Racial Reconciliation

Guided by our core values of integrity and dignity, and by a faith which calls us to disrupt and dismantle systems of violence and inequity, Trinity Cathedral is committed to the inward and outward work of racial reconciliation. From preaching and worship to programmatic offerings, from communications from our Dean to offerings created by the Episcopal Church, Trinity seeks to be a gathering place for The Beloved Community. We acknowledge that we have much work to do, while we give thanks for the God’s spirit of healing in our midst today.

The Episcopal Church’s national work toward racial reconciliation, healing and justice is shaped around four commitments that are vital to lasting change within us, our communities, and society at large.

  • Truth-telling: Telling the truth about our churches and race
  • Proclamation: Proclaiming the dream of beloved community
  • Formation: Practicing Jesus’ way of healing love
  • Justice: Repairing the breach in society and Institutions

Through our own programming and that of partner organizations, Trinity Cathedral offers multiple points of faithful engagement with the history of racism in America, open to all:

All ministry leaders are required to participate in the Diocese of Ohio’s “Seeing the Face of God” retreat, which includes gaining familiarity with a Racial Justice Toolkit. This two-day trainer led course is open as well to all who are interested.

Trinity supports the Racial Equity Institute’s Groundwater Class as a core part of our anti-racist programming. You can participate online through our local partners at ThirdSpace Action Lab. The Groundwater Approach seeks to explain complex societal issues and present solutions on how to create racial equity within institutions and systems that impact individuals and families.

Trinity is deeply committed to the 11-session Sacred Ground course, a film and readings-based dialogue series where participants walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. The series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. New classes form each program year.

Trinity recommends racial equity training for all leaders who engage in local work with our neighbors in Central and Campus district, as well as multi-racial work throughout the city of Cleveland. Opportunities for engagement include work with Neighborhood Partnerships and Peace, Justice & Mercy Mission Teams.

Trinity’s ongoing work is accomplished through Racial Inventory of our history. Trinity also currently has a group who meets to do research toward an audit of the racialized history of Trinity Cathedral in the Diocese of Ohio, through interviews and archival research.