Photography by R9 Foto for The Emmanuel Gospel Center
Origin Story: How RCCI's first cohort took shape
Five years ago, the Race & Christian Community Initiative launched its first cohort, a small group of white Christians in Greater Boston wrestling with issues related to race.
It was an unexpected adventure, but one that was characterized by humility, transformation, faith, and grace.
In March 2017, at a time when the national conversation demanded that white America address the racism endemic to this country, RCCI’s program director, Megan Lietz, called white Christians to take action. She invited those who responded on a journey to explore issues related to race in community. That was the beginning of RCCI cohorts and support and accountability groups.
While that was the beginning, the best part was the process. And it’s that journey that we hope to share with you today. Not only what we did — but how we did it — and the values, postures, and practices we held along the way.
As a group committed to learning in community, we wanted to share our story collaboratively. As a result, members of RCCI’s first cohort held a five-year reunion to reconnect and reflect on their shared journey. It was out of this time of remembering that a collective story emerged that we desire to share with you today. It is a story not only of how RCCI’s hallmark program began but of how we learned to walk in faith and allowed God to form us through community.
Testimonies of impact from inaugural cohort participants
Shelton and Scott
“My experience has significantly shaped the lens through which I see the world, myself, others, and God. I am so much more aware of how whiteness has shaped my reality, worldview, reading of scripture, and theology as well as the systems I live in and reinforce.” — Shelton
“Being part of the cohort helped me to gain familiarity and comfort with the language of race and racism, applied to the world I was experiencing, but also applied to my own life and actions.” — Scott
Dana
“[An exercise from the] support and accountability journey continued to shape my thinking as I entered into a new season of ministry. It has sharpened my focus and deepened my understanding of the need to prioritize relationships over strategies and shared life experiences over programs.”
Kate and Jeremy
“I read the news differently, I listen differently, I look at and interact with people in crowds differently. I think about how I use my resources in a new way. … I have a changed mindset, and it affects everything.” — Jeremy
Linda
“So much of my internal racism was pushed down over the years and remained deep inside of me. But, as I learned to identify its existence, I also learned to ask forgiveness in prayer and seek a way to reconcile these sins with those whom I harmed.”
