1982, ABCCM recruited 100 volunteers in one drive and had to place and train them all quickly. In the Crisis Ministry food pantry, a young black female had been working for a couple of months and an older, retired white male was placed beside her. ABCCM needed more help in the kitchen on Friday mornings and he was willing, so I made the assignment. As you can imagine, several folks, old and young, black and white warned me to keep an eye on that situation, so I could intervene before it became a situation.
About one month into this service, the gentleman came to me and said he wanted to talk over something very serious with me. I said let’s talk now, and he said, “up in your office.” I didn’t get nervous until he closed the door. He asked me not to repeat what he was about to tell me and I agreed to listen. He said, “You know that young woman that I work with in the kitchen? Do you know she is Catholic and I am Baptist? Do you know that she believes almost the same things that I believe?” I responded, “Okay, yes I did know that they had different faith traditions; but so, what is the problem?” He responded rather sternly, “That’s it, we are so much alike and we are already forming a friendship but you can’t tell anybody!” I told him that he was experiencing unity in the body of Christ, and that this was always to be celebrated as the core of ABCCM.
I assured him that I would handle this respectfully.
I have told everyone since then about this good news for overcoming racism. ABCCM offers one of the keys where our focus is doing together what we cannot do individually and coming together in our common goals to serve our neighbors. We create opportunities for churches (of all colors and faith traditions) to come and serve. In serving side by side with others, we discover and build new relationships that would not have happened in our usual cultural settings. These relationships are cultivated at every level of ABCCM’s organization from our church members, to our Board, staff and volunteers.
Integration is not a formula – it is participation in common goals to solve bigger community issues – one relationship, one activity, one person at a time.
ABCCM also participates at the community, state and national levels in building these relationships with organizations that build relationships across racial, ethnic and socio-economic cultures. ABCCM is an Affiliate Member of the Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, a predominantly African-American organization that was founded by the legendary Reverend Dr. Leon H. Sullivan. He was a Baptist minister, a civil rights leader and social activist focusing on the creation of job training opportunities for African Americans, a longtime General Motors board member, and an anti-apartheid activist. He not only worked with the Department of Labor to create the Community Work Experience Program, he founded OIC of America that has trained thousands in poor, disadvantaged neighborhoods to have the life skills and jobs skills to escape poverty and build stronger communities.
ABCCM does not have all the answers, but it does have the fundamental principles of building relationships that change and empower – both those who serve, and those being served. We see the fruits of this around all ABCCM’s ministries. We give thanks to those volunteers and churches who choose to come out of their four walls and serve together. If you are looking to overcome those cultural boundaries and discover a greater sense of unity and community, we invite you to join 300 congregations and over 5000 volunteer who are overcoming racism and poverty by serving together.
Contact us at info@abccm.org or volunteer@abccm.org.
Reverend Scott Rogers
Executive Director