Workshop on racism held today follows up MLK Jr. Day commitment

Today at 9 a.m., some area Christians are planning to be less segregated than they typically are on Sunday mornings.

The Downtown Council of Churches is sponsoring a workshop today from 9 a.m. to noon in the Harrison Room at Southeast Missouri Hospital that deals with the issues of racism. Called "Dismantling the matrix of racism," the workshop will address the differences between racism and prejudice and what the faith community can do to combat both.

The speaker is Monica Jefferson, who heads up urban and intercultural ministries for the United Methodist Conference of Missouri.

The impetus for the seminar came after the Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations in January, where black and white churches worshipped together and admitted that the city has a problem with racism.

"It's in the subtleties," said the Rev. Jay White, pastor of First Baptist Church. White attended a predominantly black seminary in Virginia and said the biggest problem people have is avoidance.

People tend not to put themselves in situations where they might have to mix with another race, he said.

During that January service, both the white and black community committed to resolving some of the problems that come from years of racism and prejudices.

Both black and white pastors have met since that service to talk about ways to build relationships. "We've talked candidly about what's the next step," said the Rev. Bob Towner, rector of Christ Episcopal Church.

And that next step is learning to face the fact that racism exists, he said. There is a difference between racism and prejudice.

Prejudice is an intentional and willful act, while racism comes in the structures of society. Most people aren't even sure where the barriers of racism come from, he said. It's just always existed.

What the seminar will help people do is to "see in a such a way that we can start undoing the structures."

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126