Pastoral
Letters
Pastoral Letter Regarding Midterm Elections
In just a few weeks, our state (like the rest of the country) will hold elections for a wide variety of offices and propositions. In fact, you’ve probably already received your ballot in the mail. These midterm elections do not draw quite the intensity of a presidential election, but they are significant politically and therefore draw out many of the same temptations we face anytime an election comes up.
As I did in 2020, I would like to challenge you to think about how this season is impacting your heart and soul, and what it would mean to pray, “Thy Kingdom come” to God in the midst of a democracy like ours.
Here are four things I’d like you to consider in the run-up to the midterm elections:
HOW IS MY FAITH SHAPING MY LEVEL OF POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT?
We live in an optional democracy, where people can spend as much or as little effort on politics as they like. For some, politics has become a surrogate religion in our country - they turn to it to provide identity, purpose, meaning, delight, an enemy, a worldview, a legacy, and even a redemption story. To me, it is a sad thing to see people on either side of the aisle living for something as fleeting as politics.
That said, for others, the temptation is on the opposite side: indifference and abdication of any political engagement, often under the banner of “Who cares?” When Jesus was asked about paying taxes to Caesar, he famously responded, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” While this still applies to taxes, I would also encourage us to see its application for voting. If you are an American citizen with the ability to vote, I would strongly encourage you to do so.
WHAT WOULD "WINNING" OR "LOSING" MEAN FOR ME?
In a democracy, we have the option of participating in a personal way in the electoral process, both through voting and advocacy. This can be exhilarating and (at times) intoxicating. Winning or losing can bring a sense of triumph or defeat that feels existential.
For most of us, this election will come and go with little immediate impact on our lives. But for some of us, elections can feel momentous, a referendum on who we are as a state or country, and by extension, who we are as individuals.
As a Christian, I would strongly encourage you to reflect on your identity in Christ leading up to this election. You could consider praying through the Lord’s Prayer regularly in light of the election, not in order to “win” the outcome you are hoping for, but in order to reframe your soul before God.
ARE MY VOTING CHOICES MEANINGFULLY SHAPED BY MY FAITH IN CHRIST?
Sometimes before I submit my ballot I think, “Would I be voting differently on this if I were not a Christian?” Or am I only voting the way I am based on my life stage, economic station, gender, educational background, and where I live?” There are many political operatives who are convinced that appealing to our selfish instincts is the way to win elections. May it not be so among us! I hope that our ballots are different because we are Christians than if we were not.
Of course, how to apply our convictions as a Christian will vary from member to member within our church. Maybe you’ve experienced that in friendly (or not-so-friendly) debates with friends or family members where each of you cites biblical passages accurately yet come to different conclusions on an issue. That diversity can be a sign of a healthy church and a robust concept of Christian freedom. We’re grateful to be a church where everyone is not expected to agree on political matters.
That doesn’t mean, of course, that our faith is irrelevant to how we vote. As you look through the sample ballot (available here) and consider candidates, I hope your faith will guide what you see as wise governance.
There is one specific item on the ballot in California this fall I would like to highlight: Proposition 1, an amendment to the state constitution regarding abortion. I’ve never highlighted a certain Proposition before in a pastoral letter*, but it is highly unusual to vote on a constitutional amendment related to a topic in our teaching positions.
This constitutional amendment is of grave concern to me, personally, because it enshrines limitless abortion into our state constitution and I am going to vote “No” on the proposition. I hope that you will prayerfully consider how you vote on it, as with all your voting decisions. Here are two resources (one and two) you might read as you prepare to vote.
I wrote another pastoral letter a few months ago on the Dobbs Supreme Court decision that outlines some of the key considerations for me in responding to the issue of abortion in our country generally.
Our church strives to both teach the sanctity of life and practice our convictions through engagement with our Compassion ministry partners, including Horizon Pregnancy Clinic, Precious Life Shelter, and Precious Lamb Preschool. (Of course, you could say that all our Compassion partners are “pro-life,” as we recognize the image of God in others and care for their well-being through our partnerships with the Long Beach Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, World Relief, and Prison Fellowship.)
