Reaching out with care and kindness
Please read and respond as we have received this request from Rev. Burton**, one of our friends in The Interfaith Partnership of St Louis...where Kevin serves as the UCC representative...
“On Thursday, April 15, Diesha Boyd (34) was murdered and a 7-year-old girl (relationship has officially not been identified by authorities) was wounded in front of our congregation. I respectfully solicit the members of the Board and Cabinet and their representative communities to collect condolences for the Boyd family and get-well prayers/messages for the 7-year-old. What will be powerful would be to include pictures of the senders (not addresses), so that African Americans victims of violence see that all community members—at least the faith community—care when a life in North City is lost and children of color are harmed. This family was unknown to our congregation until I witnessed her body being transported by the medical examiner. Can we unite to support this family in grief and this child who is recovering from trauma no child should endure but is becoming shockingly routine?”
To expediate responses, IPSTL is heeding Rev. Burton’s request to assist. Please email condolences to [email protected]—either on behalf of your community or individually, depending on your circumstances. By including a photo, we can creatively mimic the impact of bearing witness together in-person.
Please send:
· Condolences to the family to Diesha Boyd
· Healing wishes to the 7-year-old girl (minor will remain unnamed) who was injured
· A photo of yourself or the community you are representing to stand in for showing support in-person
Send notes to:
· By Tuesday, April 27th, end of day
· IPSTL will assist by gathering, printing notes and photos, packaging, and delivering to Rev. Burton on Wednesday, April 28th
Please share! We invite you to forward this along to others in your community to maximize the response.
“We are each other’s harvest: we are each other’s business: we are each other’s magnitude & bond.” -Gwendolyn Brooks
Peace, Jim Poinsett, Executive Director, Interfaith Partnership of Greater STL
**Rodrick Burton is the Senior Pastor of the historic New Northside Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. He received a Master of Educational Ministry from Covenant Theological Seminary. He is a Mentor and Visiting Instructor of Applied Theology at Covenant Theological Seminary, a member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, Ecumenical Leadership Council, Jennings Clergy Coalition, Baptist Minister’s Union of St. Louis and Vicinity, Pastoral Fellowship of St. Louis, and on the Cabinet of the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis.
Burton is the author of the Moral State of Black America and a columnist in several St. Louis Metropolitan area periodicals. Rev. Burton is a member of St. Louis Clean Air Advisory Commission and is an Advocate for Environmental justice issues. Burton is the President of the St. Louis Airport Interfaith Chaplaincy as well as a member of the International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains.
