All of the world’s major religions hold to some form of the “Golden Rule.” The Christian faith follows Christ’s words, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) When asked “who is my neighbor?” Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan, and directed his followers to “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37) Since Samaritans were considered to be ethnically impure and heretics, the neighbor that we must love has no exceptions.
These seven Livingston County churches offer the following clear and unambiguous teachings regarding racism:
“Racism is not merely one sin among many, it is a radical evil dividing the human family…” United States Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter, Brothers and Sisters to Us, 1979
“Because of our biblical understanding of who God is and what God intends for humanity, the Presbyterian Church (US) must stand against, speak against, and work against racism. Antiracist effort is not optional for Christians. It is an essential aspect of Christian discipleship. . . ” – Facing Racism: A Vision of the Intercultural Community (2016)
“The African Methodist Episcopal Church . . . was born in protest against slavery – against dehumanization of African people, brought to the American continent as labor. “ – Official Website of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
The Social Principles 2025-2028 of the United Methodist Church explicitly condemns racism, ethnocentrism and tribalism. It decries the effects of environmental racism and racial bias in the criminal justice system.
“As a people of prayer, purpose, and passion, we are in the forefront of creating a community of faith where people of every race, nationality and culture gather as one in worship, service and work.“ Mission Statement of American Baptist Churches USA
“Racism . . . infects and affects everyone. It robs white people of the possibility of authentic relationships with people of color, and people of color of authentic relationships with white people.” – A Social Statement on: Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity and Culture – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – 1993
“. . . the 70th General Convention calls upon all baptized members of the Church to work to remove racism from the life of the Nation, for we can make no peace with oppression.” – General Convention of the Episcopal Church, 1992
All of these official statements of Livingston County churches reject racism and call on church members to actively oppose it. And yet we live in a segregated community where only 0.7% of our neighbors are Black, while in surrounding counties there are 14% Black neighbors. Why is it that our Black and Brown brothers and sisters, the neighbors that Christ calls us to love as ourselves, are not living in neighborhoods here in Livingston County?
The Livingston Faith and Race Project invites all people of faiths in Livingston County to come together to follow the teachings of our churches and to discern, pray and act to make our community more just and more welcoming to all people.
While most of our participants are Christian, we welcome and invite anyone who shares our vision to participate in our activities.