The Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ is pleased to reintroduce the "9 Steps to Becoming a Racial Justice Church," a vital document originally crafted in 2022 in response to a resolution passed at our Annual Meeting and subsequently adopted by the conference’s Executive Board. While this document has not been widely circulated, its significance remains undiminished. The document can be found here.

With the formation of the Decentering Whiteness Task Force (DWTF), we are renewing our commitment to this crucial work. One of our primary goals is to actively promote and revise the "9 Steps" document, ensuring that it remains a relevant and effective tool for our congregations. The process outlined in this document begins with creating space for racial justice work within your church’s structure and continues through forming a dedicated Racial Justice Team, examining current practices, grounding your efforts in biblical teachings, and publicly committing to a covenant of racial justice.

However, our work goes beyond these steps. The DWTF is also focused on the broader mission of ensuring that all people, regardless of race or background, have a seat at the center of our churches and in society at large. This means not only committing to racial justice but also examining how our structures, practices, and communities can be more inclusive and reflective of God’s vision for humanity.

We invite all Southwest Conference churches to revisit this document and consider adopting it as part of your commitment to racial justice. By engaging with these steps and collaborating with the DWTF, we can work together to build a more just and inclusive world. For more information and resources or to begin this process, please visit this page of the Southwest Conference website.