RISC

Click HERE for collage picture of last RISC event.

RISC and Redeemer: What is it all about?

Richmonders Involved to Strengthen our Communities (RISC) is composed of a variety of denominations and faith traditions and came about through an initiative by the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, along with Bon Air Presbyterian Church and Crusade for Christ Family Ministries. These three faith communities wanted to right injustices in our area and approached DART to help bring that about. DART is a national 501© (3) non-profit organization that educates clergy and lay leaders to "bring religious congregations together around shared concerns and values to challenge the economic, political and social systems to act justly."

In 2000, as a result of this initiative, RISC was formed. RISC is currently comprised of 10 member congregations: Church of the Redeemer, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist, Good Shepherd Baptist, Second Baptist Southside, Congregation Or Ami, Bon Air Presbyterian, Grace Covenant Presbyterian, First Presbyterian, St. Paul Episcopal, and Crusade for Christ Family Worship. RISC’s mission statement "to bring together diverse congregations in order to powerfully address the root causes of poverty and injustice in the Greater Richmond Area…members are located throughout the Greater Richmond area and are diverse in their socio-economic, racial, denominational and geographic backgrounds…work together to build relationships, listen to common concerns, research community problems, and then to take action to see that systems in the community are held accountable to principles of justice and fairness."

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in A Century of Teaching declared: "Our efforts to ... serve the poor and vulnerable must be accompanied by concrete efforts to address the causes of human suffering and injustice ... We are called to transform our hearts and our social structures, to renew the face of the earth ... We cannot celebrate a faith we do not practice. We cannot proclaim a gospel we do not live."

In other words, we cannot separate our Catholic faith from the struggle for justice. Justice is "constitutive", it is essential; it makes faith what faith is. Here at Redeemer, our mission state begins with "we seek to be Christ to one another". Those of us involved in our RISC ministry believe that this work for Justice brings us closer to this faith filled goal.

RISC uses a yearly process of research and work on local justice issues. In the fall, congregations meet to identify injustices in our community. Through the diversity of the member congregations, needs and concerns of the whole community (not just one racial or economic or faith based groups) are brought forth. Last October, parishioners from Redeemer and the other member congregations met at the Annual Assembly and voted to continue to work on health care issues, to expand our goals for education and drugs and crime. Following this meeting, members of each committee began to research and identify specific problem areas in each of the chosen categories. This research component continues until the Spring.

In March RISC will hold a large Rally for justice ministry team and network members from each of the member congregations. The rally is filled with faith sharing and music and along with updates on the issues research and the proposed plan for the officials at the upcoming Nehemiah Action. The rally is designed to help member congregations get excited about our work on the issues and turn out as many people as possible at the Action. The rally will be exciting, informational, fun and energizing!

In April, Redeemer parishioners, along with more than 1000 other people of faith, will meet with public officials and present proposed solutions to problems facing our community at the Nehemiah Action. Redeemer is committed to doubling our attendance from last year to this year's Nehemiah Action (that is more than 200 people!). We believe RISC's strength in numbers and diversity will empower us to impact our local leaders and create systemic change. Redeemer's Justice Ministry Team Members are excited about the possibilities to affect change in Richmond this year through our work and the work of other people of faith committed to justice in RISC.

For more information about RISC and Redeemer's Social Justice Ministry contact Diane at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 746-4911 ext. 2222.