Sharing session focuses on Europe and global racisms

The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC)’s “COVID & Beyond” discernment process continues with its next “sharing circle” on Wednesday, 24 February, at 15:00 (CET).

The idea of the sharing circle is to express areas of particular urgency in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the injustices it exposes and to generate ideas how the WCRC on all levels should respond to the crisis.

This session will focus on presentations from WCRC Europe and the WCRC’s RAN (racism, authoritarianism, and nationalism) process.

The Europeans will present under the theme “Do not fear in times of pandemic.” As the economic impact of the pandemic hurts the poorest the most, churches are called to reconsider the role they can play in secularized societies, delivering a prophetic message to the public on such topics as the rule of law and democracy, health standards, and protection of the poor.

The RAN panelists will address the growing and often violent upsurge of racist ideologies that are more often than not fed by nationalist discourses. Rightwing forces fueled by racist and quasi-fascist ideologies have asserted themselves in political life as well as in policy in many parts of the world.

The panelists will attempt to lift up the voices of racialized communities around the world while at the same time fleshing out the connections between racism, authoritarianism, and nationalism. They will seek to articulate theologies of life that arise from below as offering possibilities of resistance and transformation.

The sharing circle will be livestreamed on WCRC Facebook pages in English, French, and Spanish and posted to the WCRC YouTube Channel. All are invited to watch and participate either through the comments functions or by sending an email message to require@wcrc.eu.

“What does God Require of Us? Discerning, Confessing, and Witnessing in the Time of COVID-19 and Beyond,” the year-long Communion-wide discernment process is building toward a face-to-face meeting in late 2021 and will culminate in the WCRC collectively confessing a God of Life at its 2024 General Council.

Additional information on the process can be found at wcrc.ch/require.