Introduction
Humanity’s ethnic diversity is a gift from our Creator, intended to magnify the greatness of His glory. Sadly, it is often instead turned into an excuse for distrust, fear, hatred, oppression, and violence. This has been true throughout the history of fallen humanity, and there is no ethnic group that has not in some way been affected by this at some point in time. However, the issue of racial reconciliation has recently become a prominent issue confronting our culture. In response, the DGCC leadership has prepared this Statement for the following reasons:
1. To equip God’s people to speak biblically and thoughtfully to this issue since the Church is called to be “salt” and “light” in the world, to “speak the truth in love”, and be an effective witness to the Word of the Gospel.
2. To provide clarity on a topic that is rife with confusion and misunderstanding. For example, there is often lack of clarity regarding the meaning of words, such as “justice”. People can use the same words, but attach very different meanings to them. Effective communication is significantly hindered when there is not a common understanding of the meaning of words.
3. To minimize the misunderstandings that frequently occur due to inadequate communication. It is too easy to make assumptions about what people think and believe, including what the leadership of DGCC believes. There is no doubt that this topic has great potential to produce divisions among God’s people, as it is currently producing divisions in our society as a whole. We therefore encourage everyone to consider one another from a perspective that sees what is invisible and eternal, rather than visible and temporary; to set our minds on the things of the Spirit, rather than on the things of the world which is passing away; to remember the eternal bonds of unity that bind us all to Christ and therefore to each other. As we discuss these issues with others, both believers and non-believers, we would all be wise to have such conversations in person, face to face, and avoid using social media for that purpose.
This Statement is intended to communicate to the membership the present understanding and positions of the DGCC leadership. Agreement with all specifics in this Statement is neither required nor expected of members. If anything in this Statement causes concern or confusion, please do not hesitate to discuss it with one of the Elders.

Statements of Affirmation
1. We affirm that our identity is defined by our Creator, who alone has the right to define us. Based on God’s revelation through his Word:
a. All are created by God and bear his image and therefore all have immeasurable value and dignity.
b. All are corrupted by our sinful rebellion against God.
c. All are offered forgiveness, eternal life, and adoption by God through repentance and faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and all ethnicities will be represented among both the saved and the lost.

2. Since we affirm the immeasurable value of all people regardless of race, we affirm that the failure to love anyone due to their race is a sin against God, the Creator of all races. We regard all of the following as a failure to love, and therefore sinful:
a. Racial stereotyping – attitudes, words, or actions towards others based on assumptions about them due to their race. We oppose using race (or any other human trait) as the basis of identity. The basis of our identity comes from who we are as image-bearers of God.
b. Racial discrimination – attitudes, words, or actions that seek to give advantages or disadvantages to members of some races vs others.
c. Racial segregation – attitudes, words, or actions that seek to exclude members of some races.

3. We affirm that our sin has resulted in alienation from both God and each other. Just as the Gospel is our only hope for reconciliation with God, so it is also our only hope for true racial reconciliation and harmony. Only the Gospel addresses the sin in our hearts that is the root of racism:
a. The Gospel addresses our fears, for Christ’s death and resurrection assure us of God’s love and provision.
b. The Gospel humbles our pride, for Christ’s death on our behalf shows us that we are all alike guilty and deserving of eternal condemnation due to our rebellion against God.
c. The Gospel provides the motivation for love, for Christ’s sacrifice to redeem people of all races by his blood shows us the eternal and immeasurable value of every person.

4. We affirm the value of seeking to understand the history of oppression in race relations, as well as present attitudes or structures that can lead to oppression. In view of the many exhortations and commands in God’s Word against oppression, we affirm that the Church in general is called to identify and to work against specific manifestations of oppression and we support those Christians who feel specifically called to serve in that way.

5. We affirm that God’s Word anticipates and describes many disparities in human society and does not view them all in the same way. Therefore, we reject any philosophy which assumes that all disparities in racial outcomes are necessarily due to oppressive or unjust attitudes or structures in society:
a. Disparities arise due to the unjust actions of individuals as well as unjust social structures. As stated above, in these cases God’s Word commands the Church to work against such injustices.
b. Disparities arise due to causes that are the fault of no one (illness, natural disasters, loss of employment, etc.). In these cases, God’s Word commands the Church to act with compassion, and extend to others the love and mercy which we ourselves have received from God.
c. Disparities arise from the choices that individuals make which can be either righteous and wise, or wicked and foolish. In these cases, the resulting disparities are considered a natural and just outcome. Even here, though, as those who have received mercy, we are called not to condemn but to strive to lead such people to repentance and life in a spirit of truth and love.

6. We affirm that God is Lord of both the ends and the means as we pursue true justice and therefore reject the philosophy that “the end justifies the means”. We desire the restoration of justice where needed, without committing new injustices in the process. Therefore, we recognize there can be limited cases where actions should be taken to provide restoration to those directly impacted by injustice along with acknowledgement of the wrong. However, we oppose laws, regulations, policies, and practices that employ racial discrimination as a means to address past racial discrimination.

7. We affirm that God’s Word commands Christians to seek and support just laws that reflect God’s impartial love for all ethnicities and are therefore race-neutral so that all individuals of whatever race are thus equal under the law. We affirm that God’s Word defines “justice” as equality under the law, not equity of outcome. We consider laws to be “race neutral” if the intent is to benefit anyone regardless of race. For example, a city program to encourage economic development which targeted a particular area would be considered race-neutral even if the people who benefited were mostly racial minorities, as long as the area was targeted because of poverty and not because of its racial composition.

For the increase of His glory and our joy,
The Elders of DGCC
(August 2021)