Continuing the conversation
Ed Blum: I adore my church. In fact, it's the only church I’ve called “my church” since college. Several weeks ago, when there was no mention of Ferguson or racial injustice during services, I felt frustrated. Rather than turn to the pastoral staff, I publicized my experience and looked to pastors Leslie Callahan and Carol Howard Merritt for insight for how pastors and laypeople, like myself, could address these topics. I did not want to personalize the matter since I had been to many white churches where issues of race were hardly ever mentioned. So, when introducing Callahan’s and Howard Merrit’s perspectives, I never mentioned by name the church or pastors. But, of course, it was personal. I attend this church; I count several of the pastors as my friends; and I introduced the moral issue from my church experience. Graciously, the staff took the challenge seriously; they read and shared the perspectives of pastors Callahan and Howard Merritt; we discussed how to address race, violence, and justice not only now, but also in the weeks, months, and years to come. Where there was once silence on Sunday, we have now had powerful moments of prayer. The pastoral staff composed a response letter, which we share here as another feature in these ongoing and vexing problems. For me, their subsequent actions and this letter are more reasons I’m grateful to call this church “my church.”
Pastoral response: November 30th was not our best day. But this God we serve has a knack for turning water into wine, resurrecting life from death, and making beautiful that which is mangled. That particular Sunday was the first that followed the decision by the grand jury to not indict officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown. We overlooked acknowledging this tragic story and the response that was unfolding in Ferguson and, subsequently, around the country. This narrative was gaining momentum as other stories surfaced exposing deep issues of racial violence, mistrust of law enforcement, and inequity. Our staff had talked explicitly about the need to address this situation and its broader ramifications. We had agreed it would be attended to in the Pastoral Prayer portion of our worship service. And then… it wasn’t.
Our service that morning was filled with additional elements: celebrating the first Sunday of Advent, rejoicing with our 3rd-5th graders who had just finished a special Bible program, while also acknowledging a number of parishioners who are journeying through difficult personal and family crises. These items dominated the service and the needs of our people filled the pastoral prayer as we cried out to God on their behalf. We were distracted. We knew it immediately during the service, but no one knew how to integrate the issues erupting in Ferguson in a way that didn’t treat it as a side issue or overhaul the entire service. Our staff immediately talked about what we could do next. Do we issue a statement? By mail? Email? Do we wait until the following Sunday?
