What is the Covenant to Root Out Racism?
In response to the death of George Floyd and others in police custody, the Covenant to Root out Racism (CTROR; now known as the Anti-Racism Covenant) was originally written by the Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri as part of the theological discussion in the House of Bishops on reckoning with white supremacy in September 2020. Following that Conversation, the Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows introduced the CTROR to the newly-appointed Diocesan Racial Justice and Education Team (RJET) with a charge to present it to the wider Diocese of Indianapolis (Diocese) to consider adoption. Following adoption by the RJET, the CTROR was introduced at Neighborhood meetings and Sacred Ground courses in 2021, encouraging those already engaged in the work of dismantling racism to consider signing and bringing to their parishes for consideration.
Racial Justice & Education Team Role
The Racial Justice and Education Team cultivates courageous space for individuals and congregations in the Diocese of Indianapolis to live and walk together through holy discomfort, to create an environment for racial justice, healing, and repair, and to learn, listen, and grow into God’s Beloved Community.
Racial Justice and Education Team Members
Racial Justice and Education Resources
Bishop Jennifer has charged the team with several tasks, including:
- Either signing onto A Covenant to Root Out Racism, developed by Bishop Deon Johnson of the Diocese of Missouri and share it with the Diocese of Indianapolis, or to adapt for the Diocese of Indianapolis and share it.
- Supporting and connecting people and congregations throughout the diocese with the variety of congregational and regional efforts to dismantle racism, including trainings, book studies, discussion groups, witnesses for justice, etc.
Click here to find the amended Resolution 2 from our 185th Diocesan Convention as unanimously passed by a vote of convention. Find a clean copy of A Covenant to Root Out Racism as adapted by diocesan convention in 2022.
What Does the Covenant to Root Out Racism Resolution Contain?
At the 185th Convention in 2022, members of the RJET, with 17 clergy and 20 lay co-sponsors, presented a resolution petitioning the Diocese to consider adopting the CTROR as an intentional commitment to “specific and ongoing addressing the injustices resulting from systemic and institutional racism.” Extensive effort was made by members of RJET , and additional clergy and lay allies, to disseminate the proposed resolution, invite co-sponsors and input, and engage questions and concerns about the rational for proposing such a resolution.
The Resolution requested specific actions to be taken by our diocese:
- Re-commit to continual work dismantling systemic racism and white supremacy within our own structures.
- Adopt the CTROR, as written by the Bishop and people of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, and the actions and commitments contained therein and charge the Executive Council to:
- In conversation with the RJET, develop a plan to implement and live into the specific actions of the CTROR across the diocese no later than the 187th Convention (November 2024);
- In consultation with Bishop Jennifer, determine specific and measurable actions for accountability to be included with the implementation of the CTROR; and
- Publish report of voting results to the 186th Convention, and progress reports towards the full implementation of the Covenant with necessary resources for the work to the 186th and 187th Conventions.
- Each congregation’s vestry or Bishop’s committee, and each diocesan ministry committee, in an official meeting of that body to vote whether to adopt the CTROR by May 1, 2023; if adopted, commit toact on a minimum of 3 covenant statements contained therein.
The resolution, with minor modifications, passed unanimously by the 185th Convention. Please click here to view.
Voting Results
In the following documents, you will find:
- An overview of the results of Parish/Diocesan Ministry Votes to Adopt:
- A connection sheet of parishes committed to each of the particular commitment/action items – we hope this will be a helpful networking tool for starting/continuing the work your parish committed to
Next Steps
The Executive Council now has concrete data it needs for where parishes are engaged in working for racial justice, and the top priorities articulated from wide participation throughout our Diocese that will help them create and implement a plan for living into the commitments and spirit of the CTROR over the next 5-10 years.
Check out the parish connection sheet above to see who you might partner with or seek out to get started!
