* Dee Murray and Riley. Dee’s father was found unresponsive this afternoon.
* Robbie Walls, after the loss of her stepfather.
* Liz Kincaid, mourning the loss of her nephew several weeks ago.
. . . in addition to multiple prayer requests noted in worship yesterday.
Dear Caldwell,
Yesterday in worship, we thought and prayed about how we understand and live into our Christian identity. How do we preserve the distinct blessings of our differences and, at the same time, move toward unity amid diversity? How do we live out what it means to be “in Christ” across all of our differences, so that we can empathize with those who are oppressed and avoid being the oppressor?
Part of our call at Caldwell, in particular, is how we “stand in the gap.” Since the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott and the expressions of frustrations and injustice it triggered, a wide range of efforts have begun to address the systemic racism, economic inequality and other injustices in our city. Those seeking to respond range from the city’s traditional power holders to several grassroots organizing groups seeking to give voice to the marginalized and hold traditional power accountable.
As your pastor, I do my best to be a bridge builder, one who stands in the gap that sometimes separates one group from another – all the while mainting the integrity of my personal faith and the mandate of the Gospel and our mission statement.
I sense that your interest and passion is on the side or the marginalized. My bet is that, as I have preached, we as a community of faith are not in favor of knee-jerk attempts at solutions that aren’t based on deep listening and designed for the long term. At the same time, my sense is that we want to be constructive partners with many.
Why I am blogging about this today? Three reasons.
- Tomorrow night, our Pints and Paths faith-in-life discussion group (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Kickstand Burgers on Central Ave.) will talk about what it means to be “bridge people.” If interested (even if you can’t make it) check out this article as pre-reading and come and dive in. http://realchangenews.org/2015/02/25/building-bridges-they-burn
- Wednesday night at 6:30, we will host a showing of the film Color Blind: Rethinking Race in The Third Place and have dialogue afterward. Others from around the city will join. Please RSVP to me at pastor@caldwellpresby.org
- Sunday: You should know there is a city-wide effort called One Charlotte that has come together from corporate and other citizens in Charlotte. They have called for a big gathering this Sunday uptown at Romare Bearden Park starting at 1:30. Churches are encouraged to take part, though Caldwell is not formally organizing participation. You should also know that there is some constructive tension related to this effort. Several churches are participating.
However . . . the Charlotte Coalition of Clergy for Justice, of which I am a member, has not endorsed this effort. The groups disagree about how different parties have been included.
So, there we are – standing in the gap, seeking to show solidarity with those who have been in the streets and, at the same time, support potentially helpful solutions in where we show up, as individuals and as Caldwell.
I’ve referred a few times to our call to not retreat from the constructive tension in which our city finds itself. Sunday’s event is a good example. What does our Christian identity call us to do? What do you think?
Yours in Christ,
John