Illinois Church Announces It Will “Fast From Whiteness” for Lent; No Music or Liturgy by White People

A church in Oak Park, Illinois announced that they will not use “any music or liturgy written or composed by white people” during the Lenten season as they intend to “fast from whiteness.”

First United Church of Oak Park told their parishioners the church will utilize musical scores and liturgies from minorities and people of color.

“For Lent this year, First United is doing a mix of “giving something up” and “taking something on,” the church announced on the website.

In our worship services throughout Lent, we will not be using any music or liturgy written or composed by white people. Our music will be drawn from the African American spirituals tradition, from South African freedom songs, from Native American traditions, and many, many more.

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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.

Chicago's First United Church of Oak Park is "fasting from whiteness" during Lent. I'm so glad Jesus is still "flippin' tables," aren't you?!!https://t.co/NGHaxTnqSX

— Operation Heal America (@OperHealAmerica) April 6, 2022

Fox News reported:

According to a report from Turning Point USA, the church also erected a sign promoting the racially-charged Lenten fast saying that it would be hosting worship services “around the voices of Black people, indigenous people, and people of color.”

Both the church office and head pastor John Edgerton, who is a White male, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

The church is also reportedly promoting reflections that it calls “evotionals” which have supported the idea of “fasting from whiteness.”

In the section of the church website that explains its “values,” the church claims that its members support a covenant of practicing “inclusion” by “valuing people of all races, ethnicities, cultural identities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities in every aspect of our congregational life.”

The church which is reportedly “fasting from whiteness” also describes itself as an “open and inclusive Christian Community.”