Faith in Motion: Central Race Education Team

We are excited to introduce On Earth Peace’s new Faith in Motion Series, where we bring you stories of action taken by our Christian brothers and sisters as part of their discipleship commitment in our times. We hope these stories will inspire our On Earth Peace community and the larger Church of the Brethren denomination to live their faith in public ways that respond to the needs of the world.

In this edition, we meet Jennie Waering and Eric Anspaugh, two individuals from different walks of life, who came together to form the Central Race Education Team. The collective is dedicated to doing anti-racist work. Both Jennie and Eric felt called to this work after retirement, moved by a conviction that white Brethren must play an active role in the fight against racism.

Jennie (left) and Eric (right) leading a workshop at a Brethren youth conference, at Bridgewater College in 2024.

The team has successfully organized several events to reach their goal. During the pandemic, they organized "Necessary Conversations," inspired by Emmanuel Acho’s Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, where they held front-yard conversations with a Black member of Oak Grove Church of the Brethren about their experience in a predominantly white church, and with the president of Church Women United about her experiences as a Black Christian woman. The team has also organized youth activities, provided books to low-income schools, and hosted a collective book study of Jemar Tisby’s The Color of Compromise, a book focusing on the church’s complicity in racism and affirmation of the need for the Church to be an impetus to end racism. This study, which was a year-long effort, led to a congregational statement against racism that was passed unanimously. Although this prompted a few members to leave, the team believes it has moved Central church in a more anti-racist direction. The statement continues to spur conversations about reparations with pastors of predominantly Black churches. 

Thanks to a Brethren Faith in Action Grant, the team's next initiative will bring renowned theologian and author Reverend Dr. Drew Hart to Roanoke College on September 26th and 27th. They hope to discuss Dr. Hart’s new book which focuses on pathways for Christians to live out a decolonial and antiracist faith. They also aim to discuss strategies for engaging other congregations as they start to expand their reach. These discussions are essential for the team to face the challenge of moving people past apathy and a hesitance to get involved in anti-racist work because of assumptions that discussing race is divisive or unnecessary. 

Despite these challenges, they are driven by a deep sense of purpose and motivated by the enduring reality of oppression. Eric finds it "lovely to serve with others that have similar passions" and to participate in raising the bar on what it means to be truly anti-racist. Their work has already borne fruit, influencing neighbouring churches and even leading to Eric's invitation to become president of the NAACP Franklin County chapter. For Jennie, the normalization of blatant racism in recent years makes this work more urgent than ever. "It is pertinent that we are driven to action," she says, "and get rid of anything that would be an obstacle to loving our fellow brothers and sisters."

For those interested in engaging in similar work, Eric advises that we get outside ourselves, be willing to become uncomfortable and have the courage to enter new terrain guided by unconditional love. He asserts that "we need to be working at anti-racism if we are going to be faithful to Christ." Jennie advises us to begin with educating ourselves using books such as The Color of Compromise, to understand the historical reality of racism in the US and the church’s role in perpetuating it in the past, so we are able to identify ways to move forward.  

Both appreciate the work of the denomination's Standing With People of Color Committee and believe it will be pivotal in moving the congregation forward. They understand that this work must be tended by individuals and advocacy teams like the Race Advocacy team to truly succeed. Jennie and Eric are open and willing to get in touch with others that may have a desire to start similar initiatives and assist them in finding their path into this crucial work. Get in touch with the Virlina Race Advocacy Team to start these conversations.