If you’d like to research this more, you can go to the nonpartisan State of California’s Legislative Analyst Office page on Proposition 1.
*Though I haven’t referenced a proposition in a pastoral letter before, in the history of our church our elders have encouraged the congregation to consider how to vote on propositions in the past, including a proposition on sports gambling in 2004 which is relevant again this year with Proposition 26 and 27.
WHAT IMPACT WILL MY POLITICAL SPEECH HAVE ON OTHERS?
This year we have spoken at length about the beauty and significance of the unity of Christ’s church. I have heard from many of you about how much you cherish being in a unified body of Christ. Let’s not sacrifice that to gain foolish political laughs on social media.
In addition to the impact on our unity, we are wise to remember that our comments will also be viewed by those outside our congregation and faith and reflect well or poorly on our Lord.
As Christians, we are called to be people of salt and light whose presence and activity are a blessing to those around us. May all we do this political season reflect the light of Christ in us.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
Pastoral Letter Regarding Roe And Dobbs
Grace family,
I’m looking forward to rejoining you for worship this coming Sunday. After being gone on a family vacation for the last two weeks, I’m eager to gather with you in praising God.
As I’m sure you’ve heard, last week the US Supreme Court issued its much-anticipated decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson. The Court reversed the precedent of Roe v. Wade and stated that individual states are able to legislate limitations on abortion.
Now, I’m not usually in the habit of writing a pastoral letter in response to Supreme Court decisions, even ones that touch on topics of religion or ethics. But since the sanctity of life is a teaching position of our church, I wanted to take a few minutes to share my thinking on this with you.
Pastorally, I would like to think with you on how we might respond to this news as Christians.
1. REFLECT
Part of what makes abortion topics so explosive is how it brings together overlapping, complex topics (theology, politics, sex, gender, rights, etc). To consider abortion carefully requires more than just a bumper sticker slogan - it requires reflection steeped in a biblical worldview.
Sometimes pro-choice advocates will point out that there is no verse in the New Testament that forbids abortions. But the Bible does consistently describe the beginning of life in the womb (see Psalm 139, Galatians 1:15, and Luke 1:41) as well as placing tremendous value on the lives of those less valued by society as a whole (see Proverbs 31:8 and James 1:27).
Since the early days of the Christian movement, we have seen the destruction of unborn persons made in God’s image as impossible to stomach. One of the first letters written after the New Testament that became widely accepted by churches as a guide for faith was The Didache which directly addressed abortion: “You shall not murder a child by abortion nor shall you kill a newborn.” A few decades later the great theologian Tertullian (A.D. 197) wrote in response to slander that Christians were murderous cannibals (for eating “the body and blood” of Christ), that the very opposite was true: “In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may not destroy even the fetus in the womb.”
I know that in this short letter we cannot work through all the complicated issues of theology and Scripture tied to abortion. If you’re wrestling with how your faith and abortion intersect, I’d recommend a recently published book from two friends and seminary classmates of mine, or this not as recently published (but still great) one from our pastor emeritus. Both are available in the church library to borrow.
For the early Christians, this was a matter of faith and action. Not only did they stand against the callous practice of exposure (leaving unwanted newborn children on hills to die), but they went out and rescued these children, adopting them into their communities. In the same way today, Christians lead the way in adoption. May that only increase with the decreasing availability of abortions.
With regard to the legal reasoning, since I’m not a lawyer I’d be happy to point you to this helpful reasoning on the constitutional law aspects of the case. I see the Dobbs decision as a just and good interpretation of the constitution and laws of our land, but I’m also sure that the ruling is imperfect since it was written by imperfect, fallen people (like us!).
2. LAMENT
As Christians in California, we will have a different experience of the end of Roe than our friends elsewhere in the country. If I were writing this letter to a congregation in Oklahoma or South Dakota, I would want to encourage us to consider prayerfully some of the complications that come with limiting abortion access, rather than rushing to legislate quickly because we now can.
