More about Racial Justice at Cedar Lane

Cedar Lane supports racial justice through our People of Color & Indigenous Group. Our vision is to live out an intentionally multicultural religious identity that informs all aspects of congregational life. Our goals include promoting personal and institutional transformation, creating a supportive space for marginalized identity groups, and developing right relationships with communities outside of Cedar Lane. We are guided by our denomination's vision of multiculturalism in which all people are welcomed as blessings and the human family lives whole and reconciled, and one cultural identity does not dominate all other identities.

We work with Action in Montgomery, a local non-profit community organizing network composed of area churches, mosques, synagogues, and schools, to speak out and take action on issues like affordable housing, immigration policy, and equity in education, uniting people across lines of race, class, religion, political party, and geography.

Discussion Group: How to Be an Antiracist

September 23 and 30, 7 PM, on Zoom
Register to attend

"The opposite of racist isn't 'not racist.' It is 'anti-racist,'" states author Ibram X. Kendi in his recent bestseller How To Be an Antiracist. This thought-provoking book will be the subject of online discussions via Zoom, open to all, on Wednesdays, September 23 and 30, 7-8:30 PM, facilitated by Ariel Mora and assisted by Ann Meyer. You are encouraged to complete your reading of the book prior to the first session and to attend both sessions.

Part memoir, part history, the book presents an examination of many influential racist ideas which shaped Kendi’s life. Many of these ideologies are still prominent today, and have likely had an impact on our own points of view. Kendi shares how he identified his own racist attitudes and reached the conclusion that there is no neutral position on race. The book offers noteworthy ideas for change, action, and hope.

We will use questions from Kendi's reading guide along with writing activities to focus our reflections and group sharing. We hope that the discussion group will encourage us, as participants, to reflect on the nature of racism, how it has impacted our personal lives, and how we will act as anti-racists.

This book was the focus of Rev. Abhi's sermon at the Cedar Lane worship service on August 2.