George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Brionna Taylor. Mass protests. How are we responding?
June 23, 2020. We’ve all been confronted by our country’s reaction to the violent death of George Floyd, and to the deaths of many other African Americans at the hands of police, sparking violence in many American cities, and complicating the work of the police whose vow is to protect and serve all Americans. How are we, as a Christian community, responding? How do we apply the love and justice required of us by scripture to this most urgent national crisis? Below is a summary of where we stand now in our response to date. Please watch for further updates as we continue to respond, both as individuals and as a congregation. And please use this space to share your own thoughts.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities: candle light vigil and book study. We heartily encourage each church member and friend to consider participating in the following upcoming events. On Sunday, September 27, please join the Black Solidarity Group of Lawrence at a Candle Light Vigil and Teach-In starting at 6pm at Veteran’s Park in Hamilton. We also encourage you to join one of our study groups that will be discussing the book So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo.
COLT Statement. In response to the death of George Floyd and the subsequent violent protests that followed, the Clergy of Lawrence Township have worked together to write a statement in which we condemn racism and commit ourselves to working together, with the community, to bring about systemic change through peaceful, non-violent means. Click here to read the statement.
Gathering with Lawrence Township Police Chief. Rev. Kyle Anderson and Rev. Dr. Jeff Vamos participated in a conversation with other clergy from Lawrence Township and the Lawrence Township Chief of Police, Brian Caloiaro. Watch that conversation here.
Watch. If you haven’t had a chance to watch a powerful address by the Stated Clerk of the PCUSA, The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, we encourage you to do so.
Sermons by Dr. Vamos and Rev. Anderson. If you have not been able to watch/listen to recent sermons by Jeff Vamos and Kyle Anderson, which deal with racism, please check out our sermons archive.
More. Please watch for other ways we’re seeking to engage each other and our community in responding to the urgency of this moment. And again, please do share your own ideas about how we approach that.
