Bishop's Commission on Racism Reports on Progress

May 2, 2011

by Susan Oldberg Hinton

The Executive Committee of the Bishop's Commission on Racism (Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania) met in Shippensburg Monday, May 2, 2011. Present were Co-chairs the Rev. Canon Gregory P. Hinton and Mr. Arnold Gee (who is also SFGEO Lead Trainer); Secretary Susan O. Hinton (who is also Training Coordinator); former Bishop's Commission on Racism member Cynthia Gee.

The meeting's informal agenda was first built by members present. The agenda then opened with an update from Mr. Gee on his health status. It continued with reports from all present on Anti-Racism (AR) activities since the November, 2010 Seeing the Face of God in Each Other (SFGEO) training event Mr. Gee and Mrs Hinton attended on behalf of the Diocese in Martinsburg, W. Va.

Plans developed at and following the SFGEO/Martinsburg event by Mr. Gee and Mrs. Hinton (as part of the training's content) were discussed.

Mrs. Hinton updated the co-chairs on the outreach pilot with Hawk Run, and status of plans in place to continue there and replicate to other parishes in support of a plan to deliver AR training at the convocational level.

The travel needs for the upcoming P-III AR meeting were discussed.

Additional travel issues affecting the Gees' participation were discussed. They do not have funds supporting travel beyond Shippensburg. Mr. Gee did not have a new Commission member in mind who might assist with travel.

The need for additional Executive Committee members was discussed. Considered "immediate" were the need for a a Vice-Chair; also needed ASAP is a Hospitality Coordinator to work with parishes hosting SFGEO/other events and to facilitate travel by members in pursuit of Commission plans.

Mrs. Gee agreed to consider re-activating on the Commission in the Hospitality role, and requested a clear description of the Commission's roles and goals, as well as the "job description" entailed in assisting with hospitality matters. Mrs. Hinton indicated that these descriptions can be taken from existing reports and will be forthcoming via hardcopy snailmail to accommodate the Gees' phone and computer issues. Mrs. Gee is able to make calls but not receive calls; when conversation is indicated Mrs. Hinton will mail her a postcard requesting an call or an email check-in. Facebook communications also were discussed. Skype may be an option-- the Gees' home computer is old and slow; Mr. Gee may not be able to Skype at his church due to ongoing health issues.

The need and responsibilities for a Vice-Chair was discussed. Mr. Gee and Canon Hinton agreed that the Rev. Kim Brooks, who has indicated an interest, should be contacted next to see if he can serve in that capacity. Cn. Hinton will contact Father Brooks.

The Bishop has requested that the Commission maintain "balance," which the current members agree is important not only racially but also generationally, doctrinally, economically, geographically, and by both gender and order. SFGEO organizer and P-III AR Coordinator Nancy Travis Bolden recommends a full slate of members for the many training and organizational challenges involved in ensuring effective programming.

Mr. George Love remains an actively interested advisor who shares wisdom whenever consulted. He has declined formal appointment. The Rev. John Morris has indicated that he can serve either as a Commission member OR as a trainer; Fr. Morris has suggested he might be more valuable as a trainer. Mrs. Hinton will continue to BOLO additional participants to maintain balance. It would seem that a female white clergy person would enhance the work of the Commission. Others interested but not presently participating actively are EYM members Ms. Sarah Ginolfi and Mr. John Shirley; seminarians Ms. Betsy Ivey and Ms. Becky Zartman; and the Rev. Lynn Hade.

The needs for Mr. Gee's next steps as a SFGEO trainer were discussed. Mr. Gee expressed a preference to do his next assignment in Pittsburgh. Mrs. Hinton agreed to "hook him up" with Pittsburgh's AR group. Concerns about the other contigous groups were discussed. It is hoped that Mr. Gee can be at the upcoming P-III meeting to explore these further.

The Diocesan webpage was discussed. It appears to be head and shoulders about other P-III pages, if not nationally. More content will be submitted soon.

Mrs. Gee expressed an interest in children's programming. The group discussed how secular diversity work may or may not articulate with SFGEO content. A set of dolls representing Diversity was discussed, one of which Mrs. Hinton indicated is on hand and which will be at Convention to help generate conversation.

The AR Convention display was discussed. It is unlikely that the Gees can help host the Commission's table this year. Mrs. Hinton indicated she could host it in conjunction with the EfM table she had already planned to "staff." She is working with Diocesan staff to coordinate these tables.

A tiered paradigm for AR training outreach and delivery was discussed and the group decided to pursue this further at its next meeting. Mr. Gee hypothesized about Tier I being seminarians at seminary (who receive their AR training AT seminary), Tier II being priests trained locally and/or arriving from other dioceses without having been trained, Tier III being deacons in formation, and Tier IV being lay leaders.

The Hintons invited the Gees to visit their home for a vacation/meeting over the summer.

Cn. Hinton spoke about the amazing amount of progress the Commission has made in the last year while in this capacity-building (and re-building) phase.

In review, this progress includes:

• The appointment of a new chairperson at the 2010 Diocesan Convention, the year 2010-2011 represented a year of rebuilding for the Bishop’s Commission on Racism.
• Past members were surveyed to determine their interest in continuing formally or informally; a number of potential new members have been identified.
• The Diocese of Central Pennsylvania was represented at the Province III Anti-Racism training (for the training of the trainers) by Susan Hinton and Arnold Gee.
• Partnerships with training programs in Province III dioceses were established; joint planning will be explored at a May, 2011 Province III meeting of trainers.
• A Diocesan web page has been established to facilitate communications and to encourage digital participation in Commission planning and decision-making.
• A model for localized training outreach and delivery has been implemented and is ready to expand.
• Normative Diocesan budgeting processes are now in place.

Future plans of this Commission include the expectations that:

1.   The training that will be offered will be brought up to the standard of the expectation of the National Church, and will utilize the National Church’s model as presented at the recent trainers‘ training (SFGEO);

2.   Training will be made available as soon as possible in this Diocese, as it is a requirement for ordination;

3.   Training will eventually be provided for those who hold Diocesan and parochial offices of any sort, pursuant to National Church mandates;

4.   Whenever possible, trainings will be conducted convocationally to reduce costs and travel for participants.

5.   Trainings of other dioceses need to be gathered for referral, for the use of interested training recipients.

For this to come to fruition, several things have to happen first:

1.   Our trainers will have to complete their training requirements by participating in another diocese’s training program as co-trainers. It is anticipated that this requirement will be fulfilled by the autumn of 2011.

2.   One issue of which we are continually reminded is that unlike other trainings, Anti-Racism training requires a critical mass of participants, preferably representing ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic diversity.  (Because the nature of the training is interactive and is based on group dynamic, the program itself does not work well with 2 or 3 participants.) Therefore targeted outreach must be supplemented by adequate parochial commitment. 

The need to support one another to remain encouraged was endorsed by all present.

The meeting closed with prayer and was adjourned.

Faithfully,
Susan Oldberg Hinton