Sacred Ground Group at St. Mark's

St. Mark’s Sacred Ground group is a continuation of a program developed by the National Episcopal Church to explore the intersection of race and faith and encourage meaningful conversations around these topics. Together, we are exploring our own beliefs and attitudes about race as we learn more about America’s history of racism. We are learning more about Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. We are working to become agents of change in our church and the world.

All are encouraged to join the journey this year as we have discussions, field trips, and film screenings to look closer at these issues.

During the COVID pandemic, two St. Mark’s groups formed (Sunday morning and Tuesday evening) to explore the National Episcopal Church Sacred Ground curriculum. Meeting on Zoom, we watched videos and read essays and books in order to expand our understanding of Race in America. Much of the curriculum focused on American history most of us were never taught.

As we learned about the histories of Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian-Americans and the intersections of those with White history and Christian faith, a subgroup formed to address the harms done to Indigenous people. That group met with Joseph Standing Bear of Midwest SOARRING. After much research and consultation, a St. Mark’s Land Acknowledgement Statement was crafted and approved by the St. Mark’s Vestry on August 31, 2022.

Read the Land Acknowledgement Statement and learn more about its development by clicking the button below.

Understand that this is sacred ground and it hurts to walk here. But at the same time, I “need” to walk here, I need the strength, the sense of purpose, the knowledge of self, that walking here imparts. … What do I want from you? I want you to be my sister and to walk here with me. I know it’s a hard walk. I know it causes you pain. But this much I also know: If ever we learn to tread this ground together, there’s no place we can’t go. —Leonard Pitts, Jr.