In California, however, we face the opposite end of the spectrum. Put simply, the end of Roe will not change abortion access in California at all.
(If you’re unclear on how the Dobbs case impacts everyday life, here is a helpful FAQ from The Gospel Coalition).
Abortion will continue to be widely available and publicly funded in our community. In fact, some of our local politicians (including the governor and mayor of Long Beach) have called for California to become a destination for those seeking abortions who live in other states. And there is ongoing discussion and debate in Sacramento about expanding and entrenching abortion access in California through legislation or a state constitutional amendment.
Because of this, I’m lamenting what will continue to be the law in our state.
3. LISTEN
I’ll be honest with you: this isn’t the first draft of this letter. Before sending it to you, I sent a draft of it to a couple dozen leaders in our church. I wish you could have read all of their feedback, steeped as it was in wisdom, care, and biblical thoughtfulness.
One of the common threads that came through in the feedback, especially from female leaders in our church, is that the end of Roe raises a number of significant questions and, in some cases, anxieties about the future.
“Losing Roe V. Wade (as someone who would not get an abortion) still presents fear because it is a precedent that makes me question if my circumstance may be next for losing legal protection. I’m sure I can’t be the only one.”
“If you have a D & C due to a miscarriage it goes on your medical record as an abortion. I do stand for the life of an unborn. I am the product of an unwanted pregnancy. As a woman, who has had a miscarriage, I also understand the stigma of having that word on my medical record.”
“I absolutely stand by the life of the unborn as all others in this email thread do, but I find that this particular decision is a bit more nuanced and would even venture to say that we cannot assume the history or personal relationship many have with this major decision.”
“What will be taken away from women next? How am I as a woman now viewed as a person in this world? What happens if the child is dying and killing me along with it....is that child more important than I am? I think there are so many different feelings and untalked-about circumstances that women can find themselves in or think about in regards to pregnancy and abortion that lead us to not want to "celebrate" this without more understanding and clarity. As a church that wants to be open to ALL stages of life, we should lead with compassion, understanding, and a willingness to listen and talk through these situations and not just jump on the bandwagon. (I feel like we actually do a good job of this.) I have a lot of mixed feelings right now.”
For my brothers in the church, this is a time when we need to listen carefully to the voices of our sisters in the faith about how this ruling impacts them.
4. HELP
Roe has been the law of the land for my entire life. With it gone, there’s a very real question of how pro-life Christians are going to move forward. What can we do to help with the underlying reasons why some women sought abortions in the first place?
One of the startling surveys I read this week was that about 40% of women who had an abortion attended church once a month or more at the time they chose to have an abortion.
This statistic raises a lot of questions for me: How many women in our church have been wounded by abortion? How are they doing with this? What could we do to help these women? For the next generation of women considering abortion in our church, how could we help them anticipate more support and encouragement so they don’t feel like they have no choice? What would need to change for that to happen?
I’m proud of the way that you all rallied to support three of our pro-life Compassion partners in recent months with their practical needs. Going forward, we as Christians have an opportunity to prove that “pro-life” is not a sidelines position, but a real offer to love our neighbor as ourselves.
What could you do to help?
Volunteer with one of our compassion ministry partners that focuses on issues related to abortion. Horizon Pregnancy Clinics, especially the new one in Long Beach, have had to address security issues due to potential and real threats. Precious Life Shelter offers support to women in crisis, helping them in preparation for delivery and providing them with training on child rearing and opportunities to transition into a healthy lifestyle, as well as providing the love and care for the little ones while their moms go through supportive programs.
Consider the role you could play in adoption.
This could include adopting yourself, helping fund adoptions for others, or being part of a care network for families fostering or adopting.Start something new at Grace to help us creatively move into a more holistically pro-life congregation. Here’s a helpful article on some creative ways we could do that with your leadership.
5. RESPOND TO ANGER WITH LOVE
The debate over abortion does not seem to bring out the best in people. Too often we become narrow, guarded, and reactive. As often happens with sacred issues (and the abortion debate brings together the sacred issues of life, personal autonomy, and sexuality all together), people excuse hateful speech by depersonalizing the other. May this never be for those who follow Jesus.
