End of the Year Review and Appeal

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” ~James Baldwin

Dear Friends,

2022 was a milestone year in the Church Within A Church Movement’s history! After refraining from holding an in-person Summit meeting since October 2019, our Movement celebrates that in October 2022, CWACM sponsored our first in-person Summit for Black members and friends of the Movement.

This small step toward reparations was a giant leap for the Movement to live into our Core Values and Statement of Anti-Racist Intent. Those who participated in this historic journey had an opportunity to connect with one another as they visited historically important civil rights sites in Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery, Alabama. In the words of Rev. Vernice Thorn who led the group:

“Part of any healing process is the acknowledgement that real harm has been done and to work incessantly and with intentionality to dismantle and disrupt any false narrative that is at the root of that harm. Addressing racism by seeking truth and healing was the motivation behind this Summit meeting in Alabama. The support of an all Black group to address the injustices this nation was built on, is essential for true justice seekers as CWACM continues to strive to be.”

That same weekend, CWACM also sponsored a gathering for white people in the Movement to attend a workshop entitled “Interrupting Bias and Bigotry: Skill Practice.” This day-long event on Zoom consisted of advance reading from resources suggested by its leaders, discussion, and role playing to practice our skills at confronting bigotry. We are grateful to Lois McCullen Parr and Amber Campbell of Justice Leaders Collaborative for leading this workshop!

We are thrilled that in-person Summit meetings are resuming once again and are currently planning a spring 2023 Summit meeting in Chicago. Stay tuned for more information as this new event rolls out. We are so excited that we’ll be able to see one another in person, complete with handshakes and hugs!

The heart of this Movement is made up of our community and our faithful supporters. We are so grateful for your continued support during difficult transitions we have encountered in these last few years. We could not have done this without you.

Please help us to ensure that the Movement remains strong and continues to move forward toward equity and justice at the intersections. With your support, we look forward to doing our part to build a brighter and more just future. To make a year-end donation, visit the Support CWACM page on our website.

With our sincere thanks,

The Church Within A Church Movement