The Movement Continues: Racial Justice Ministries forges new path after conclusion of campaign

In an era of attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the country, the United Church of Christ has doubled down on its commitment to continuing its quest to become an anti-racist church. The Join the Movement campaign and initiative, which originally launched at General Synod 33 in 2021 has come to a close – but the work and vision continues through the UCC’s Racial Justice Ministries. 

Over the last five years, the work of Join the Movement has been impactful, and embraced by churches and conferences alike. 

What is Join the Movement? 

The Rev. John Dorhauer, former UCC General Minister and President, led the National Ministries in the creation of two projects that engaged the church as a critical ally in the struggle for racial equity. The first was the hiring of a firm to conduct what Dorhauer classified as a “thorough race audit of our practices, policies, and documents to examine to what extent the National Ministries continue to center whiteness and manifest privilege. 

The second was the intentional engaging of the entire denomination in a coordinated effort to uncover all the truth there is to be told about the commitments to be an anti-racist church. The Rev. Velda Love, the UCC’s Minister for Racial Justice, was appointed to lead this new initiative called ‘Join the Movement (JTM),’ and the vision was simple: invite churches to act for racial justice and equity, and then share their stories of committed justice to the JTM website. Sharon Fennema, the former curator for JTM, joined shortly after. 

“People were looking for resources, and looking to lean in to do more work,” said Fennema as she reflected back on the initiative. “It’s interesting now, to be in a different context where people are a little afraid to do DEI work, and the difference four years made.” 

Fennema says that since the Trump administration took office again in 2025, she and Love have been fielding calls of concern from churches and others within the UCC about retaliation to non-profit and tax exemption status for doing DEI work. However, Fennema emphasizes that those who supported the work of JTM are still committed to the work.

“There are many churches who understand in a new way their vocation as communities where racial justice work can happen,” said Fennema. “The church is seeing themselves as a place where these kinds of histories get to be centered.”

What did the work of Join the Movement mean to those closest to it?

The Rev. Velda Love, UCC’s Minister for Racial Justice and the lead on JTM, reflected on the impacts of the initiative, and said that JTM meant deepening the work in a way that allowed for the initiative to tell a story. 

“It gave a narrative and a lasting way for churches and people who wanted to do this work to have an example of a story, or a lived experience on being on the front end of being an activist and what that looks like for so many,” said Love. “[Join the Movement] gave more exposure to what racial justice was and is, and to have a lens in which people could see that it was possible, that justice was possible.” 

In reflecting on the work of JTM, and its impact, Love recalled a trip to Omaha, Nebraska, and noted that a UCC church, a synagogue, and a mosque all were housed on the same campus. Love said that was memorable because it allowed discussions about justice and micro-agressions to happen in an inclusive space. 

“The idea was that we all serve the same God,” said Love. “How do we recognize that we do serve the same God, and that justice is for all?”

Measuring Impact

A key component of the JTM campaign was storytelling. Love said that sharing each other’s stories shows not only who each person is, but who they can inspire, and who they can become.

“Every setting of the UCC, from local churches to global partners, has a role to play in expanding our practices of anti-racism and strengthening our capacities as partners and participants in the burgeoning racial justice movements of our time,” said Love.

Since its inception in 2021, the campaign engaged in over 100 All Church Read groups, and over 4,000 webinar and event participants across the UCC. By November 2025, the campaign raised over $815K in gifts, donations, and pledges, which Love said will continue to be used in supporting racial justice initiatives in local churches and other settings of the denomination. 

What Happens Next?  

Even though the campaign has concluded, the work of Racial Justice Ministries is still active and moving forward. There are a number of events and gatherings planned for 2026, including quarterly solidarity circles, the first of which is scheduled to take place in April. 

Love said that her many experiences and teachings over the years have shown her one thing as it relates to racial issues and the fight for justice: ‘this is not going to end.’ And while JTM has wrapped, the work for racial justice is far from over. 

“It’s time for white folks to get on the fence, and do the work,” said Love. She said a movement is all about strategies, and developing those same strategies to help Black folks to not only survive, but thrive. “We’ve been here before. The ancestors have taught us how to survive and thrive, Love continued. “Self care is a priority, because for those who have been doing this work, they are tired are taking care of themselves.”

 
The JTM website will close, but much of the content that lived on that website has been transferred and repurposed to new pages within UCC.org. Visit the new Racial Justice Ministries homepage for access to resources, events, stories, spiritual practices and more.

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