BCM New England's statement concerning the protests of the last month
The Purpose of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA
is to establish and advance
witnessing communities of students and faculty
at colleges and universities
who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord:
God's people of every ethnicity and culture
growing in love for God,
God's Word,
God's people of every ethnicity and culture
and God's purposes in the world.
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InterVarsity BCM New England is a community that facilitates a black-led kingdom movement across the region by equipping staff and students of every ethnicity to reach and empower black students with the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ for the sake of transformed campuses and cities.
Given the events related to racial tensions at Yale University, University of Missouri, Amherst College, and other institutions across the country in the past few weeks, in addition to the recent outcries in Chicago over the wrongful killing of Laquan McDonald, we, BCM NE staff, have found it appropriate to offer a statement on these issues.
We unequivocally condemn racism in all of its forms — interpersonal, institutional, or otherwise systemic — in this country and around the world. We believe that such discrimination and powers of inequity grieve the heart of God while simultaneously corrupt our own hearts and that we, as God’s representatives and partners on Earth, have a responsibility to uplift the racially oppressed and downtrodden, per the plethora of commandments as revealed to us in Scripture. Indeed, we work expectantly to establish God’s moral kingdom on Earth as He works through us, as affirmed in both InterVarsity New England’s and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA’s mission statements.
The United States has a long, troubled history with the hegemony of white supremacy and the sinful structures erected to maintain it. These injustices present themselves in the various forms that we have seen these past few weeks; some are subtle, such as a defense of offensive behaviors in the name of free speech, while others are more overt, such as swastikas in public places and death threats to black students. All of these, however, work together to maintain the racial hierarchies that have persisted since before the founding of this country and continue to dehumanize black people in insidious, infectious ways. We condemn this and counter it with the truth of the gospel: that we are made in God’s image, that we are His children, that He died for us, and that racism and discrimination in any form, subconscious or intentional, has no place in His house and is not the destiny of His people. We, as Christians, cannot stand silently by in the face of clear injustice and real pain suffered by our black brothers and sisters.
Furthermore, in light of the unique pain of black women that has surfaced during this public outcry on various campuses, we, as a movement, call special attention to the fact black women are seen as dignified, beautiful, and capable in the eyes of God, and therefore ought be to all of us. For ways that InterVarsity New England has neglected your stories in ways comparable to what has happened on campus, the BCM NE staff ask for forgiveness and apologize. We are exceedingly thankful for your contributions to our movement heretofore and all that God has for you henceforth in all levels of leadership.
At the same time, we, as black staff, offer grace to and affirm the humanity of our white brothers and sisters – staff and students – and we repent for any unforgiveness or other evil we have returned to you. Sin is a sickness from which no human being is exempt, even the oppressed. We therefore holistically condemn hatred or hard-heartedness from any party within InterVarsity, and we ask your forgiveness and solicit your continued partnership and allyship as we seek racial reconciliation in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Join us in both making His name and character known on campuses throughout the nation and in tearing down strongholds of racism that prevent people from receiving His good news.
Last, we as BCM NE staff are aware this present moment is a time of public outcry for all racial minorities on campuses, not just black students. In addition to celebrating the work of God done peculiarly in black people on our campuses, we also affirm the dignity, worth, and place of all racial minorities in our larger movement and proclaim our liberation is bound up in yours, as yours is in ours. May we continue to aid each other in helping reach students with the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ.