News and Events
Contact Us
Reformed Church Center
NBTS E-Magazine
Anti-Racism Team
Women's Auxiliary
Employment
Career Services
Donate
Strategic Planning
NBTS Anti-Racism Team
New Brunswick Theological Seminary is a diverse campus. In an effort to promote understanding and confront some of the subtle, and overt forms of racism, the Seminary took a bold step in forming an Anti-Racism Team. This team is comprised of students, alumni/ae, faculty and trustees.
Their challenge is to produce a 20-year plan for NBTS to move the institution towards a more just and inclusive society, and to confront the issue of racism through a three-year process of training and sharing. The training process will be facilitated by Crossroads Ministry of Chicago. This empowering vision will encourage the mutual support and accountability in overcoming the roots of racism, which are deep in our culture. This commitment to justice will help develop growing trust, and a willingness to risk.
NBTS is an institution of the RCA (Reformed Church in America). The RCA was one of the leaders in America in confronting Apartheid in South Africa. It was the first denomination in the 1980’s to divest holdings in South Africa. In 1986, it was the first American Church to invite a leader of the African National Congress (ANC), Alfred Nzo, to address General Synod. Our students now represent many denominations (RCA, African Methodist Episcopal, PCUSA, American Baptist, Korean Presbyterian Church in America, and many, many more) who have also have taken strong stands against racism. The Anti Racism Team at NBTS is consistent with their commitment on this issue.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is NBTS ART?
ART is defined as the Anti Racism Team at New Brunswick Theological Seminary which comprises students, alumni/ae, faculty and staff.
2. How did it come into being?
Its conceptualization came through the insights and passion of students in Spring 2005. Greg Dunlap articulated a clear sense that the seminary had not fully struggled with the issue of racism. He challenged the board to consider this and respond. The board took the concern of the students seriously and in the fall of 2005 the Board of Trustees (BOT) suggested that we look at a full process to evaluate the seminary and to plan for a fully inclusive community. We contracted with Crossroads who has worked 25 years in the field. Two members of their staff visited us in Fall 2006 and in January 2007, the BOT approved a three-year program and committed $90.000 to the creation of a team which in turn will create a plan to confront racism.
3. What’s the purpose of ART?
We are a in a three-year process to produce a 20-year plan for NBTS to move to a more just and inclusive society to confront the issue of racism that continues to be the fabric of this community.
4. Author Ronald Heifetz in Leadership on the Line said that change often means there is a loss. Most people don’t like change. It sounds like this process will change NBTS. Do you see it this way?
I think change means both loss and gain. One needs to believe that the gain is worth the loss. If you don’t believe that, the loss will paralyze you. You have to believe that the gain is more important than the losses.
5. How will ART empower NBTS?
The vision that we create which is embraced by the community empowers us. The vision empowers. The power is found in the fact that we receive and use the gifts of many people toward our mission.
6. How can the institution ensure the longevity of NBTS ART?
Crossroads which has committed to a 20-year plan says that the issue of racism is so entrenched in our institution that it can’t be confronted or changed unless there is a long term process. The team needs to create a plan in which the BOT, Faculty, Administration and the Student body commit themselves to certain objectives. It needs to be built into the plan of mutual support and accountability. We have to design a way to hold each other accountable. The roots of racism are deep in all of our institutions and in the seminary. There are power centers outside of us that have influence on us so that the plan we create needs to address those institutions that impinge on us.
“Racism is more than just an attitude; it’s a virus, a demonic virus in the body. It needs to be confessed and rooted out. It infects individual lives and the common life we share. We need to root it out and replace it with a vision of God’s just and inclusive kingdom.” –The Rev. Dr. Gregg Mast, President of New Brunswick Theological Seminary.
