I remain shocked at the violence, racism, and hatred on display in Charlottesville last weekend. White supremacy, Nazism, the KKK, and the amalgam of bigoted nationalism seeking to divide country and community on the basis of ethnicity, origin, or faith is antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The tragedy of hatred is compounded by the loss of three lives and injuries to many other people on Saturday. 

In the midst of evil’s chaos, I have been encouraged by the clergy of CBFSC and CBF who have joined their voices for love and prayed for healing of hatred and division. Good people are speaking out against the persistent sin of prejudice. Faithful people are working in congregations to build relationships in diversity, to listen with empathy, and to join together in service.

If you are seeking resources to respond, CBFSC can provide facilitators for conversations about race and faith. You should also visit our partners at the New Baptist Covenant (http://newbaptistcovenant.org/), Ethics Daily (http://www.ethicsdaily.com/), CBF North Carolina’s Racial Reconciliation Ministry (http://www.cbfnc.org/missions/racial-reconciliation-), and CBF (https://cbfblog.com/) for additional resources for you and your congregation. Let us pray fervently with heart, voice, hands, and feet that God’s will be done on earth as in heaven.

Blessings with peace,
Jay