I imagine some of you have been wounded by conversations in recent weeks, where people have assumed your motives or reasoning behind a pro-life conviction. This is a time when our distinctiveness as Christ-followers must come forward - we don’t respond to evil with evil, but rather to evil with good.
And if you have been the one who has responded to others with anger, disdain, rudeness, or judgmentalism, I’d encourage you to seek forgiveness and reconciliation.
6. HOPE IN CHRIST
It is a good thing to reach justice in this life, even while we hold out anticipation of final justice in Christ. The Old Testament prophets consistently called Israel to be a just society now while also speaking of the coming Day of the Lord in the future.
Maybe especially when there is a political “win,” Christians need to remember that our hope is not in courts, legislators, or presidents. As Jon Tyson pointed out, it’s not too long ago that many conservatives gritted their teeth over the Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision around same-sex marriage.
I am grateful for those who have spent decades working, praying, and calling for the reversal of Roe. In many ways it is worth celebrating, but it is not the end of the sins of our land that made abortion so attractive and seemingly necessary to so many. As a people, we need to throw ourselves on the mercy of God and seek Him for revival.
Do I expect that everyone reading this letter will agree with everything I’ve said? Of course not. This is a complex, emotional, and entrenched topic. But what I do hope we will agree on is that Jesus is our example and it is His model of love, justice, and kindness that we seek to follow together.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
Pastoral Letter On Politics And The Upcoming Election
Four years ago, recently confirmed as the next senior pastor at Grace, the presidential election divided the country. Our church wasn’t immune. At least 10 people left the church over the election. Half progressives, half conservatives - it seemed the only thing they had in common was anger at how we weren’t “standing for what was right.”
Because of that experience, I was less than eager to pastor through another presidential election. And as you know, the situation this year has only become more divisive as a pandemic, economic uncertainty, and an overdue national conversation about race have only escalated the weight of what is said and not said during this season. While I think it is healthy for a pastor to be tentative to offer any political opinions, it is not fair to you to have a pastor who is silent on what Scripture says on any topic.
I am deeply grateful for how the vast majority of people in this church are thoughtful, measured, and humble with each other. You’ve taught me much about what it means to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. You’ve sought to live at peace with one another and eager to maintain the bonds of Christian fellowship. Thank you. My experience with the vast majority of the church is that you want to bring your faith to bear on your voting in a way that is healthy and encouraging.
As we’ve been preaching through the Lord’s Prayer during this season, it is worth considering how the Lord’s Prayer can guide our theology during this election season.
"OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME."
May God’s holiness be shown in how you vote, advocate, and grieve over the next few weeks.
In political polling, the only thing that seems to matter is, “Who are you voting for?” But, honestly, I am much more concerned with what your voting (or not voting) says about your heart. Are you voting out of love for God and your neighbor? Or is your voting a demonstration of selfishness and wrath? Is your voting a mark of faith or worldliness? Would you vote any differently if you weren’t a Christian?
I know that some of you would like me to endorse or condemn President Trump, or endorse or condemn Vice President Biden, but I’m not going to do that. There are a number of reasons for that, but mostly it is because it would not be helpful to you. You must personally wrestle with your conscience in this election. It is not enough to vote for the “right” candidate (if there is one). You must do so with a clear conscience before God on your own. And if you vote differently than I do but do so with peace before God, I don’t want to put a stumbling block in front of you by voicing a different opinion.
"THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN."
Remember that your citizenship is in Heaven, and it is that kingdom that lasts, not this one.
As I mentioned on Sunday, a few years ago Becca and I went to Paris for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. We were there for a little over a week and happened to be there for their presidential election. We were able to connect with one of my childhood friends who moved to Paris after college, married, and was involved with a church there (the American Church in Paris - a beautiful cathedral on the Seine River with English services, if you’re ever there). We attended worship that Sunday with her and her husband (a native Frenchman), then went to lunch together afterward and heard about the election. While our faith was the same, our earthly citizenship was different. Because I wasn’t French, the election that day was a curiosity, something I had little personally invested in. For my friends, though, the results of that day were deeply important. Because I was a citizen of a different nation, the results of that day would not shape my identity, hope, or fate.
