During the Lenten season, a suburban Chicago church has announced to its congregation that it will refrain from performing any music associated with white people.
“In our worship services throughout Lent, we will not be using any music or liturgy written or composed by white people,” the website for the First United Church of Oak Park reads.
“Our music will be drawn from the African American spirituals tradition, from South African freedom songs, from Native American traditions, and many, many more.” The statement continues, “For Lent, it is our prayer that in our spiritual disciplines we may grow as Christians, united in the body of Christ with people of all ages, nations, races, and origins.”
Reports from Turning Point USA claim that the church also put up signs saying that it would be holding services “around the voices of Black people, indigenous people, and people of color” in support of the racially-charged Lenten fast.
Both the church office and the church’s White male head pastor, John Edgerton, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reflections on “devotionals” that support the idea of “fasting from whiteness” are also being pushed by the church, according to reports.
“Inclusion” is defined on the church’s website as “valuing people of all races, ethnicities, cultures, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities in every aspect of our congregational life.” The church claims this in the section explaining its “values.”
The church which is reportedly “fasting from whiteness” also describes itself as an “open and inclusive Christian Community.”