Message from Pastor Mori
Dear RFUMC Family
The Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church has condemned the recent hatred and racist attacks on houses of worship and institutions of learning in the United States. This week I am sharing the statement. In the statement, the Council of Bishops referred to the recent attack on a synagogue in Texas and bomb threats against historically Black colleges and universities. (Original Statement click here)
In Jesus' name, we rebuke hatred and racism
The recent hostage situation at a synagogue in Texas is one of many recent attacks on peaceful gatherings and places of worship. We want our Jewish sisters and brothers to know that we are appalled by this senseless violence and stand with them.
Soon after the antisemitic attack in Colleyville, Texas, a series of bomb threats were received at Historic Black Colleges and Universities across the United States. At the beginning of Black History month, no less! This begs the question, "when will these acts of hate end?"
This is an important question for the Christian community to ponder. I believe we must do more if we have any hope of bringing an end to these egregious acts. We must play an active role in ending these acts of hate.
What do we do? What do we as Christians do? About hatred? About casual conversations in which someone offers an antisemitic joke or remark about another group? What will we do when persons of color continue to be the target of bomb threats and other life-threatening actions?
What we can't do is remain silent. We can't express deep gratitude that no one was harmed and then discount the harmful experiences of people we know as friends or work associates or the parents of our children's classmates who are living with fear about what could happen to them or their loved ones.
Yes, we must pray but we must also add our voice and our actions to our prayers.
When it comes to hate crimes, I borrow the words of Rabbi Abraham Heshel when he said, "Few are guilty, but all are responsible."
What will you say? What will you do?
Let us be reminded what we said we would do as faithful United Methodists.
"Enter into dialogue and action, speaking out for compassion and against hate. A faithful dialogue requires the courage to speak up without misusing privilege and power. This will include:
- Redefining compassion as the process of inviting and sustaining faith in full dialogue.
- Acknowledging the wholeness of the human family means willingness to stay in community with those whom we disagree, by embracing both patience and humility.
- Commitment to a lifelong journey of personal and collective discipline.
- Commitment to listen attentively, respectfully and never using dialogue as an excuse for talk and no action or to mask dishonesty.
- Encouraging United Methodists to end complicity with hate by speaking out when jokes, disparagements, and stereotypes are based on difference.
- Creating opportunities to hear from excluded groups about the reality and impact of hate and partner with them to act for justice;
- Encouraging law-enforcement personnel to maintain records on hate crimes and to bring to justice the perpetrators of such violence and intimidation."
ADOPTED 2008 AMENDED AND READOPTED 2016 RESOLUTION
#3422, 2008, 2012 BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS
I ask again, "What will you say? What will you do?"
Our eyes must remain wide open to the need to denounce violence, bigotry, and hatred of all kinds. Evil and hatred will not have the last word.
We cannot remain neutral when it comes to hate crimes, hate speech, and fomenting and committing violence in our world. We won't have any moral grounds if we say we love God and yet take no action against racism and hatred. Together, let's show that we honor the sacred worth of all people and respect for our institutions of learning and worship. Together we must take responsibility of transforming the world.
Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey President -Council of Bishops The United Methodist Church
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