OPEN LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF BISHOPS OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH – THE FREEDOM CHURCH “OUR HANDS ARE LIFTED UP!” The Board of Bishops of The AME Zion Church, The Freedom Church, shares the outrage expressed by people of good will across the nation that once again, parents are burying a child as the result of gun violence. The tragic killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, just weeks after he graduated from High School, by a police officer who confronted Michael and his friend for simply walking in the street grieves us all. The fact that this encounter ended in the death of another unarmed black young man at the hands of a police officer is a far too familiar story. Some would argue that the gun violence perpetrated among too many of our youth in urban areas should generate as much anger and public protest as the shooting down of an unarmed teen by a police officer. That’s a false equivalency. We, as parents, community and faith leaders, educators, and political leaders, all must continue and intensify our efforts to eliminate the fratricide occurring on the streets of our inner cities. However, the fact remains that police are uniquely entrusted by we citizens with the power to make life and death decisions backed by the authority of their badges. The community must have confidence that those who are commissioned to protect and serve are not predisposed to prejudice and slaughter. America must fully and honestly confront the lingering implications of its legacy of racism. For while significant strides towards equality under the law have been made, the fact remains that black and brown people still face systemic prejudices in virtually every aspect of their lives. Recent studies have provided evidence for what many of us have experienced personally. Beginning as early as elementary school, young blacks, particularly males, are labeled and treated as if their skin color is essentially criminal. Young boys of color are suspended at higher rates for the same offenses as others, are much more likely to be stopped and searched for minor suspicions, sentenced more harshly for minor offenses, and are often treated as if their lives have less value than others. We ask anyone to please try to recall the last time there’s been a report of an unarmed white youth tragically killed by a police officer. The so-called “school to prison pipeline” has become a “school to cemetery” pipeline. Any individual, regardless of race, class, or religion, must be appalled by this reality. The Board of Bishops joins the call for healing in our country, but we are clear on the biblical mandate for justice as a precursor to healing and reconciliation. The Prophet Micah doesn’t just invite us to PRAY for JUSTICE but we are called to DO JUSTLY, LOVE MERCY, and WALK HUMBLY with our GOD. (Micah 6:8) Therefore: 1. We issue a call to prayer for all of Zion during our worship services on Sunday August 17, 2014. As thousands raise their hands in protest in streets across the country, let us lift our hands in protest and prayer as we petition that there be healing in our land. 2. We pray for the parents and family of Michael Brown, as we continue to pray for the families of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Jonathan Ferrell, Kimani Gray, Kendrec McDade, Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, Aaron Campbell, Wendell Allen, Oscar Grant, and the hundreds of young black men, who though unarmed have been killed by police officers. We also pray earnestly for the families of the thousands of youth killed in our cities by other black youth. 3. We applaud the statements by President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder calling for a thorough investigation and transparency around the tragic shooting of Michael Brown. Justice, Repentance, Forgiveness, Healing, and Reconciliation are all necessary in this incident. 4. We call upon all municipalities to evaluate their current police training procedures in an effort to address racial and social biases, and take concrete, measurable steps to improve community/police relations. 5. We challenge all municipalities to examine their recruitment and hiring procedures with the goal of moving towards a police force that reflects the community it serves. 6. We call upon all of our churches to establish, if one does not currently exist, a MEN OF ZION Ministry. This Men’s Ministry in every church should have as one of its priorities, the development of a mentoring program for our boys. 7. We call upon our churches to open their buildings and provide trained staffing during the week to offer a safe, educational, character-building environment to help nurture our youth in positive ways. With Hearts Broken, yet Hope-filled; Bishop Michael A. Frencher, President Bishop George E. Battle, Senior Bishop Bishop Richard K. Thompson Bishop Louis Hunter Bishop Kenneth Monroe Bishop Darryl B. Starnes Bishop Dennis V. Proctor Bishop Mildred B. Hines Bishop W. Darin Moore Bishop Seth O. Lartey Bishop Joseph Johnson Bishop Marshall Strickland Bishop George W.C. Walker, Sr. Bishop S. Chuka Ekemam Bishop Nathaniel Jarrett Bishop Warren M. Brown
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:10:41 +0000
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