“What a different attitude than when the American election happens,” I thought. When it was France, I could be calm and rational. Could I do the same if it was my country? Or would I show that I was overly concerned about this kingdom instead of the one to come?
It’s not that presidential elections (French or American) are wholly unimportant. What happens in them can shape a country for a time. And there are probably some Christians who need to care more, not less, about politics. But my experience is that there is probably more need for correction on the other side. We are too invested in the kingdoms of this world. As Christians we always need to remember that we are foreigners in this election. There is no happy ending to kingdoms of this world. But there is for the Kingdom of God. Our primary citizenship is in another King, and it is from Him that we draw our hope and identity.
"GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD."
Today’s bread is enough.
One of the values of praying for today’s bread is that it focuses us on the present, rather than worrying about the future. Today has enough trouble of its own. It is easy to worry about how this election could impact the future. And while it is wise to consider the long-term impact of any policy, it is unhelpful to worry about things outside our control. Those worries and fears are preyed upon by both sides of the political aisle. We need to remember that even if the worst fear-mongering is true from either side of the aisle, God is in control of providing.
We do not depend on the government to give us bread, but God. While the government can do either good or harm for its people, it is not the ultimate source of anything on its own.
"FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS."
We must never forget that we are forgiven people.
As Christians, we are not people who have received what we deserved. Quite the opposite. We have received what Christ deserved but freely shared and gave us.
Christians can disagree on how grace should shape political policy, which is understandable. But it cannot be forgotten. We cannot become self-righteous or mean-spirited people who forget the joy and humility of our salvation.
"LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL."
The election brings temptations; God’s Spirit can sustain us through them as we resist temptation and deliver us from evil.
We are naive if we think that elections are not temptations. They can tempt us in different ways: some are tempted to grab power in unjust ways; some to speak unlovingly to others; some to despair; some to divisive speech; and probably a dozen other ways. But we are all going to experience temptations tied to the next three weeks. Pray for yourself, pray for one another, and please pray for me. We all need God’s sustaining strength through this time. And be gracious with those who are walking through different temptations than you are right now.
I will be praying for you in the next few weeks. It is a hard season for your heart, but it is also a time that God can use to grow you in your longing for Him. Whatever happens on November 3rd, I pray that you will love Christ more on November 4th than you do now.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
PS. I’ve put together a list of resources for those who want to reflect more on how their faith intersects with the political realities of the day. While there is no shortage of those purporting to offer Christian voter guides, think pieces, and take-down articles, these are the ones that I’ve found most helpful, personally.
Resources on Theology + Politics
BOOKS ON POLITICAL THEOLOGY AND POLITICAL THEORY
- Jonathan Leeman - How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age (if you’d like a shorter version of Leeman’s writing, here’s an article he wrote recently on the ethics of voting and here’s an offer for a free audiobook, “How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics”)
"HOW COULD CHRISTIANS SUPPORT THE OTHER SIDE?"
If you’re an ardent Republican or Democrat, it might seem impossible to you that Christians could see it differently. If that’s you, I’d encourage you to read what other Christians have written, if for no other reason than to better understand and love your brothers and sisters:
More conservative - Decision Magazine
More progressive - The AND Campaign
“How to Navigate the Generational Divide in Politics” by Brett McCracken
Why do black Christians and white Christians vote differently? (YouTube video)
ARTICLES ON POLITICS AND THEOLOGY
Pastor Don’s article in GraceConnect this fall on trying to discern what Jesus would do in today’s political climate
Mark Dever on politics and the church
John Piper, “Policies, Persons, and Paths to Ruin”
Bobby Scott, “Should pastors endorse a candidate for president?”
HELPFUL SOURCES OF CHRISTIAN NEWS AND EDITORIALS
Christianity Today
The Gospel Coalition
WORLD Magazine
The Briefing Podcast
Pastoral Letter on Racial Injustice
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love,
a tender heart, and a humble mind.
