On May 1st, 2020 various faculty posted 'A Public Letter of Lament, Repentance, and Commitment' to http://www.westmontlaments.org/letter.html. The content can be read below or at THIS LINK. A Public Letter of Lament, Repentance, and CommitmentIn light of recent events related to the racial climate on our campus (including campus activism, a letter written by alumni, and a letter of apology from the President’s Executive Team), we, the undersigned members of the faculty and staff of Westmont College, publicly offer this letter of lament, repentance, and commitment. It is signed by a varied group—faculty and staff; white persons and persons of color—and it is addressed to those in our community, whether they are current students, faculty or staff, or alumni or former employees, who have found their experience on our campus to be hostile, alienating, or excluding because of racial injustice... Westmont’s own statement on "Biblical and Theological Foundations of Diversity" speaks of a commitment to: the investigation and embodiment of diversity. Such dedication expresses our Christian identity, and rightly stewards Godʼs gifts to us. It also provides a basis for excellence in scholarship and community life and anticipates the character of the world to come by signaling in our own time and place Godʼs promised reconciliation of creation to himself. Hence our living-out of diversity bears witness to the redeeming work of Christ, and marks us with greater integrity as we proclaim his salvation.
Sadly, we regularly fail in our “embodiment” and “living-out” of this diversity. Therefore, the signatories of this letter all lament the various ways in which our personal behavior and institutional structures generate pain, alienation, and exclusion among persons of color in our community—derogatory, insensitive, or racist remarks, both intentional and unintentional; condescension, defensiveness, and suspicion in response to reasonable complaints; and a failure to recognize and confront the institutions and culture of white normativity. This is unfamiliar or uncomfortable language to many, but it aptly describes structural features of our institution that make white norms the default. These norms are particularly insidious because they are virtually invisible to those who share them, and so when people raise complaints about racial exclusion, they often confront skepticism, suspicion, or are seen as being overly sensitive, divisive, political, or unfaithful. This white normativity not only harms persons of color, but also white persons in our community as inadvertent participants in a dehumanizing system. Because of this failure to act on our foundational commitments, many of us feel the need to repent. Following a long tradition of Christian confessions, we ask forgiveness for both “the things we have done and the things we have left undone.” Our privilege has at times deafened and blinded us to the marginalizing of diverse experiences and perspectives. When we have seen and heard some of this injustice, we have not always adequately valued or responded, but often remained silent. We apologize for the pain and confusion we have caused by our silence, by our inabilities, and by our frequent unwillingness to act faithfully, graciously, and courageously for a more racially just community at Westmont. And finally, all of us commit ourselves to listen, teach, speak, research, act, craft curriculum, and pray more consistently, humbly, and faithfully for racial justice at Westmont. In truth, the signatories of this letter are in a variety of different places with regard to our awareness and understanding of these issues, but we see this work of becoming more aware of the unique burdens borne by our brothers and sisters of color as an essential part of our Christian discipleship, and our vocation to be agents of God’s redemptive work. For many of us, this work is painful and difficult. We ask for your forbearance, love, and patience as we learn to attend to wrongs and reconcile ourselves to our brothers and sisters. Though it can be profoundly and differently arduous for various members of the community, we recognize this work as life-giving to all of us as God’s children. Strengthened by the confidence in our shared forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our Healer, Reconciler, and Redeemer, we also humbly ask for your continued prayer and companionship as we ever strive to manifest the Kingdom of God and embody it in our life together. Signatures can be seen here.
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