Mississippi 1955

 Mississippi—1955

Langston Hughes

(To the Memory of Emmett Till)

Oh what sorrow!

oh, what pity!

Oh, what pain

That tears and blood

Should mix like rain

And terror come again

To Mississippi.

Come again?

Where has terror been?

On vacation? Up North?

In some other section

Of the nation,

Lying low, unpublicized?

Masked—with only

Jaundiced eyes

Showing through the mask?

Oh, what sorrow,

Pity, pain,

That tears and blood

Should mix like rain

In Mississippi!

And terror, fetid hot,

Yet clammy cold

Remain.

In 1955, 14 year old Emmett Till was brutally murdered bringing attention to the racial violence and injustice in Mississippi.  While visiting relatives, till went to the Bryant store and was accused of whistling at a white woman.  He was kidnapped, tortured and brutally murdered, his body dumped in the Tallahatchie River. The two individuals who murdered Emmett were acquitted, outraging the African American community.  This began mass sit ins, meetings, and marches demanding equal treatment under the law.  in 2023 President Biden created the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. It was his mother that insisted on an open casket, showing the world the cruelty and injustice of Mississippi.  The shocking cruelty and injustice perpetuated on a young boy of fourteen galvanized the civil rights movement and will always be a reminder of the dangers of racism, and what happens when a society allows racism to fester and grow.  Read more below

American Experience

Emmett Till and amie Till Mobley Memorial

A Statement of Faith

I believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a God of grace, mercy and love.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Divine Creator made the universe, and the earth teeming with life and beauty as a sign of grace to all.  God created humanity to delight in God's glory, to live in harmony with the natural world and with each other in community.  Yet humanity fell into sin, setting up systems of oppression, enslavement and bondage.  Taking God's gracious gifts, we selfishly destroy God's good creation and ourselves with it.  Allowing sin to reign, we became separated from our Divine Source of Life. 

So God demonstrated the ultimate act of love and friendship coming into our world in the person of Jesus Christ, as promised in the covenants. Baptized into our humanity, Jesus came in the power of the Holy Spirit, healing the sick, preaching the good news to the poor, proclaiming Jubilee, lifting the powerless and the downtrodden, and setting the prisoner free. Jesus came with the liberating power of God's love. Yet, Rejecting God's sovereign love, humanity crucified Jesus, showing its own corruption, cruelty, and inhumanity. Jesus was buried, but on the third day, he was vindicated by God and rose bodily, triumphing over sin, death, and evil. Jesus' resurrection brought about a new humanity and a new creation. Christ opened up the path back to the Divine Source of all Life. 

This covenant community declares the good news of Jesus Christ that once again reconciles God, humanity and the world.  United by grace through faith, we are united again with the Divine Source of Life.  Defined by a radical welcome, the church is called to be a house of prayer for all people, breaking down every barrier that divides humanity and uniting us regardless of race, culture, human distinction, gender identity or sexual orientation. The church as the community of the faithful, continues Christ's work in the power of the Holy Spirit. Baptizing into God's new covenant, through the waters of baptism, and nourished by the Eucharist, the Spirit lifts our hearts to feast with the risen Christ, empowering us to live into the new creation, bearing spiritual fruit both today and in the world to come. 

Remembering Renee Nicole Good

Remembering Renee Nicole Good

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15: 12–13

Jesus teaches that there is no greater love than the willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for others, to lay down one’s life for someone else. It is to offer oneself unselfishly for the sake of others, especially the defenseless and the vulnerable.

On Wednesday, Jan. 7, Renee Nicole Good was shot while moving her car, attempting to follow the orders of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Her last words, captured on video, were, “I’m not mad at you.”

We lament and mourn the loss of Ms. Good, a widow of a veteran, a wife and a mother who put herself in harm’s way not out of any desire to do harm, but to observe and bear witness to the actions of ICE. We affirm the right to peaceful protest and lawful observation for all Americans, without the threat of repressive or deadly responses by government and law enforcement authorities.

