Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
As a “Minnesota boy,” it was hard to see the attitude of Officer Derek Chauvin as, for eight minutes, he suffocated George Floyd on May 25
th
. It was hard to learn that other officers stood by and did nothing as he pleaded, “I can’t breathe.” How could it be that Chauvin had 18 prior complaints against him and he was still riding around in a police car emblazoned with the words “To Serve and Protect.” What protection did Floyd have?
Sadly, racism has existed in Minnesota for generations and still does. It is a disease eating away at our society. How many of us have stood by and said nothing as we have heard of such racism elsewhere and in the past? To see it exercised so blatantly in broad daylight calls for a justice just as bold and unashamed and also exercised in the light of day.
When we, as members of a congregation, affirm our baptism, we hear this:
“Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism…
to strive for justice and peace in all the earth
?”
The response?
“I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.”
That means more than words and prayer. It is a call for action, with God’s help and guidance.
It is time for us, as the people of Zion, to become a member of
BOLD Justice
(Broward Organized Leaders Doing Justice), an organization composed of 22 religious congregations from different racial/ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Being politically non-partisan, BOLD Justice is a direct action organization that holds community leaders accountable to solve serious community problems that affect Broward County residents and businesses. Their motivation is rooted in their shared religious background. They have been successful in the past and are currently working on issues of senior care, mental health, and juvenile arrests.
“They" and “their" needs to become “we" and “our.” This is our
invitation
to be
equipped
to
serve
.
Please join me in continuing to address the consequences of hunger, poverty, and injustice as we so faithfully have done while
also
more intentionally addressing the causes. After all,
“What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
[Micah 6:8].
Humbly in Christ,
David, your pastor +
