Church of the Servant Statement

Church of the Servant updated its antiracism/reconciliation statement in March 2013 (first approved in May 2007):

Vision Statement: Church of the Servant strives to be an antiracist and multiethnic community of faith in Christ that intentionally recognizes, exposes and dismantles racism in all its forms.

Mission Statement:
As a community of believers, we will

  • address the connections between contemporary issues and the history of racism in our country, community and congregation
  • recognize, expose and dismantle racism and its impact in our congregation in new and redemptive ways
  • oppose racism in and beyond our congregation through the eyes of faith and scripture
  • become an antiracist multiracial community, equally honoring every person and proclaiming each precious in Christ.

Antiracism and Reconciliation at The Church of the Servant

In 2000, members of Church of the Servant began a focused effort to discern how we can become an antiracist church. With the council’s endorsement, an antiracism team of nearly 20 Church of the Servant members began reflecting on this theme, setting goals, and finding ways to promote antiracism and reconciliation in all areas of the church’s life.

Some of the outgrowths of this work are the Understanding Racism Workshop, Congregations Organizing for Racial Reconciliation (CORR).

    Information and Advocacy

    Current information on the theme of racism is available to members through these means:

    • Resource cart. The Antiracism Team has organized a cart full of antiracism books, movies, and other resources readily available for people to borrow. Look for the cart near the welcome counter in the café area.
    • Events. Throughout the year, the Antiracism Team plans opportunities to encourage the congregation to learn more about racism and how to dismantle it. Events include movie screenings, scripture studies, and speakers to guide conversation and learning. Our team, the church council, and our staff see the task of fighting racism as an important part of our congregation’s discipleship journey.
    • Publicity. Through bulletin announcements, the Antiracism Team encourages our congregation to take advantage of workshops, seminars, and other opportunities offered throughout greater Grand Rapids.