First Presbyterian Church stands united with the 224th General Assembly (2020) of the PC(USA) resolution entitled "Responding to the Sin of Racism and a Call to Action," which confesses that the church has been complicit in perpetuating injustice; and pledges to "confront and dismantle systemic racism" in the church and society.
"Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in." -Isaiah 58:12 (NRSV)
On the Church in This Moment in History—Responding to the Sin of Racism and a Call to Action
This 224th General Assembly (2020) of the PC(USA) declares that Black lives matter; that our country’s most important institutions have been
built to sustain white privilege, to protect white lives and white property at the expense of our siblings of color; and that the church, through
ignorance, denial, and in some cases deliberate action, has participated in this injustice. We have been slow to face the reality of systemic racism.
We have been slow to acknowledge the pain of our fellow Presbyterians, of our fellow Christians, of our fellow citizens, and of those who have come
to America for a better life, whose value has been judged by the color of their skin. We pledge to join hands and hearts with our BIPOC (Black,
Indigenous, and People of Color) siblings to actively confront and dismantle systemic racism in our church and in society at large, and to work for
a more just, merciful, and peaceful country that allows all of God’s children to flourish.