At times it might seem that the challenge of racism doesn’t have a lot to do with the intersection of faith and our academic and professional lives. Neither does racism seem inherently connected to intellectual inquiry and questions about God, spirituality, and faith. Yet, the way we see others around us and how we treat others is inherently part of faith, as is caring about and critically looking at what is happening in the world around us.

While Campus Edge Fellowship is an ecumenical ministry, we are supported and supervised the Christian Reformed Church. Not only does this church denomination highly value the university and the development of the mind, it is also striving to be a church that speaks into the pain and challenges found within our world. Last week, the denominational headquarters sent out a statement on racism, and I’ve included excerpts here below. We, too, at Campus Edge grieve the events of the last week and desire for the world to be a better, safer, more loving place:

Statement on Racism

With deep sadness for recent violent events in the United States and Canada, we join others in grieving the deaths of Terence Crutcher, Colten Boushie, and many others across the world. These events, in light of our love for Christ, compel us to speak.

We recognize that we have remained silent about racial injustice and unjust actions in our nations all too frequently. Our silence on issues of race has been heard more clearly than our calls for reconciliation with God.

We confess that, like so many other denominations in North America, the Christian Reformed Church has a history of often finding our unity in our shared ethnicity rather than in Christ. We lament this sin, and encourage [all ministries] to join us in committing to continue our learning about racism and its effects in our lives and societal structures.

We grieve the deaths of so many as the result of violence. We urge [everyone] to pray for our police officers—for their safety and for them to be trained and equipped for responding in non-violent ways. . .

Our Lord Jesus Christ understands being falsely accused, persecuted unjustly, beaten and killed. He is the one that we can go to for comfort when we—especially our family members of color—suffer from similar experiences. Jesus is also one who radically spoke up for those being mistreated, who turned over the tables of those seeking to profit in the temple instead of helping others, who welcomed the marginalized and told his followers to do the same. . .

List of resources and full statement found here.