Dear Caldwell,
Once again, our hearts are broken, as we weep with the family of Keith Lamont Scott and pray for our city. Once again, we wonder, even desperately, what we can do to be part of a helpful, healing response that does not diminish the real anger we witness and feel.
Today, I have spoken with four African-American colleagues in ministry. Each has a different perspective. That is how comples this.
In the past, I have prayed and preached about the need for systemic review of police policies in regard to use of deadly force (a sermon excerpt from last August at the time of the Kerrick trial verdict is at bottom). Like so many, I am at a loss for how, in a gun battle in New York,we can spare the life of a terrorist whom authorities wish to question and how, in the same week, two more black lives are taken, one in Charlotte and one in Tulsa, by police through deadly force.
What we can do is come together. For those who wish to bear witness to love, to community and to justice tonight:
We will open The Third Place at 6 p.m. for simple, unstructured gathering, prayer, conversation and mutual exchange. All Caldwell folk are welcome, and welcome to bring any friends.
All who wish can then take the trolley downtown to take part in a 7 p.m. peaceful vigil/gathering at Marshall Park on McDowell, organized by the Million Youth March.
As the situation develops, I will do my best to stay in touch. Meantime, this afternoon, I’ve been asked to be present with some area youth as they seek understanding.
Let us dwell in the power and unity of the love of Christ while we seek the real truth of what it will take to, one day, build “the beloved community.”
In Christ,
John
From a sermon titled Taking Offense, August 2015:
So now we live in that tension. We have neither a guilty nor a non-guilty verdict. I wonder if living in that tension isn’t exactly where we need to be. Yes, the District Attorney will decide whether to retry the case. In the meantime, the ultimate and broader question of justice in our city lies in our hands. That is where it should be.
During the trial, one of my clergy colleagues asked the mother of Jonathan Ferrell how she was holding up. She has been a symbol of unwavering peace and strength.
Mrs. Ferrell replied, “It hasn’t felt good but it is for the good.”
A question for all of us is: How do we live in the tension of this moment constructively? How can we deliver on the hope behind Mrs. Ferrell’s statement? How do we make this tragedy – a tragedy for both the Kerrick and the Ferrell families – something that is indeed for the good?
How can we build a community that is more just, more fair and, at the same time, a city of peace, mutual respect and equitable interdependence.
As we remember how some of Jesus’ followers turned back on him when things got difficult, the question for us is: will we turn back?
This is no time to turn back for there is work to do.
Those of us who do a lot of the talking need to quiet down and listen deeply. We need to hear the pain and fear and hopelessness of some of our neighbors and work in and through the systems that control resources and opportunity.
Those of us with power and privilege need to take stock of our advantages. We need to empower others, not through the evils of polite patriarchy or colonialism, not through charity but through systemic change that truly levels the playing field. We need to do all these things through honest, authentic and sustained relationships, here at Caldwell and across our city.
Can we live in that tension, keeping the energy and urgency of these days in a way that is constructive?
What will we say to all of this? Will we say, as the disciples did that day with Jesus, “This is a difficult teaching: who can accept it?” Will we turn back?
There is no turning back, friends, for Jesus beckons us forward. Indeed, in many ways, this moment can be a new beginning. It can be a time when black and white come together to speak the truth in love. It can be a time when we cannot afford to be easily offended.
It can be a day when we stick with each other and take a hard look at statutes such as the “stand your ground” statute and the police force’s freedom by policy to “shoot to kill” when there are other ways to defuse potentially tragic circumstances.
At this moment in our city, to turn back from these conversations and convictions is to say that black lives don’t matter. To stick together, is to follow Jesus and tell all who would listen that black lives do matter.