Over the past few days, our nation has been reeling from the sin of racism that has always been part of our history. The recent deaths of three African Americans - Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and George Floyd in Minnesota - have ignited protests in dozens of the cities across the country. These protests indicate the intense anger and pain of our fellow Americans. Some of these protests have also led to violent riots. While we never condone violence and the destruction of property, these voices of protest must be acknowledged and heard. We also recognize that most of our public servants - police, fire, first responders, and elected officials - are committed to safeguarding public safety while also protecting the right to peacefully protest. However, as we have witnessed, there are those who have violated this trust and abused their power.
Because our worship service for this Sunday (May 31) was pre-recorded earlier in the week, we did not address this issue in our pastoral prayer and sermon. Yet the problem is urgent and requires our attention as a part of the Body of Christ.
Bishop Grant Hagiya released a statement this morning requesting that every church in our Conference engage in a meaningful dialogue about the sin of racism and its presence in our lives. We will follow up on this request and organize an online discussion of racism very soon. In the meantime, we ask that you include in your prayers the victims of racism and its devastating effects upon our society. Pray also for those who are responsible for public safety in this volatile time.
