Churches consider strategies against hate and violence

NEW YORK (UMNS) – Since hate and violence is "the central cancer in American life," according to the Rev. C. T. Vivian, churches need to find new strategies to eradicate that cancer.

That is why Vivian, chairman and co-founder of the Center for Democratic Renewal, met with ecumenical representatives Nov. 17-18 to discuss an update of the center's manual, "When Hate Groups Come to Town: A Handbook of Effective Community Responses."

The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, a longstanding partner with the center, sponsored the meeting. The board's Women's Division and task force on Ministries in the Midst of Hate and Violence have provided information, education and advocacy on hate and violence-related issues, including the support to pastors and congregations of burned churches.

Lois Dauway, a Women's Division executive and chairwoman of the task force, said the November meeting was designed to generate ideas on revising the manual "to fit the context of these times;" expanding the scope to include more of an interfaith input; and adding suggestions for people in rural areas dealing with hate crimes.

She also anticipates that participants will develop working relationships through the Center for Democratic Renewal, which she called "the premier organization in this country that can pull together coalitions of all ilks."

The manual on hate group has been revised three times. "This time, we want a greater emphasis on the church and what the churches are doing and what they've found effective," said Vivian.

A colleague and disciple of Martin Luther King Jr., Vivian noted in his invitation letter to participants that acts of violence motivated by hate continue to permeate the nation. "No longer is hate isolated to historically named groups like the KKK," he wrote. "Hate groups have assumed new faces and new names in every region of the country, some identifiable, some obscure; each prepared and trained to be violent."

The makeup of the country also is changing. "We're fast becoming a nation of minorities," Vivian told the group. "The old understandings of black and white alone are not enough."

Americans need to stop making excuses and acknowledge that racism is alive and well. "We cannot solve any social problem in American life until we solve the problem of racism," he declared.

Religious groups must stress that racism and sexism are sins; create room for a "better way; " and dispute the distortions of faith perpetuated by the Christian Identity Movement. "This so-called church is really bringing the hate groups together and keeping them together," Vivian explained.

Trends or concepts identified in the discussions on dealing with hate and violence today include:

· The need to change the perception that the victimizer, or white person, is superior and the victim, or person of color, is inferior and begging for acceptance.

· The tendency of white persons to avoid the issue of white supremacy by either changing the subject or talking about black hate groups.

· The need to recognize the fear-based response of whites who worry about becoming the minority in an increasingly diverse national population.

· The integration of the ideology of extreme hate groups into more mainstream movements.

Besides United Methodists, participants at the Nov. 17-18 meeting included representatives of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Unitarian-Universalist Association, American Friends Service Committee and the Presbyterian, Episcopal and American Baptist churches. Other groups expected to participate later include the Roman Catholic Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and Simon Wisenthal Center.

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New York, and Washington