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Dear Folks,
I’ve been wondering lately what the role of Church is in our changing world.
At the Rocky Mountain College Board of Trustees retreat last week, In conversations with the executive team, it became clear that the churches of the three denominations connected to Rocky (Presbyterian Church USA, United Methodists, UCC) are not the recruitment centers they once were. What is our role in higher education?
At recent meetings, clergy have been talking about our response to ICE. Locally there is a call to be witnesses at arrests and also to accompany legal immigrants to their scheduled meetings in Helena. The UCC Council of Conference Ministers is working on a trip of witness to Washington, D.C., in late October where we plan to bring letters from constituents to members of Congress. Our appeals will be based on the General Synod Resolution #9 (brought by the Council on Racial and Ethnic Ministries) that calls on the settings of the church to oppose the immigration rollbacks, support immigrants and refugees, and amplify antiracist work. What is our role in politics?
The week in Washington is to coincide with the UCC Media Justice Ministries’ Everett C. Parker Ethics in Telecommunications Lecture. The Media Justice Ministries fought for fair TV coverage of the 1960’s Civil Rights actions in the South. While there, I am hoping for robust discussion about the state of internet access in our region, which, in my view, is a major justice issue that is getting little attention. What is our role in communication justice?
Churches stand in the liminal space between God and the secular world. We are points of compassion, purveyors of hope, and preachers of the liberating word of Christ. We stand between the dynamic uplifting voice of the gospel and the destructive voices of governments and corporations that use us for political and financial gain. We stand with the Bible in one hand and the latest news reports in the other, drawing connections between oppressive empires of yesteryear and oppressive practices that surround us today. That is our role.
Our role is always to rejoice in God’s multi-faceted creation, to share Christ’s love as we know it, and to embrace the Holy Spirit’s wild and wonderful ways. How we do that varies with the times. Our “WHY” hasn’t changed; we are called to align ourselves with God to aid those who are trampled by the rush of progress. Our “HOW” does change, though, as the times dictate. We continue to be passionate about the quality of life for all, which includes education, fair legal treatment, and open communication. We continue to stand where God and the world need us to be.
Blessings on the new school year; may the Spirit’s engaging power open you to learning something new in the coming months.
Peace,
Pastor Tony
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