Dear Caldwell,
On Monday night, a few of us attended a meeting organized by the NAACP featuring two panels. We heard a number of important messages concerning community issues, public policy and policing. One of the strongest and most compelling, however, was from the mother of Jonathan Ferrell, who was shot and killed by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer whose trial is underway this week.
Speaking of the community, the event moderator asked, “What do we need to heal?” Mrs. Ferrell spoke with elegance and grace.
“I am a person of faith, and faith is to forgive,” she said.
I am sure I am not the only one there whose mind raced at that moment back to the same kind of startling grace shown by some of the families of those murdered at the “Mother” Emanuel AME Zion church a month ago. Prophets, all. Forgiveness is a powerful and liberating thing. Along with love, it is one of the greatest “weapons” we can yield as we battle the hate that would otherwise divide our world. That may be why forgiveness is one of the most difficult things we are called to do as people of faith.
I am so deeply grateful for Rev. Charlie Summers’ message Sunday that, “Love is a lot of hard work.” A veteran pastor of many different churches, he knows what he’s talking about. Whether our “hard work” is as people of “shalom” (peaceful wholeness) is in the community, in the world, in the workplace, at home … or here at Caldwell, God offers to equip us for that work. In exchange, we are invited to forgive others.
We have had some disagreements here at Caldwell in the last few weeks and more than a few hurt hearts and souls on all sides of the discussion. I think what Mrs. Ferrell and the Mother Emanuel families are saying is that faith can enable us to move beyond our hurt, even if we are still smarting a little, even if we think we are not ready … because faith calls and equips us to reach beyond ourselves. As we prepare to say “thank you” and “Godspeed” to Rev. Evie Landrau after worship on Sunday, may we all open our ears to hear God’s call in Christ Jesus from the mouth of Mrs. Ferrell, that “Faith is to forgive.”
Also, I invite you to pray for the Ferrell family as the trial proceeds. My experience with them Monday night is that they are people of exemplary faith and strength. If you would like to do so in community with others across the city, I’m sharing a conference call number below for you to use with the invitation from the supporters of the family. As those who are called to stand in the gap as people of reconciliation in all things, I also invite you to pray for the officer who is being tried and his family, and for all officers who serve our city, that they may be guided by God as peacekeepers in all circumstances.
To pray with others for the Ferrell family:
When: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Time: 7:30am-7:45am
Dial-in Number: (712) 775-7031
Access Code: 536636
Yours in Christ,
John