Alongside Ms. Good, we remember George Floyd, whose life was taken at the hands of law enforcement in 2020, within one mile of where Ms. Good was murdered at the hands of enforcement officers, a stark and enduring reminder of the deadly consequences of injustice and the unfinished work of truth, repentance, and transformation to which God continually calls us.

As Presbyterians, we hold a twofold connection to Renee Good. First, we are bound by our shared faith in a God of justice, who calls us to engage the powers of this world and to counter hate with love. Our tradition compels us to oppose injustice with a prophetic word from the Lord and to participate in the transformation of the world God loves.

Our second connection is more personal: Ms. Good was one of us. She was a fellow Presbyterian. Edgewater Presbyterian Church in Illinois remembered her with these words: “Renee Nicole Good lived out the conviction that every person deserves kindness, regardless of their background. … Her story is a testament to the power of the Presbyterian mission and a challenge to our conscience. We mourn a fellow Presbyterian whose quiet smile and creative spirit touched lives from Colorado to Northern Ireland to Minnesota.”

In the coming week, we will remember the life and witness of the martyred Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who called this nation to a “radical revolution of values.” Values that demand divestment from racism, materialism and militarism. Ms. Good’s life and death echo this same moral call.

Her memory also stands in a sacred lineage of faithful witnesses who have risked and lost their lives in defense of human dignity. We remember the four Maryknoll Sisters — Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clarke, Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel and Lay Missioner Jean Donovan — who were abducted, abused and murdered in El Salvador in 1980 for standing alongside the Salvadoran people.

We also remember the Rev. Elijah Lovejoy, who was murdered for his opposition to the evil of slavery and for whom the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy is named. These are not isolated tragedies but part of a continuing story of costly discipleship.

We must remember her name: Renee Nicole Good. We remember her as a testament to Jesus’ teaching that God does not change the world through violence but through faithful presence amid struggle, and that love refuses to abandon the work of acceptance, justice and compassion.

Ms. Good’s wife, Rebecca Good, offered a fitting memorial:

“On Wednesday, Jan. 7, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns. We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day. She is pure love. She is pure joy. She is pure sunshine. Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: We are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole.”

Through this remembrance, we rededicate ourselves to advocacy in the name of Christ Jesus. We stand with those who are detained or killed by ICE, treated unjustly and vilified, whom God defends as bearers of the divine image. We proclaim a God who values all people and who calls us again and again to remind the world to value the lives of all.

Original Article

People gathered for a vigil in South Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good. (Photo by Chad Davis via Wikipedia Commons used under Creative CommonsAttribution 4.0 International license.)People gathered for a vigil in South Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good. (Photo by Chad Davis via Wikipedia Commons used under Creative CommonsAttribution 4.0 International license.)

Presbyterian Church Office of Public Witness

 

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness is deeply concerned by reports that refugees who have been lawfully admitted to the United States are being detained. Families who have already been welcomed into safety and passed extensive screening should not be uprooted again, separated from the communities supporting them, or made to live under renewed fear and uncertainty. Scripture calls us to welcome the stranger and protect the vulnerable, and to honor the dignity of those who seek refuge among us. We believe our nation must not undo the safety it has already promised, but instead uphold justice, compassion, and the rule of law for our newest neighbors. 

On Jan 9, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Operation “Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening” (PARRIS), which reopens and intensively re-examines certain refugee cases after resettlement. The operation’s initial focus is reported to be approximately 5,600 refugees in Minnesota who remain in refugee status while awaiting green cards. In recent days, refugee-serving organizations have reported that refugees, including children, have been detained, with limited public information about the standards being applied, the scope of enforcement, or the due process protections available.

This is not a routine administrative review. It is a sweeping action that undermines the promise of protection the United States makes when it resettles refugees. It is unjust to detain people who are here legally, and it is especially cruel to subject families to detention and secrecy after they have already survived persecution and displacement.

Just as importantly, these actions risk communicating to the world and to refugee communities that the United States will not honor the protection it has promised. They reflect a deeply troubling and cold-hearted turn toward a refugee policy shaped more by suspicion than by compassion, and they weaken the moral credibility of our nation’s commitment to welcome those who have fled persecution.

