Racial Justice in the Church
A virtual event brought to you by an ICOC Teachers Service Team subcommittee chaired by a former single mother
Suzette Lewis, women’s ministry leader in Toronto, member of the ICOC Teachers Service Team, is a youthful-looking grandmother who became a disciple decades ago in 1989 as a single mother in the church she now leads with her husband, Andrew and the rest of the staff. She has long had a passion for ministry in her community beyond the church. In her “spare time” she serves as President of Make Your Mark a Youth Leadership Enterprise that empowers young girls for change and leadership. As a women’s minister, she has been responsible for the overall strategic direction and operation of programs in her community, including Youth in Conflict with the Law, Adults serving Correctional Probation and Parole sentences and Community Mediation.
Recently, Suzette has been chairing a Task Force or subcommittee of the Teachers Service Team on Race Relations. Inspired by Jeremiah 31:15 (“A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Mothers weep for their children; they refuse to be comforted for their children, because they are no more.”) the aim of this task force is to assist the Teachers Service Team in developing teaching and learning tools for prospective use by leaders and church members. The hope is to eventually enhance the culture of ICOC churches with respect to race relations and reconciliation along with other positive efforts that are underway in several congregations at this crucial time, such as those initiated by the ICOC US Social Cultural Unity and Diversity Team, or SCUAD. (https://www.disciplestoday.org/how-to-build-a-scuad-in-your-church).
Suzette and her team (all the rest of whom are men, btw) have planned two Saturdays in February (6th and 13th) filled with rich learning opportunities for disciples on the topic of navigating race in the church. This will launch at the beginning of Black History Month in North America On behalf of the TST- Race Relations Task Force, we introduce Racial Justice in the Church, Principles and Practices for Everyday Disciples. 13th). Interested participants can begin registering now at:
Suzette Lewis is a Women’s Ministry Leader and works in the Co-Leadership of the Toronto Church of Christ alongside her husband Andrew. She became a disciple in 1989 as a single parent and has been married since 1992 with 2 adult children and 1 grandchild. Suzette graduated from Brock University in Adult Education and later completed a Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management at the University Victoria B.C. Suzette fell in love with her community when she joined a counselling team working with Violence Against Women, Children and Youth and teaching as a College Professor. She is a Qualified Mediator and Trainer of Restorative Practices and Victim Offender Reconciliation.
With a passion for her local community, Suzette is President of Make Your Mark a Youth Leadership Enterprise that empowers young girls for change and leadership. Suzette developed a strong sense of commitment for the nonprofit sector as an Executive Director for Community Justice Alternatives; she is responsible for the overall strategic direction and operation of programs including Youth in Conflict with the Law, Adults serving Correctional Probation and Parole sentences and Community Mediation. Her experiences have given her a deep appreciation for how people can improve the quality of their lives one step at a time.
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