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Dearest Broadway,
Grace and peace to you in the name of the One who entered the Jordan, heard the words “You are my Beloved,” and then walked straight into a world that was not always gentle or just.
Today, I am on my way to Cincinnati for yet another funeral, this time to honor the life and ministry of AME Church General Officer and President of Payne Theological Seminary, Rev. Michael Joseph Brown, PhD. His death is a loss to the wider church, and it is also one more reminder of how much grief and transition so many of us are carrying in this season. We are saying goodbye to leaders, loved ones, and ways of being that have shaped us, even as we are being called to live into what is new.
At the same time, many of us are shaken and heartsick by the news this week of US civilians killed and injured by federal agents and immigration authorities in places like Minneapolis and Oregon. These are not abstract headlines; they are human lives, families, neighbors, beloved children of God whose stories were cut short by violence wielded in the name of the state. As a pastor, as a parent, as a follower of Jesus, there is both deep sorrow and holy anger in me as I write this.
This Sunday, we will gather and recognize Baptism of Our Lord Sunday with the sermonic theme: “Righteous Fulfillment: Living the Yes of Baptism.” That theme feels especially urgent now. When Jesus steps into the Jordan in Matthew 3, he is not escaping the world’s brutality; he is entering it fully, saying yes to a life that will confront injustice, embody mercy, and proclaim good news to those most harmed by empire. Baptism is not a retreat from reality. It is a public declaration that we belong to a God whose love refuses to abandon people in the face of violence, racism, xenophobia, and state-sanctioned harm.
As Methodists, our baptismal yes calls us to:
• Lament honestly: to name the killings, this week specifically, we call the name of Renee Nicole Good, name the fear, the trauma, and the numbness that some of us feel when the news cycle will not relent.
• Stand in solidarity: to remember that our siblings who are undocumented, racially profiled, or living under constant surveillance are not “issues” to debate but neighbors to protect and cherish.
• Act with courage: to keep learning, voting, organizing, supporting advocacy efforts, and embodying a different way of life where the image of God in every person is honored.
In the midst of all this, know that your tears, your questions, and even your fatigue do not disqualify you from the waters. They are part of what you bring to the font. When we renew our baptismal vows this Sunday, we won't be pretending everything is fine; we are choosing to say yes again to the God who stood with Jesus in the river and still stands with those who are targeted, displaced, and grieving.
Here is what I invite you to do as we move toward worship:
• Take a few minutes today to pray for the families and communities directly impacted by this week’s violence, and for those living in fear because of their immigration status or race.
• Ask God to show you one concrete way (big or small) that you can live your baptismal "yes" this week: a conversation, a donation, an act of solidarity, a call or letter to a public official.
• Hold my AME Church family in prayer as we grieve the death of General Officer Michael Joseph Brown and so many other saints, and as we seek to carry forward their witness with integrity and hope.
Even while I am away in Cincinnati, I am holding you close in prayer. I trust that the same Spirit who descended like a dove over the Jordan is hovering over us now, over Minneapolis, over Oregon, over Indianapolis, over every place where fear is loud and justice feels delayed. That Spirit is still whispering the truth the world keeps trying to drown out: You are my beloved. They are my beloved. Do not be afraid to live your yes.
May the God who called Jesus “Beloved” hold you, comfort you, and strengthen you to be agents of healing and justice in these troubled days. See you Sunday.
With love and pastoral care,
Rev. Dr. Shonda Nicole Gladden
P.S.
It's hard for me to believe, but my son's SENIOR YEAR show is currently in production! Please support Zaire Allen Gladden-Williams by praying, purchasing tickets and/or ads, or even just encouraging him as he and his cast endure the next few months of rehearsals. The show runs March 12-14. Click the button below for more information and tickets.
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