We follow in the ways of Jesus of Nazareth, who was on the side of the
oppressed, marginalized, cast off and forgotten. We claim a savior who sacrificed
much in the name of justice and bringing about the Kingdom of God. Because of
this, we cannot be silent. We must say Black Lives Matter; as to stay silent is to
stay with the oppressor. We must say Black Lives Matter, because our black
siblings in Christ are having their sacred breath taken from them far too soon.
Saying Black Lives Matter does not mean any other lives are valued less, but
indeed, that Black life is sacred and of worth, protection, love, dreams, and value.
Because of the 400 + years of systemic oppression of black and brown bodies in
this country and within our churches, we must say Black Lives Matter. Saying
Black Lives Matter is not anti-anything else, but pro-black life. We cry out in grief
and lament over the loss of Elijah McClain, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and
Ahmaud Arbery, and the many, many beloved of God who were killed by
systemic racism. Let us do the hard, needed work to face racism, to work to
become anti-racist, to dismantle the systems of oppression that keep black life
from flourishing. We believe this is the to which Christ calls us.
Many have been involved in anti-racism work for a long time. Some of us
are just now beginning to understand the realities of systemic racism and the
ongoing oppression built into our society. There are many ways to do the work of
Anti-Racism, what we know and hear from Black and People of Color (POC)
leaders in the movement is to listen, learn, become more educated. So as we
take steps to be transformed and do the work of anti-racism, here are a few ways
we as a congregation are engaging in this work in Summer and Fall of 2020.
Monthly conversations through films like Just Mercy, The Cross and the Lynching
Tree, and the Netflix documentary 13th.
An Anti-Racist Book Group is also in the works. Meeting monthly, this will
be an opportunity to read Black and POC authors of anti-racism books,
memories and non-fiction, and fiction. You can come as often as you can; this is
not a club that requires monthly participation – though we hope you can
participate monthly!
We hope you will join us in this work of “becoming more human through
anti-racism work” (Paraphrase of Austin Channing Brown, Author of I’m Still
Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness).
Please reach out to the Pastors for more information or further conversation.
