A church in Oak Park is drawing attention after controversy erupted this week over a phrase it used related to Lenten observances.
First United Church of Oak Park is seen Thursday after “Fasting from Whiteness” lawn signs had been removed. The signs generated controversy; the pastor said the church is on an anti-racism journey and is playing African-American inspired music during Lent.
Social media reaction to the church’s “fasting from whiteness” theme has been a mixture of supportive messages and criticisms. Some commenters on an Oak Park Facebook group said they liked the church’s idea of introducing music by composers of color, but felt “fasting from whiteness” was the wrong phrase to use.
Following the 1968 passage of the Oak Park Fair Housing Ordinance, prohibiting housing discrimination based on race, religion, national origin or sex, Edgerton said founders of the Oak Park Regional Housing Center —which included several village trustees — held formational meetings at First United.“This is not something new to us, but rather a continuation of work that must always be taken up anew,” he said.
Some critics on Facebook objected that in the church’s “fasting from whiteness” phrase, use of the word “whiteness” is divisive. Others applauded that attention was brought to the topic. “There is no way to talk about racism in the country without the topic making people uncomfortable,” he said. “Your choices are to have honest conversations about race and racism, or to be silent. We will not be silent about this, because that is not true to the Gospel.”“It’s also relevant to the 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the desert, the 40 days that it rained during the big flood and the 40 days of Jesus fasting in the wilderness when the devil tempted him,” he said.
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