July 16, 2016
Dear Gulf Coast Leaders,
Here in the synod, Baton Rouge has experienced a great deal of turmoil, including the death of Alton Sterling and mounting frustration in the aftermath. This was followed by the death of Philando Castile and then five police officers in Dallas: Brent Thompson, Lorne Ahrens, Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Smith, and Michael Krol.

Acts of violence, such as in Charleston, Orlando, and recently Nice, France have resulted in fear and anxiety running high. Everyone has an opinion. An already polarized society is becoming more so. There is no better time for us to be the church, building bridges, modeling compassionate listening and gentle inquiry, acknowledging our bondage to sin and proclaiming a hope that is greater than death. 

This week synod staff and churchwide staff members met with Baton Rouge pastors and local leaders. We listened and prayed together - Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, and many others. We brainstormed with ecumenical colleagues how to move forward. How shall we respond? What action steps must we take? Some are participating in a march from Wesley UMC to the Louisiana State Capitol on July 24. Others are pushing for police reform. Some are planning local cross-cultural conversations. What will you do?

I would like to ask you to pray this Sunday and this week about the situation we are in and how God is calling us to respond. Pray both individually and in your congregation's prayers. Roman Catholic Bishop Muench has suggested a weekend of prayer, reflection, and fasting. I am asking you to call your people to prayer, reflection, and fasting this week as well. Would you ask them to pray and reflect on these questions:
  • Why is there such racial injustice?
  • Why do we turn to violence? 
  • Where is God in the midst of these tragedies?
  • How is God calling us to respond?
  • How is God calling me to respond? 
Invite them to write their reflections and share them, through email or dropping them in the plate the following Sunday.

The texts this week offer us some wisdom. Martha serves, while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and listens. Both are important. One thing is necessary. Prayer without action is hypocrisy. Faith without works is dead. Paulo Friere also reminds us in A Pedagogy of the Oppressed, however, that action without reflection is blind. To act without listening to God and one another is foolhardy. 

Would you be willing to call your congregation to prayer July 17-24? Will you invite them to take time to contemplate these questions in generous times of silent reflection?

If so, use your sermon time to preach this "sitting at the feet of Jesus." Use your intercessory prayer time to include this prayer or something like it. Then share with me what your congregation hears. 
Gracious God, we grieve the violence in our country and our world. We mourn the deaths of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Brent Thompson, Lorne Ahrens, Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Smith, and Michael Krol. We pray for peace. 

We confess the sin of racism. Give us grace to acknowledge that all people are our neighbors. Give us the eyes to see those of our neighbors who are lying in the road or in the ditch.

Show us how you are calling us to respond to the recent tragedies. Give us a vision for how we might extend your healing grace into the world at this time. 

"Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand, 
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life."

Prayer of St. Francis, ELW p.87
Bishop Michael Rinehart