The United States has come a long way in improving the quality of life for all of its citizens, regardless of race, ethnicity or creed. As a result of the Civil Rights Movement, the law requires that every American citizen be afforded equal opportunities and rights, but it is clear that inequities based on race, and tensions rooted in racial prejudice, abound. Grace and Race Ministries, Inc. was founded in 2008 based on the belief that people of faith--Christians, have the ability and authority to address the need for racial understanding and reconciliation. The birthing of Grace and Race was inspired by a scripture found in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” Grace and Race Ministries is led by a team of Christian women who have accepted the challenge to be more intentional and positive in dealing with race relations by and through the grace of God and the Holy Spirit.
Grace and Race Ministries, Inc. seeks to provide creative learning opportunities for African Americans and Caucasians in particular, that will aid them in bridging difference and indifference with regard to race in Christian communities. Grace and Race sees its niche as a vehicle through which leaders who are called to be reconcilers can be trained and nurtured. Ministry participants will be equipped and empowered with greater self-understanding, language, resources and concrete skills to become able ambassadors of racial reconciliation. The Ministry seeks to provide safe spaces in which participants can ask hard questions and grapple with challenging and contextualized issues, across generations and denominations.
This article updated August 30, 2010