Years ago, working on a church staff, I waltzed into the publication office and calmly told the editor what I wanted done. I found out later that my straightforward manner had hurt her feelings. I apologized for not even stopping to ask how she was and take her out for a Dr. Pepper and a little conversation.

Even in the best of circumstances, it is so easy to operate out of my own agenda and background and forget to see the other person for him or herself – a child of God – wanting recognition and a relationship.

Raised in Texas, I remember with sadness those signs on water fountains: “White’s Only”. At the time I thought them silly. Today, I consider them insidious.

We all grow up with ingrained attitudes and prejudices. As we mature, we try to name them and overcome them.

I was privileged when on Executive Council to attend three anti-racism workshops led by the Anti-Racism office at the Church Center under The Rev. Jayne Oasin. I considered myself “color-blind” and non-prejudiced. What I came to realize during these workshops is that as much as I have consciously tried to overcome the ingrained prejudices of the culture in which I grew up, some negative attitudes still persisted. I recognized how advantages I have simply because of being born into my race, sex, and social “class”, others have been denied. The exercises Jayne led us through helped me to name them and work harder to overcome them.

Race. Class. Economic Status. Education. If we are honest with ourselves, we all have at least one area in which we tend to judge another person.

Yet, as Christians we also know in our hearts that all people are equal in God’s eyes – and therefore we are called to treat all people the same. Even more, we are called as agents of reconciliation to work hard for a society in which all people are treated the same.

Province VII is honored to offer to everyone in our 12 dioceses the opportunity for self-awareness so that we can strive to be the people God created us to be. The Province VII Convocation is hosting a day -long workshop led by The Rev. Jayne Oasin of the Anti-Racism Desk at the Episcopal Church Center. Convocation begins Thursday evening September 30 and continues until noon on Saturday, October 2 in Norman, OK

In addition to workshops sessions led by Jayne, you will hear a panel of people from our Province speaking about the different ethnic ministries in our Province along with their  realities and challenges.  Panelists include The Rev. Jaime Case (Hispanic Ministries), The Rev. Ernest Oramasionwu (Nigerian Minisries), The Rev. Carol Hampson (Native American Minisries) and President of Provincial ECW Shirley Bolden (African American Ministries).

Please mark your calendars, invite your friends, assemble diocesan and parish teams, and plan to attend. Your ministries will be better for it. Our church will be stronger for it.