I am so saddened today by the terrible news of hatred and
violence in our beautiful city of Charleston. Despite my once rosy perception
of Charleston as a progressive and peaceful city, this morning those
perceptions are clouded by the obvious disregard for God’s kingdom. It seems that for every step toward peace and
beauty made by our people, there are two steps back to maniacal fear and
intolerance. Why must South Carolina be
such a hotbed of division and waywardness?
In a few days the deputation of The Episcopal Church in SC
will be leaving for General Convention in Salt Lake City. I was so optimistic
about our presence there and our opportunity to represent a healing and
re conciliatory faction of South Carolinians.
I know that while we are there we will have resolutions to
consider concerning gun violence, concerning injustice, and concerning
spiritual vitality in a harsh and ignorant world. Please pray with me that Our
Heavenly Father will work through our convention to make giant steps forward
toward understanding, justice and love. Please pray with me that the Holy Spirit will reign here in
Charleston, healing and comforting us, especially those who have suffered loss
but also those who must learn the evil of their ways.
Please pray with me that the Lord God will raise up many
young, fair-minded leaders who can move forward in the vein of Clementa Pinckney—that
his sacrifice will serve as further evidence of what needs to be done and how
to do it. Please hear our prayer, O Lord.
Mary Ann,
ReplyDeleteYesterday was a sad day in Charleston. But there was also hope amidst the sadness. I attended the prayer service at Morris Brown, perhaps you did also. Sen Clyburn reminded us of Dr. King's Birmingham Jail letter. In it he wrote, "I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states....Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider."
What happened here affects our entire nation and Church. And while it is at least two steps back from the work we are trying to do, I did come away from yesterday's service with some hope. It's worth noting that the congregation at Morris Brown was half African-American and half Caucasian. I sat next to several Jewish youth wearing yarmulkes.
The sick young man who apparently murdered those people wanted to incite a race war. But God would not be mocked. Instead, we came together in a show of solidarity. This young man picked the wrong place. We had a resurrection, and as one of the AME bishops said, "It didn't even take us three days!" And while that will not bring our Emanuel brothers and sisters back, I am grateful that the murderer's intentions were thwarted.
Thank you for representing us at General Convention. Know that I am praying for all of you. I'm excited that people who would not have been elected in the "old days" are now representing us. Thanks be to God for your willingness to serve. Godspeed to all of you.
Faithfully,
Wayne Helmly
St. Stephen's Charleston
Wayne, I was also at Morris Brown AME and had similar feelings of hope. I liked this perspective from outside the church:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=848702145219771&set=a.383923935030930.91053.100002399806741&type=1&theater
I have a friend who is an Episcopalian in Newtown, CT and asked her last night "What happens when CNN leaves? I want to be defined by our response to this not the shooting".
Peace,
Andrea McKellar
St. Francis, Charleston