The United States has made binding commitments under international law to protect refugees; this operation contradicts those commitments.

Our denomination’s stance is clear and longstanding. Presbyterians have repeatedly affirmed the call to welcome refugees, to support their resettlement, to seek family reunification, and to oppose policies that endanger refugees or return them involuntarily to harm. Across decades of General Assembly action, the PC(USA) and our predecessor denominations have urged the United States to uphold humane refugee policy, uphold the rule of law, and resist cruelty and discrimination.

The Office of Public Witness calls on the administration to:

• Immediately halt detentions of lawfully resettled refugees connected to Operation PARRIS
• 
  
• Guarantee due process, including access to legal counsel and clear, timely procedures
• 
  
• Provide transparency about the legal authority, criteria, and implementation of this operation
• 
  
• Protect family unity and ensure refugees are not isolated from their communities and sponsors
• 
  
• Reaffirm the U.S. commitment to refugee protection, rather than weakening it through fear-based enforcement
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We urge Congress to conduct immediate oversight, demand public answers, and ensure that refugee policy is carried out humanely and lawfully.

We call on Presbyterians and people of faith to continue to stand with refugees, support resettlement communities, and live out Christ’s call to love our neighbors. In this moment, we urge our nation to choose welcome over suspicion, truth over secrecy, and hope over fear.

Learn about the immigration work of various PC(USA) offices, advocates and partners here.

PCUSA Office of Public Witness

The Advocacy Committees of the PC(USA) Stands with Trans Youth

This is the first question asked of a PC(USA) congregation when a child is baptized:

"Do you, as members of the church of Jesus Christ, promise to guide and nurture this child by word and deed, with love and prayer?"

As members of Christ’s body—and as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and all who care deeply for the children of this broken world—we grieve rulings like the recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that uphold laws putting vulnerable children at greater risk.

Research has shown that when a transgender young person has even one adult in their life who affirms their identity, the risk of death by suicide is reduced by 40%. Laws that block access to gender-affirming care for youth threaten their health and well-being. These are not abstract issues—they impact the very children we have vowed to guide and nurture with love and prayer.

As parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders, Sunday school teachers, educators, coaches, and compassionate adults, we must raise our voices against these harmful laws. If we remain silent, we fail to honor the sacred vows we take when we baptize our infants, children, and youth.

The Advocacy Committee for Women and Gender Justice invites each of you to hold in prayer every child and youth across this country who is being denied the care they need. Pray that they may have at least one adult who affirms their identity and walks beside them as a witness to God’s love—a love that declares they are created in God’s image, redeemed by Jesus Christ, and sustained by the Holy Spirit. Pray for the courage to righteously dissent against policymakers who opt to drive fear and discord amongst thriving communities of faith.

As parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and fellow disciples, we stand in solidarity with transgender youth—both near and far—affirming their dignity, their worth, and their belovedness in the eyes of God.

"Undocumented People are God's Children, Too"

 

"Undocumented People are God's Children, Too"
By Andre Davis, Member, Park Lake Presbyterian, Orlando, ​and CFP Anti-Racism Committee Member

There is much anti-immigrants rhetoric coming out of the White House and our state governments. Undocumented people are getting blamed for much. But, while we do encourage people to follow the law, we must also acknowledge undocumented people are in this country doing the most undesirable work (agriculture, roofing, construction, hotels) for meager pay.  Someone could even argue that undocumented people—through their cheap labor—help us in America to achieve and maintain the American Dream.

However, where do the church and Faith Leaders stand? We, Faith Leaders and Christians—must remind ourselves and those in their audiences that undocumented people are God’s children, too. And, there could be immediate psychological repercussions if we fold our hands and just observe as politicians villainize these people. Further, we will absolutely have to answer to the Lord for not speaking up against evil and for being quiet all while God’s children are being stigmatized and hunted. We see that Jesus—in various parts of the Bible—challenged the Pharisees and Sadducees and other government institutions that were preoccupied with having an appearance of holiness, but were reluctant to actually do holy and good deeds.