1 PETER 3:8
I’ve been thinking all week what to write to you all since the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests. Everything I’ve thought to say seems so trite, shallow and an attempt to escape the discomfort and culpability of the moment.
My overarching emotion in all of this has been grief. I’ve been able to talk to some of you (I wish it was more of you) and heard your pain, anger, and confusion. I’m looking forward to spending some time next Sunday’s service leading us through some Scriptures on lament and grief.
I have been reminded in those conversations about how foolish, blind, and fearful I’ve often been about issues of race. My mind has gone back over self-centered, ignorant, and hurtful comments I’ve made to friends about race in my life, as well as the comments I have left unchallenged by others. As I’ve read and listened to people of color across the country relay the ways they’ve experienced under the radar racism and taken for granted white privilege, it has felt like a scalpel in my soul.
But there have also been enough comments exhorting white Christian leaders to make explicit what is obviously biblically true that I felt compelled to write to you briefly. Scripture clearly describes the church as being a people drawn from every tongue, tribe, and nation (Revelation 5:9), united by one faith, one Lord, and one baptism (Ephesians 4). To separate and divide what Christ has joined together is to re-erect a wall of hostility that Christ has destroyed (Ephesians 2). Our church has the opportunity to be a witness to Christ’s work on the cross when we speak with one voice of his saving power to all (Galatians 3).
Knowing that our church is made up of people who are diverse and having different experiences of this week, here’s what I wish I could say to you in person:
TO THOSE IN OUR CHURCH WHO ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR
I want you to know that your church loves you, values you, and grieves with you. The murder of George Floyd was evil. The murder of Ahmaud Arbery was wicked. The murder, abuse, and oppression of countless other African-Americans in our 400-year history as a country is a legacy of sin we must confront. And any participation our church has in white supremacy must be actively rooted out and removed. Please hold me and the other elders accountable to remember this priority as the urgent crowds in over the upcoming months and years.
TO THOSE IN OUR CHURCH WHO ARE POLICE OFFICERS OR FAMILY OF POLICE OFFICERS
You are doing important work in our community, work that can honor why God has placed the sword in your hand (Romans 13:1-4). I can’t imagine how difficult your work is; you see the consequences of sin in a way most of us are insulated from. To be conformed into the likeness of Christ while being a peace officer must be your goal, but your trail is narrower than most. Press on toward the call of Christ; do not despair and give in to the easy way of hatred, racism, and exploitation.
TO THOSE IN OUR CHURCH WHO WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE PROTESTS
It’s not fair that you were caught in the middle of this upheaval. If your business or property was harmed and you need financial help to provide for your family, we have a Caring Fund and are happy to support you as you recover.
For all of us, though, please do not equate the damage done to property with the loss of life. As Christians, the loss of property is worth noting, but the unjust murder of a person made in God’s image is infinitely worse.
TO THOSE IN OUR CHURCH WHO JUST WANT THINGS TO GET BACK TO NORMAL
I can understand the longing for normalcy. To have these events unfold against the backdrop of 100,000 dead from a pandemic in our country alone is a dystopian movie come to life. Even those of us who have not caught COVID19 yet are still a part of a national trauma. Each of you is carrying a heavy load. And for those in our church who have lost jobs, become sick, or seen a loved die from COVID, the pain is all the deeper.
But when we say we want a return to normal, many people of color hear a willful desire to continue patterns of oppression.
Jesus taught us to pray: “May your kingdom come, may your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” This is a prayer for change to something new, not a return to what was there in the past. Whatever year each of us considers “normal” or the “good old days,” it was not the Kingdom in fullness. We cannot be satisfied with a return to what was; we need to long for what has never yet been but will be when Christ returns.
This frees us to hear from others that what we remember as “normal” was for them far less than the Kingdom. Our “good old days” may have been for them times of pain and oppression. This doesn’t need to threaten us or anger us since as Christians our hope is in the future, not the past.
