Fuller’s Work to Combat Anti-AAPI Racism

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt our world, we particularly mourn and grieve with our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) brothers and sisters who have faced a rise in racist rhetoric, actions, and hate crimes against their persons, families, communities, and businesses. In light of the recent Presidential Memorandum condemning and combating anti-AAPI racism, we applaud those doing this work within our institution and commit to further steps to support the AAPI community at Fuller.

We are realizing that anti-AAPI racism is often unacknowledged or misunderstood, even at Fuller, and we commit to improving the seminary’s ability to acknowledge, respond to, and correct these shortcomings and wrongdoings. We want to highlight the ongoing work that the Center for Asian American Theology and Ministry has spearheaded since its formation. They are working with the Diversity Council to support our AAPI students, faculty, administrators, and staff, as well as educating Fuller’s non-AAPI community members. We also acknowledge work that has been underway in collaboration with the chief of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the dean of SOPMFT, and a working group of faculty and alumni in SOPMFT to address these shortcomings. Our country’s long and ongoing history of anti-Asian sentiment, exclusion, colonization, and erasure of Asian American and Pacific Islander peoples has made fighting racism against AAPI people long overdue.

As part of the work of creating an environment of racial equity that testifies to God’s love, grace, and justice, Fuller will continue working with the Asian American Center, the Diversity Council, the Asian American Student Fellowship, and the chief of diversity, equity, and inclusion to address AAPI-specific concerns. We will be hosting listening sessions with Fuller community members in order to act in response, increase awareness, and help our community meet the needs of our AAPI colleagues.

Alexis Abernethy, Chief of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Nicole Boymook, Co-chair of the Diversity Council
Daniel D. Lee, Co-chair of the Diversity Council
Mark Labberton, Clifford L. Penner Presidential Chair