Allies for Racial Justice (ARJ) is a partnership between St. James United Methodist Church and the Church of the Resurrection, two churches in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The organization promotes left-of-center antiracism training and claims to use Christian principles to fight racism. ¹ ARJ has also been listed as a community resource center to protect illegal immigrants. ²

Background

Allies for Racial Justice (ARJ) was founded in 2016 following police shootings of Black men across the United States and the civil unrest that followed. Two Kansas City-area Methodist churches, St. James Church and the Church of the Resurrection, joined together to form ARJ. St. James is a historically Black church, and Resurrection is a historically white church. The churches’ two pastors, Adam Hamilton and Emanuel Cleaver III, decided to unite their congregations to advance left-of-center antiracism training and educational programming. ^{3 4}

Activities

Allies for Racial Justice (ARJ) produces educational information and antiracism training that portrays whiteness, incarceration, and the history of America as fundamentally racist. It has an “Unpacking Whiteness” program which spreads a left-wing, critical race theory perspective on so-called white privilege. ⁵ ARJ argues through its work that the American prison system and mass incarceration are inherently racist toward Black people. ⁶

ARJ directs its congregants and supporters to several books on antiracism, white privilege, and critical race theory, including those written by leading left-wing race theorists such as Ibram X. Kendi, Bryan Stevenson, and Ta-Nehisi Coates. ⁷ The Church of the Resurrection’s senior pastor and ARJ co-founder Adam Hamilton conducted an interview with United States District Judge Julie Robinson discussing systemic racism and white privilege. ⁸

Hamilton also publishes several sermons and addresses regarding the Church of the Resurrection’s work with ARJ on race issues. In a July 3, 2020 message following the death of George Floyd, Hamilton clarified that the Church of the Resurrection and ARJ affirmed that all lives matter, but that their support for the statement “black lives matter” was specifically intended to highlight the effects of racism in America on Black people. Hamilton stated that support for the statement did not connote support for the Black Lives Matter movement. He also affirmed in his statement that “Blue lives matter,” indicating support for law enforcement officers. ⁹

Allies for Racial Justice hosts community events that celebrate blackness. On June 21, 2025, ARJ was scheduled to host a Juneteenth celebration at St. James United Methodist Church. ¹⁰

ARJ was also listed as a community resource center to protect illegal immigrants by Boots on the Ground Midwest, a left-wing advocacy coalition promoting illegal immigration and antiracism in the Kansas City area. ²

Leadership

Adam Hamilton is the founding pastor and as of 2025 was the senior pastor of the Church of the Resurrection and is a co-founder of Allies for Racial Justice (ARJ). Hamilton grew up in the Kansas City area and earned a bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministry from Oral Roberts University. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Southern Methodist University and went on to become the author of numerous books. Hamilton also served as a presidential appointee in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in the Obama administration and frequently speaks across the US. ^{11 12}

Emanuel Cleaver III was the senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church as of 2025 and is a co-founder of ARJ. ³ He began working as the senior pastor of St. James in 2009. He is a graduate of Philander Smith College and holds a Master of Divinity from Methodist Theological School in Ohio and a Doctor of Ministry from Saint Paul School of Theology. As of 2025, Cleaver also sat on the Mainstream United Methodist Church Advisory Board. ¹³ He is the author of two books. ¹⁴

1. “About.” Allies for Racial Justice. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://resurrection.church/arj/#about
2. Glynn, Earl F. “Boots on the Ground Midwest promotes progressive organizing in KC area.” Watchdog Lab, Substack. March 17, 2025. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://watchdoglab.substack.com/p/boots-on-the-ground-midwest-promotes
3. “History.” Allies for Racial Justice. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://resurrection.church/arj/#history
4. Robertson, Joe. “Two Kansas City area churches, black and white, joining to tackle racism — together.” Kansas City Star. January 21, 2019. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article223252805.html
5. “Unpacking Whiteness.” Allies for Racial Justice. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://resurrection.church/arj/resources/#unpacking
6. “Mass Incarceration.” Allies for Racial Justice. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://resurrection.church/arj/resources/#mass
7. “Anti-Racist Resources.” Allies for Racial Justice. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://resurrection.church/arj/resources/#anti
8. “Begin the Journey.” Allies for Racial Justice. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://resurrection.church/arj/resources/#begin
9. Hamilton, Adam. “A Closing Word About Which Lives Matter from Rev. Adam Hamilton.” Church of the Resurrection. July 3, 2020. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://resurrection.church/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/A-Closing-Word-About-Which-Lives-Matter-from-Rev.-Adam-Hamilton.pdf
10. “Events.” Allies for Racial Justice. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://resurrection.church/arj/events/
11. “Staff – Adam Hamilton.” Church of the Resurrection. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://resurrection.church/staff/
12. “President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts.” President Barack Obama, White House Archives. January 29, 2016. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/01/29/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts
13. “Emanuel Cleaver, III.” Mainstream United Methodist Church. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://mainstreamumc.com/advisory-board/emanuel-cleaver-iii/
14. “Dr. Emanuel Cleaver III.” E Clever 3 Website. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.ecleaver3.com/bio-1