Diocesan Antiracism Committee
At the Episcopal Diocese of New York, we believe that love, justice, and honesty are essential to who we are as followers of Jesus. Our Antiracism workshops help us see how racism, conscious and unconscious, has shaped our lives and our world. With courage, care, and connection, we begin the work of transformation.
Key Initiatives
The Antiracism Committee leads initiatives that deepen our collective work toward racial justice and healing.
Feast of Blessed Absalom Jones
A special Eucharist each February at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, honoring Absalom Jones, abolitionist, the first person of African descent, notably the first non-white male to be ordained in the Episcopal Church.
Jonathan Daniels Pilgrimage
A powerful pilgrimage to Alabama, organized for diocesan youth, commemorating civil rights martyr Jonathan Daniels and visiting key civil rights sites.
Antiracism Workshops
Prayerful and interactive spaces for learning, reflection, and dialogue on the history and impact of systemic racism, and how we can respond with courage and compassion.
Antiracism Workshop
Our Antiracism Workshop is a central initiative of the Social Concerns Commission. Through prayer, reflection, conversation, and learning, we explore the origins of race as a social construct and the impact of systemic racism, past and present.
Workshops are offered three times each year:
- Spring and Fall: Two-day, in-person workshops (9:00 am – 4:00 pm)
- Winter: Online workshop across four evenings (7:00 – 10:00 pm)
Each workshop includes pre-work (videos and online exercises). The in-person sessions include a light breakfast and lunch.
Who Should Participate?
At the 2024 Diocesan Convention, we reaffirmed that all diocesan clergy, leaders, and appointees must complete antiracism training or a comparable approved activity. Recertification must occur every four years.
Cost
- Free for members of the Diocese of New York
- $25 for participants from the Diocese of Newark
- $50 for all others
Access and Language Support
To make this work more accessible, we now offer interpretation in Spanish and ASL. We can also translate materials into other languages when needed. To request interpretation or translation services, we ask for:
- At least four participants need the service
- Six weeks’ advance notice
Fill out the form below to inform the committee:
Recertification
At the 2024 Diocesan Convention, a resolution was passed to “Require Antiracism Training or participation in an approved antiracism activity every four years for all diocesan leaders and appointees.”
- Occurs at least every four years after completion of initial certification by attending an EDNY Antiracism workshop or an approved alternative
- Click here to view the list of approved courses and learn how to complete your recertification.
To update your certification, please contact Carla Burns by filling the form below.