Oklahoma Church Launches ‘Racism & Racists Anonymous’ Program

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The Reverend Richard Mize, preaches on Sunday, March 26, 2017, at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

A small church in Oklahoma has launched a “Racism & Racists Anonymous” program meant to help foster dialogue and racial reconciliation.

Trinity Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City, a mostly African-American congregation with a Caucasian pastor, voted in January to approve the program, with the weekly sessions starting in February.

The Rev. Richard Mize, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian, told The Christian Post that on average over 20 people attend each weekly session.

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“In Racism & Racists Anonymous, everyone is either dealing with their own racism or someone else’s, in order to keep peace and foster reconciliation,” explained Mize.

“We don’t talk about statistics or systemic racism or anything in the abstract, except maybe in the context of telling our personal stories.”

Mize, a former member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans whose great-grandfather served in the Arkansas infantry, said that it is “not about changing others” but rather “about changing ourselves.”

“From the moment I first heard of Racists Anonymous last year, I thought it sounded exactly like the kind of bold, potentially controversial — definitely attention-getting — social justice effort that Trinity has been known for in the past,” the pastor noted.

“Talking and listening respectfully to others’ personal stories, without trying to fix, correct, argue — just listening and sharing. It really is profoundly simple yet powerful.”

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SOURCE: The Christian Post
Michael Gryboski

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