Dear People of Faith,
Worldwide anti-racist protests against police brutality, racial violence, and systemic racism have mobilized hundreds of thousands of individuals and produced rapid and long-overdue change in many cities in just a little over a week. Sustained actions have resulted in the arrests and charges of those directly responsible for George Floyd’s murder; cities have committed to disbanding the police and restructuring law enforcement; use-of-force guidelines are being reformed and training tactics audited; confederate monuments have been removed; and conversations about deconstructing white supremacy are being had online and in public spaces more than ever before.
As it has for centuries, this world groans in labor pains. What will be birthed next is up to us.
We at Red Letter Christians say the names of those whose lives have most recently been stolen from us through police violence: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Tony McDade. And we ask, with urgency: what are our faith communities doing to ensure that not one more child of God becomes a hashtag?
We are challenging clergy, faith leaders, worship musicians, and laypeople alike to sign this letter committing to not letting one more Sunday pass without addressing racism, white supremacy, and police brutality overtly from the pulpit, within your small groups, through your music, with your organizing/programming, and throughout your interpersonal conversations. With the signatures gathered here, we uphold that silence is violence, that Black Lives Matter, and that our physically Brown and politically Black savior calls us to build God’s good Kingdom within the shell of the old one.
Join us in raising your voices, in listening and learning, in showing up, in de-centering white voices, and in fighting for justice in the name of Jesus and on behalf of our Siblings of Color.
For a list of resources, please visit this article offered by Red Letter Christian Dominique Gilliard. Also check out this worship song by Common Hymnal whose lyrics and chords are open for sharing among your communities.
Click here to sign the statement below. Signatures will be added each morning through Friday, June 19th.
I commit to not going one more Sunday without addressing racism, white supremacy, and police brutality among my community of faith with my words and actions.
Together,
Red Letter Christians
Britney Winn Lee, Louisiana, Red Letter Christians
Jeremy, North Carolina, Baptist
Carrie Husted, Colorado, Evangelical Christian
John Gallaher, Kentucky, Embrace Church (UMC)
Taylor Berglund, Florida
John Boyd, Colorado, St Mark’s Episcopal Church
Andrew Newman, Tennessee, Once Was Lost Ministry
Sarah L Weedon, Pennsylvania, St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Lewisburg
Morgan Studer, Indiana, New Joy Lutheran Church
Kate Kollman, Indiana
Blake A Severson, Illinois, South Park Presbyterian Church
Fernando Arroyo, Texas, Hope Fellowship Waco
Rev. Terry Williams, Ohio, Orchard Hill United Church of Christ
Anna Faith Adair, Georgia
E. O. Tree Palmer, Arizona, Jesus Follower
Paul Clutterbuck, New Zealand
Aaron P. Mulhollen, Washington DC, ELCA
Matthias Eichbauer, Germany, Treffpunkt an der Clemsnkirche
Linda Powell, Illinois, Bible Study
Barbara Exley, Georgia, Anglican
John P. Morgan, Georgia, Greater Galilee Louisville
Frederick Gould, Florida
Stacey King, Idaho, Eagle Christian Church
Darrell Tiénou-Gustafson, Illinoise, Living Water Community Church Chicago
Ruth Goring, Illinois, Living Water Community Church Chicago
Stephen Lamb, Illinois, Living Water Community Church Chicago
Lea Tienou-Gustafson, Illinois, Living Water Community Church Chicago
Delite Eliason, Washington, Believers
Lorraine Stoll, Pennsylvania, Lancaster
Alan Nicely, Georgia, Tillman House
Rev. Nathan Empsall, Connecticut, Faithful America
Jill Brubaker, California