TO THOSE IN OUR CHURCH WHO ARE WHITE AND WANT TO HELP
You may have a desire to reach out to your friends who are African-American in order to seek reassurance that you aren’t racist or to ask them what you can do to learn more about racism. Prior to doing that, please consider the burden you might be placing on them. I’d encourage you to take some steps to learn from African-American leaders who have written publicly on these topics before asking your friends to explain things to you. It will show them that you are willing to take your time and effort to truly learn and care. At the bottom of this email, you’ll find resources to help with this journey.
NEXT STEPS FOR US AS A CHURCH
1. PRAY WITH LAMENT
In addition to our time of lament in the service on Sunday, on Wednesday at 5:00 PM, Pastor Tim will be leading ourweekly time of prayerfor anyone who wants to pray about this and the other challenges we’re facing together.
2. LEARN AND LISTEN, THEN SPEAK
I’ve asked our elder board to devote some careful study to crafting a teaching position for our church on issues of race and the gospel.
3. PARTNER
We are going to look at how our partnerships (whether with other churches or Compassion Ministry partners) can be expanded to help people in our community experience more fully the diversity of God’s people.
May the events of this week be a turning point for us as a church and a country that sparks a great revival. May many in our country say they came to know Jesus because of how His people led the way in repentance and reconciliation. May God be honored and pleased with how we treat one another in His name.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
Here are some resources from Christian leaders who are black. Obviously, there are many more evangelical leaders we could list, especially from Latino and Asian-American backgrounds. But I confined the list to African-American leaders who could be your pastor or leader. We share theological alignment with everyone on this list. We went to the same or similar seminaries, participate in the same theological societies, and agree on the same doctrines. The reason I did that isn’t because there’s nothing to learn from people with different theological beliefs; it’s to help us see that if we are irritated or push back on them about their concerns, it’s not because we have different theological convictions.
DR. ANTHONY BRADLEY | Professor at King’s College in NYC | @drantbradley
A very helpful article on how Transitional Justice can help us with race relations in America. Also, wrote Aliens in the Promised Land: Why Minority Leadership is Overlooked in White Christian Churches and Institutions.
CHARLIE DATES | Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago | @CharlieDates
All of his sermons are worthwhile, but this one he gave at the MLK50 conference was terrific.
MIKA EDMONDSON | Pastor and author | @mika_edmondson
Wrote an academic book on MLK’s concept of suffering and God’s presence.
DR. TONY EVANS | Pastor and author | @drtonyevans
Has been a leader in American evangelicalism for the last forty years.
DR. DERWIN GRAY | Pastor in North Carolina; former NFL player | @DerwinLGray
Author of The High-Definition Leader on building multi-ethnic churches
DR. BRYAN LORITTS | Pastor and author | @bcloritts
Author of a variety of wonderful books on race and the church, including editing Letters to a Birmingham Jail: A Response to the Words and Dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
DR. ERIC MASON | Pastor of Epiphany Philadelphia,
Leader of the Epiphany church planting organization | @pastoremase
Few people in America have discipled and deployed as many church planters and gospel preachers as Dr. Eric Mason. Author of Woke Church: An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice.
DR. ESAU MCCAULLEY | Pastor of Anglican Church of the Redeemer in Greensboro, NC, and Assistant Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College | @esaumccaulley
Gave a wonderful sermon on Sunday about how Acts 2 and Pentecost guides us in these days. Christianity Today published the transcript.
TRILLIA NEWBELL | Author and executive with Moody Books | @trillianewbell
Author of general Christian living books; her children’s book, God’s Very Good Idea is great for kids.
JOHN M. PERKINS | Civil rights leader, pastor, author, and co-founder of the
Christian Community Development Association | Wikipedia page
Author of a number of helpful books (see the Wikipedia page for a list and to be inspired by his story).
ALBERT TATE | Pastor of Fellowship Monrovia | @alberttate
One of the most compelling and engaging preachers in American evangelicalism.
JEMAR TISBY | PhD candidate in US History; President @thewitnessbcc Author of Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism | @JemarTisby