Similarly, we see the agenda of our new president: he claims to be a Christian (even had his own Bible printed), but he has no compassion for these undocumented people. This is evidenced when he tells lies (calling them rapist and murderers), using them as scapegoats, and claiming undocumented people are solely responsible for why working-class Americans and the economy are not doing well. He is wrong, and in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, undocumented people, we stand with you.

Link to original article

A Look at Three Lectionary Passages in Ordinary Time

 

In my study of the three lectionary passages designated for Proper 10, Proper 11, and Proper 12 (the 15,16, and 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, I noticed a theme that connects all three.  The three passages are Luke 10:25-37, Luke 10:38-42, and Luke 11:1-13.  The three passages are more popularly known as The Good Samaritan, The story of Mary and Martha, and Jesus' teaching on the Lord's Prayer and prayer in general. 

The first is a story that engages our Christian acts of service and charity.  A person is found in distress.  Three persons pass by, the first two are religious leaders, the third is a Samaritan.  Jesus was telling a story to answer the question, who actually lived out what it means to be "neighborly".  This was an answer to the original question of "Who will inherit eternal life?" Most Christians understand that the relationship between Samaritans and Jews is a complicated relationship.  They often didn't get along and saw the other as being theologically in the wrong.  Yet in this case, it is clear, that the Samaritan lived out their faith. 

Now, we come to second passage, the story of Mary and Martha.  If the first passage questions who will be saved with an example of the "outsider" Samaritan, and example of living faith, this story is the exact opposite.  Martha is busying "doing".  Mary is sitting in learning at the feet of Jesus.  This is still a subversive act as women were not allowed to sit at the feet of a religious leader to learn.  

A good example of this is the film Yentl.  In this film, a young Jewish woman earns to learn theology.  Yentl's father is a rabbi, and her father secretly instructs her in the Talmud despite the fact she is a woman.  When her father dies, she cuts her hair short like a man, takes on her brother's name Anshel, and enters a Yeshiva, a Jewish seminary.  She falls in love with a seminary student, and in one theological debate, she asks if there was some reason that her friend would not be allowed to study Torah, (something like people with brown eyes or brown hair weren't allowed) would he still pursue learning.  Eventually, he agrees, that if there was a prohibition against studying Torah, and he was forbidden he would do so anyway. 

This is the same as Mary.  Mary and Yentl remind us of the same truth.  That these are both people with a passion and a calling that transcend societies limitations when they pursue God's call in their lives.  But where Martha was busy doing, Mary was busy sitting and learning.  These are very different activities.  Helping the injured man on the road to Damascus is heavy on action.  Sitting and learning is using our minds and thinking.  If the first passage encourages us to do, the second encourages us to learn.  Finally, we come to the third.  It's Jesus teaching on prayer.  It's a classic, where we read the "Lord's Prayer".  Jesus speaks about persistence, and God's care and concern for us.  

So what is the theme that connects all three.  Imagine a three or four legged chair.  This chair is our spiritual lives.  Each of these passages adds an important aspect of our spiritual lives that all keep us upright.  Our faith has to be an active faith.  A faith that is lived out in deeds.  A faith like that of the Samaritan that is lived without discrimination.  But we also must rely on the second leg of the chair.  Our learning, reflection and study is important for us to be thoughtful Christians.  To ensure that our actions are rooted in good theology and belief.  That we understand why we do what we do.  

Lastly, prayer and contemplation is essential.  Prayer allows us to spend the time we need on unpacking what we learn, and evaluating how we act.  It draws us back into the scriptures, worship, liturgy and supplication.  It allows us to be realigned with God's word.  All four legs (action/charity, study/learning, prayer and contemplation/reflection) form essential tasks for our spiritual life.  

How about you this week.  Is there one of these four that comes easier?  Is there one that is harder?  How well have we done not ignoring or neglecting completely one or all of these 'legs'.  As we journey in the next three weeks through these passages, ask God to reveal to you which of these needs to be engaged, so that we might grow in our spiritual lives and how we might engage these in our life in the coming days.