The faculty of the Ecumenical Theological Seminary (ETS) hosted a panel discussion entitled, The Church Speaks to Black Lives Matter. The purpose of the discussion was to enlighten, educate, inspire, inform, challenge and comfort listeners from a wide variety of perspectives, philosophies, and theologies that address the existential threats experienced by African Americans and marginalized people.
"One of the worst things a person can do is be silent in the face of racial oppression," said Dr. Samuel White, III, Academic Dean of the Seminary. "The prophetic words of Dr. King are still true, 'We must not only repent for the vitriolic words of the bad people, but also for the appalling silence of the good people.'"
ETS invited a multi-racial, inter-generational, ecumenical group of clergy and laity to raise their voices and speak abut racial injustice, economic exploitation, social degradation, political oppression, corrupt criminal justice system, police brutality, income inequality, Christian hypocrisy and white supremacy.
Rev. Dr. Constance Simon
Rev. Dr. Tony Curtis Henderson
Dr. James Perkinson
Father Norman Thomas
Mrs. Ashely Lewis
Rev. Bill Kellerman
Mr. Jeremiah Wheeler, and
Dr. Steve Bland
Micah 6:8 asks the question, "What does the Lord require of thee? Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God." Every child of God must answer Micah's question.
The eight distinguished, dedicated men and women answered these and other questions:
How do you do justice in a racially stratified society?
How do you do justice for the 38.1 million Americans living in acute poverty?
How do you do justice for the 1.5 million homeless who rummage through garbage
cans by day and sleep outside in the cold at night?
How do you do justice to the 51 million unemployed and the 27 million uninsured
Americans?
How do you do justice in a country where 1% of Americans average over 38%
more than the bottom 90%?
How do you do justice when there is an increasing gap between the rich and the
poor?
NOTE: Participants did not speak on behalf of the Ecumenical Theological Seminary, a religion, denomination or ethnic affiliation. Each of the panelists spoke their unique truth sharing their opinion, values and thoughts.