Northminster News

October 8, 2020 | The Nineteenth Week After Pentecost

Religious Freedom, Our First Freedom

Northminster Family,

This past weekend, when our partners at the Alliance of Baptists posted an advertisement for the 2020 Stricklin Lectures, their publicity materials made the theme clear: Religious Freedom, Our First Freedom. Within a few hours, I was surprised to see there was a comment on the post. Someone was calling our motives into question.

“How about addressing freedom of speech?” someone demanded, “And freedom of the press, being imprisoned, shot and beaten out of the US across America right now?” The subtext seemed clear to me. How dare you talk about something as frivolous as religious liberty when actual people are being hurt right now?

I immediately understood the sentiment behind their question. The term “religious liberty” has been turned into a red flag in my mind. It has been diluted and perverted by those who do not understand how it is defined by the US Constitution. It’s been co-opted by those seeking to spin a loss of privilege into a false narrative of persecution. What was once a safeguard against oppression has been turned into a tool of that very oppression. Oh look, I imagine the Facebook commenter thought, another church whining about the fact that they can’t deny service to someone they hate.

I hear that objection. I’m glad people have trained their minds to make such objections. This perversion of religious liberty has been at play since 1791, when the first amendment was adopted. But in reality, the truth is religious liberty means something very different.

Over the past two days, it has been my honor to record Dr. Gaddy’s 2020 Stricklin Lectures to prepare them for online streaming. As I’ve listened to his hard-won and impassioned explanations about the importance of religious liberty in the United States, I’ll admit, it may have been the first time the stakes became so clear to me.

Without a proper understanding of the separation of church and state, political powers are unfettered in their use of religion to deny aid or civil rights vulnerable people.
Without religious freedom, whatever religious group is loudest and most dominant at the moment becomes the standard by which we are expected to abide. They define the curriculum my children are expected to learn, and the “God” to which they are to pray.
Without the separation of church and state, political powers are unfettered in claiming their political causes to be ordained by a deity, to actively encourage the transformation of social fear into theological fundamentalism into authoritarianism.
Without the separation of church and state, our sacred truths become banners of secularized trope. The ten commandments, the sermon on the mount, the Bible itself are reduced to idols and political props to be installed outside courthouses and used for photo ops.
Without the separation of church and state, the church loses all integrity.
Without the separation of church and state, the state loses its ability to look after the welfare of all citizens.
Without religious liberty, we all lose.

As we read some of the above, it may feel these things are already well underway. This is true, as Dr. Gaddy makes abundantly clear. “I am not speaking hyperbolically,” he says, “when I tell you religious freedom is under such an attack that we could return to a pre-religious freedom constitution.” The wall between church and state is fast eroding.

The Stricklin Lectures this year are an educational jumping off point, but also a call to urgent advocacy for our first freedom – the freedom of religion. They are the beginnings of the edification we need to face what is shaping up to be an increasingly uncertain season for the preservation of our most basic civil rights.

Peace,

Zach Helton

Click here for more information about the 2020 Stricklin Lectures, or to register for Saturday's Q and A session.

The Prayers of the People

An opportunity to celebrate and pray alongside siblings in our community.

We pray alongside...

Tim and Marissa Jaquess as Tim's sister Carolyn Long enters hospice.

Angela Hallack, friend of Ellen Prather who was diagnosed this month with Stage 4 inoperable lung cancer.

We celebrate alongside...

Kim Norman (8th), Mitchell Mobley (9th), Rodney Thomas (9th), RuebenMcClanahan (9th),

Welton Gaddy (10th), Sheila McCormick (11th), Nova Grassi (12th), John Carr (13th),

Lavern Bodron (15th), Susan Roberts (16th), and Al Peterson (16th) as they celebrate their birthday.

If you have concerns or celebrations you would like us to add to the newsletter, please call the church office or email office@northmin.org.

The Work of the People

How we are responding to the Spirit of Love

Join us on Wednesdays at 5:30

How to Be an Antiracist

by Ibram X. Kendi

The work of seeking God's justice through pursuing antiracism does not end with reading books, but the right book can help to jumpstart it. A group of interested Northminster members and friends have continued to dialogue about how the church can most faithfully respond to the racial injustice in our world, and one of the ways we are continuing the conversation is through reading Ibram Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist. Please contact Claire if you have any issues getting hold of a copy of the book.

Reading Schedule**

**Adjusted schedule for the final 2 weeks!

Wed., Oct. 14 - Chapters 13-15

Wed., Oct. 21 - Chapters 16-18

Click here to join the study group over Zoom

The Thomas E. Stricklin Lectures in Church History are coming up this weekend! The lectures will take place over the weekend of October 9-11 via YouTube with the same live chat features we use during Sunday morning worship. There will also be a live Q&A over Zoom following Saturday afternoon's lecture.

Remember that for security purposes, you will need to register for the Q&A in order to receive the link. Click the button below to find out more about the lecture series, to find the links for each lecture once they're available, and to register to participate over Zoom!

Stricklin Lectures Info & Registration

Alliance of Baptists Fall Gathering:

"Devoted to Justice"

For a full weekend of integrating our civil and religious convictions, we invite you to join us on the Saturday morning of the Stricklin Lectures (see above) for the Alliance of Baptists' fall gathering, "Devoted to Justice." Read more from the Alliance below:

Join the Alliance of Baptists on October 10 for Devoted to Justice, the Alliance's fall online gathering. This 90-minute online gathering will focus on liberation and justice in our current climate and will feature keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. William Barber II. The program will provide the opportunity for inspiration, reflection, connection, a chance to check-in with your Alliance family and to hear the state of the Alliance in these unprecedented times.

Click Here to Register

2021 Northminster Commissions: Are You Willing to Serve?

Northminster Commissions

Arts

Columbarium

Family Ministries

Missions

Outreach

Properties

Hospitality

Stewardship

Worship

Education

What are you passionate about? How might it overlap with the work of the church?

Each year at this time the Coordinating Council recommends members who are willing to serve on a commission to the commission chairs. Each of our commissions will need at least two new members this year.

If you're willing to serve on one or more commission, please notify the office as soon as possible as the Coordinating Council will begin recommendations after their next meeting on October 11.

Holy Ideas

How might we respond to the Spirit of Love?

In this new season of social distancing, we need holy ideas to help stretch our imaginations for what is possible within this community more than ever.

Since we can't make use of the physical "Holy Ideas" board in the hallway, we'll maintain it virtually and keep it updated here in the newsletter. If you have an idea for a way the church can be church in this season, or if you see an idea you'd like to support to help it become reality, email the office.

Around Town

Virtual and Otherwise

Strauss Theatre's 89th Opener:

Million Dollar Quartet

Million Dollar Quartet is a terrific musical opening the 89th season at Strauss Theater Center. Because of COVID-19 limitations the performances will be in the beautiful outdoor setting at Kiroli Park in West Monroe on October 15, 16, 17 and 18 at 6:30 each evening. Call the box office at 323-6681 or go online to buy tickets or memberships. We need help to survive!

Click Here for Ticket Information

Giving to Northminster

Support Northminster's Work

We are sensitive to the reality that financial uncertainty is one of the side effects of the spread of the coronavirus. However, if you find yourself in a position to continue or increase your contributions to the church, know that your donation will be greatly appreciated. We have made the decision to honor our commitments to all those on our payroll (ministers, staff, choral scholars, childcare) who are relying on this income in an anxious time, and we cannot do that without your continued support.

To support Northminster financially, you can click here, or scan the QR code below with the camera on your phone.