CONFESSION:
The initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost occurred in an interracial setting as some 16 people groups were numbered. The Azusa Street revival that began in 1906 in Los Angeles, California, was also interracial, breaking down racial barriers as the Holy Spirit united people from many cultural and ethnic backgrounds. William Seymour, the Black pastor, believed that the dissolution of racial prejudice was a sure sign of the Spirit's presence.

Many Whites, however, became uncomfortable with the interracial worship and its Black leadership and chose to abandon it. The racist culture gradually eroded the unity, particularly in the southeastern part of the United States, the birthplace of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. The General Board in 1922 agreed that anyone, regardless of race should be accepted into the denomination. Racism in the church, however, was revealed by a statement of that board recorded in the January 4, 1922, Minutes: "1st, That the colored element shall always be confined to the Conference, or Conferences, north of the Mason and Dixon line; provided 2nd, That no colored person shall ever hold office in an Annual Conference; and provided 3rd, That no colored person shall ever be a delegate to a General Conference." We weep for this dark blot on the pages of our history.

REPENTANCE:
Father, we confess that racism, with its hatred, bigotry and exclusion, is a sin which has brought division to the body of Christ. We have excluded a part of our Pentecostal heritage. By doing so, we have lost blessings of life and growth that could have been ours. We confess that we have overtly and covertly participated in our racist culture. We failed to support our Black brothers and sisters in their long struggle for equal rights. We now renounce and turn from our racist views and actions and celebrate our unity and equality in the body of Christ.

RESPONSE: Hear us, O Lord, as we make this confession. Forgive and cleanse us as we renounce and turn from the sin of racism and commit to use our differences to build Your kingdom.

AFFIRMATION: Father, we have recognized and confessed our sin of racism. We now turn away from this sin, which has brought division to the body of Christ. We declare that Your family is one, without regard to race, color, language, or national origin. We commit ourselves to do everything within our power to eliminate the sin and injustices of racism within the church and within our society.

RESPONSE: May our unity build Your kingdom, Lord!

AFFIRMATION: We affirm that every member of Your Church is needed for worship, fellowship and evangelism.

RESPONSE: May our unity build Your kingdom, Lord!

AFFIRMATION: We recognize the importance of working together to build bridges between the races. We affirm that Your Church is one and our task is one; therefore, we declare our love and acceptance of every member of the body of Christ.

RESPONSE: Now we accept Your forgiveness for the sin of racism and openly declare that we will work side by side with all people to build Your kingdom.

REFERENCE SCRIPTURES: James 2:1-10, 12-13; Isaiah 58:6-12; Titus 3:1-2; Romans 12:16-21; Ephesians 4:1-3

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