Statement Against Anti-Asian Racism

April 1, 2021

“Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy” is a litany that we will repeat on Good Friday. “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy" is an appropriate cry in light of the Atlanta shooting—which included the murders of six Asian women— and in light of heightened anti-Asian violence over the past year.  We want to reaffirm our church’s stance that all human beings are made in God’s image and to condemn the acute racism targeted at Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander communities. 

Over the past year, we lament the over 3,800 anti-Asian racist incidents that have been reported, ranging from shunning, verbal harassment, physical assault, killings, and proportionately higher violence directed at Asian women and elders. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy!

We lament and mourn the xenophobia, sexism, and racism which has spurred on these acts and we condemn the systems, rhetoric, and policies which sustain and support these incidents. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy!

We return to the words in the Free Methodist Book of Discipline, written in part by members of our congregation, on the Worth Of Persons and apply them to the anti-Asian racism that has continued to grow in our nation:

Racism represents an egregious affront to the dignity and worth of persons and its presence is manifest in the life, history, and institutions of all nations. Slavery and genocide are grievous stains, warranting collective lament, repentance, and repair. Racial oppression in all its forms continues to exact harm throughout the world, distorting the dignity of persons and God’s love for the great multitude of all nations (Acts 17:26, Revelation 7:9). The Free Methodist Church was itself born out of a desire to stand against the sin evil of slavery, and we continue to recognize the sin of racism and oppose it in all its forms. We do so with the following convictions:

1. We commit to lament and repent for the ways that we have been complicit in or failed to recognize acts of racial oppression.

2.  We commit to an attitude of ceaseless humility and self-examination, recognizing the ease with which our own limitations can make us blind to the experiences and interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4). We shall seek to identify, confess, and redeem thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors that manifest discrimination against a person on the basis of race, ethnicity, or any other distinction between social groups that we create or enforce.

3.  Because systemic racism –the way in which human institutions or structures can both actively and passively preserve patterns of discrimination and exclusion—is less perceptible, but no less harmful than overt, individual racist acts, we commit, therefore not just to avoid or sanction individual prejudicial attitudes and actions, but seek to redeem processes, systems, and institutions that continue to perpetuate injustice on the basis of race or ethnicity identity.

4. Therefore, in our own churches and denomination, we commit ourselves to model the racial redemption and reconciliation we hope to see in the world, proclaiming the transformative victory of Jesus Christ into places of great brokenness, looking forward to the day when all people gather before the throne of God.

We indeed look forward to the day when every nation, tribe, and tongue will be worshipping the Lamb upon the throne.  Until that day, we commit to repent, lament, pray, and work for justice, asking for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven, as the Gospel of Christ compels us to do. May our Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander brothers and sisters know the tender love and presence of God during this difficult time, and may God’s grace and peace guard all of our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

In Christ’s love,
Your FMCSB Pastoral Staff

Statement after violence at the capitol

January 7, 2021

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, in the middle of the chaos going on in our nation’s capitol, a friend posted this verse on social media: 

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
 I will be exalted among the nations,
 I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Psalm 46:10-11

It was such a good reminder to me, as violence was erupting during what was meant to be a time-honored legal process by our leaders, of who we are as people who follow Christ. In our stillness, we find the Spirit speaking truth and life to us. 

Let us remember, we live by the words of Jesus, who directs us that love for one another, not hate or inciting acts of force against others, is always our goal. Even when we disagree. Even when we believe an injustice has been committed.  Even when we have many feelings. Even as we protest what we think is wrong. Love for our neighbor and love for our enemies is always our call as Christians. 

It is important to also realize, no matter our background, that the presence of the Confederate Flag in the Capitol brings up the history and harsh ongoing presence of racism in our nation. For many, this incident brings up real fear simply because of the color of their skin. No matter our party affiliation or political beliefs, we must work as Christians to fight the insidious evil of racism wherever we live. 

As a nation, we are reckoning with many painful realities. While we have various ideas of how these realities should be dealt with, may we as followers of Christ continue to act out of our relationship with our Lord in all things. May we remember God is the one who is to be lifted up as our Savior and King. May we engage in thoughtful dialogue, work for much needed change, and hold the dignity of all people as we move forward with a resolve to live out the gospel.

Today, I am taking time to be still before our majestic and mighty God and encourage you to do the same.  We come before Him with humility, mourning the loss of life and lamenting the state of our union. Let us seek first God’s kingdom as believers in Christ and let us act, speak, and pray according to His will and Spirit in us. May He be exalted among us and may we truly know Him. 

- Pastor Colleen

Statement on Forced Separation of Families

June 17, 2018

All of us have seen the news stories this week about families being separated while being held in immigration detention centers. As Free Methodist Christians, we are committed to understand the complexity of these situations while working toward solutions which seek to serve the foreigner among us while they are here and to act redemptively with love, rather than fear and oppression.

It has been painful to read of situations where children are literally taken from parents when they leave the room. Not only does this not show care, this particular action strikes at the heart of families, both parents and children, in a hugely vulnerable time. Families are the foundation of any society. In a fundamental way, this separation undermines Jesus’ words that we treat our neighbor as ourselves as we seek to hold the dignity and respect of those who are powerless in this situation.

We commit to pray for those involved, for the over 2000 children who must be traumatized and parents who wonder when they will be reunited. We ask God to be merciful and to grant our leaders great wisdom moving forward, to advocate and enact a more just immigration system.

Our statement on the worth of persons from the Book of Discipline can be found below. We stand with many other denominations and traditions throughout Christendom who have voiced heartbreak over this situation.

We have varying positions in this congregation on immigration and we respect that. However, this action of taking children from parents goes beyond that and we say it is not humane nor is it moral.