The Antiracism Commission
Vision
The Antiracism Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago (ARC) envisions a diocese and world that, by God’s grace, is free from systemic racism.
Our 2026 strategic priorities are guiding our work this year. They build on our 2024-2025 strategic plan.
2027 Membership Nominations – Due September 30
ARC is seeking new members for three-year terms from January 2027 through December 2029.
ARC generally meets monthly via Zoom with one or two meetings a year in person. Members serve on committees such as training and congregational support that work between meetings. More details can be found in ARC’s bylaws.
Please complete this form to nominate yourself or someone else by September 30, 2026. The nomination form also available in Spanish: en español.
An ARC member will contact nominees for a phone or in-person conversation. ARC will develop a membership slate in October 2026 and vote in new members in November 2026. New members will begin terms on January 1, 2027.
The Work of the Antiracism Commission (ARC)
ARC has a rich history in the diocese going back to around 1993. The Legacy of Slavery report finalized in 2017 helps guide our work today. We created a two-year strategic plan for our work in 2024 and 2025 and identified our strategic priorities for 2026. In 2025, we created and piloted an exciting new one day antiracism training Faith and Race: Lay Leadership Training that we rolled out for all congregations in 2026. We developed an Antiracism Training position paper that outlines the antiracism training requirements of the diocese. ARC also has the responsibility of implementing and supporting congregations in the fulfillment of Resolution F-185 Commitment to Antiracism Work in Congregations. ARC is excited about the new strategic planning process the diocese is undertaking in 2026, and we have four members on the planning task groups.
For more information, please email Antiracism Commission Co-Chairs Laura Singer and Rev. Miguel Briones.
Membership
ARC Members and Contact Information
Nominations are generally taken in the spring and summer of each year with elections in the fall. ARC terms run for three years, from January 1 through December 31 of the third year. ARC members generally attend one meeting a month and serve on one or two commission working groups to do the work of ARC. Email arc@episcopalchicago.org for more information.
More information is also included in ARC’s bylaws.
Antiracism Commission Initiatives
New 2026 Antiracism Training Position Paper
On February 10, 2026, ARC approved the 2026 position paper on antiracism training for the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago which guides our collaboration with diocesan entities to support antiracism training for members of the diocese as a step towards fulfilling our vision of a diocese and world that, by God’s grace, is free from systemic racism. The paper lays out what antiracism trainings are required and recommended for clergy, lay leaders and all members of the Episcopal diocese.
Why is antiracism training offered in the diocese?
It is required by The Episcopal Church (TEC) per the 2018 General Convention.
In addition:
- Training provides a baseline of shared knowledge for all diocesan leaders, employees and members
- Training helps build support for dismantling systemic racism within the diocese and our world
- Training helps launch and sustain action to free the diocese and our world from systemic racism
- Training helps the diocese become an antiracist multicultural institution
- Establishing an antiracist identity is a lifelong commitment, and training often helps us to renew our commitment to live into an antiracist identity
Click here for September 2026 Crossroads update, antiracism training schedules, registration details, and training subsidy information.
New Antiracism Training
Ten Things to Know about the ARC’s New Faith and Race: Lay Leadership Training
- One-day anti-racism training offered on site in person at your congregation (6.5 hours with lunch)
- Sponsored by ARC – free for Diocesan Congregations
- For groups of 6-10 from the same congregation, vestry or ministry group
- The training goal is to launch and sustain antiracism work in congregations
- The training focuses attention on why our faith matters in dismantling systemic racism in the context of our baptismal covenant and the Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice as part of the Beloved Community
- The training provides an opportunity for lay leadership to talk together openly about opportunities as well as barriers to change
- Designed for church lay leaders in accordance with Resolution F-185 of the 2022 Diocesan Convention, as well as meeting the requirements for the national church
- Training satisfies the diocesan recommendation for antiracism training for lay leaders, including wardens and vestry members
- The curriculum is based on the Sacred Ground curriculum and uses video, handouts and small group discussion to facilitate the journey from where a parish is to where it wants to be in terms of faith and race
- To schedule a Faith and Race: Lay Leadership Training at your congregation, please contact ARC Training Coordinator Ed Manning
Resolution F-185: Commitment to Antiracism Work in Congregations
Resolution F-185, approved at the 2022 Diocesan Convention, calls on all congregations in the diocese to take steps to dismantle racism and build the antiracist identity of the diocese, and to formalize this commitment through programing, budget allocation, reporting to congregations at annual meetings and reporting annually to the bishop.
The Antiracism Commission recommends the following resources for F-185 implementation ideas:
- 2025 F-185 Implementation Flyer English
- 2025 F-185 Ideas para implementar Espanol/Spanish
- F-185 Implementation Ideas Webinar
- F-185 Implementation Ideas Slides
F-185 annual reports are due to Bishop Clark by March 31, 2026 and may be submitted through this Google form.
Please contact the Antiracism Commission with questions.
Task Force on the Legacy of Slavery
At the 176th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Chicago in November 2013, the Task Force on the Legacy of Slavery presented its report. Download the executive summary and the full report:
Executive Summary in English | Executive Summary in Spanish
Full Report from the Task Force published May 2017
During the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 1988 several resolutions were adopted for action by the various dioceses to address the sin of racism. The Diocese of Chicago responded by affirming the General Convention resolution in 1989. Subsequent actions by the Diocese of Chicago include the Bishop’s Advisory Commission to End Racism (BACTER) in 1993, the Illinois Lutheran Episcopal Anti-Racism Project (ILEAP) in 1999 which became the Anti-Racism Commission. The Task Force on the Legacy of Slavery is the most recent effort to address racism.
Download Resolution F-172 from the 172nd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Chicago enabling the Task Force.