"The only way evil can triumph is for good folks to sit down and do nothing."
The words above are the words of the Rev.
Norvel Goff preaching at the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina on the Sunday after nine people were shot and killed during Bible study in that church.
Yesterday morning WNYC Commentator Brian Lehrer posed this question to the listening audience, 'What was spoken in your place of worship on Sunday in response to this week's shooting at Emmanuel AME Church?'
I know from social media posts and personal conversations with many of you that prayers, sermons, and vigils across the Presbytery spoke powerful words of mourning and of challenge to the systemic racism that tears at this nation, again and again. I was curious to hear what callers would share in response to Brian Lehrer's question less than a week after this racist act of domestic terrorism in South Carolina...but I'm more curious to hear what the responses would be 6 months or a year from now. What will the ongoing work against systemic racism look like in places of worship across this nation?
Congregations can be places of healing, communities that lead culture shifts toward justice in the cities and towns where we worship. Congregations can also be places where the racism in society is compounded and affirmed through silence, unchecked white privilege, and unexamined power dynamics.
As grounding for your continued action in the months and years ahead, I commend to your reading this recent Ecclesio blog series by Presbyterian colleagues on rooting out racism within and beyond the church:
May we heed the call of Rev. Goff to stand up and act for justice.
Peace,
Sarah Henkel
Cross-Cultural Catalyst
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