08 Fall

2–MetropolitanCommunityChurches

RESOURCESforMCCChurchesRespondingtoRacism,WhiteSupremacists,andHateRallies

AWARE–PREPARE-ACT

18August2017DearMCCColleagues,WeareallreelingfromtheonslaughtofblatantwhitesupremacistgroupsattackingCharlottesville,Virginia,andreceivingcoverfromtheWhiteHouse.Morethanever,wearerequiredtoshowsolidarityandrespondbothtoblatantexpressionsofhatredbutalsotodigdeeplybeneaththesurfaceofacountrybuiltonthegenocideofNativepeoplesandtheenslavementofpeopleofAfricandescent.Ifyouhaveanydoubtsabouttheurgencyofthissituation,pleasewatchHBO’supclosecoverageofalltheeventsinCharlottesville:https://news.vice.com/story/vice-news-tonight-full-episode-charlottesville-race-and-terrorMorewhitesupremacistactionsareoccurringacrossthecountry.Youwillneedtodecidehowtorespondatthelocalchurchlevel,andwearebeginningaprocessorprovidingresourcestoyou.Rightnow,weareproviding:

• Listofupcomingeventsandopportunitiestoresistwhitesupremacistgroups.• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/08/15/there-protest-near-you-today-rallies-

against-hate-trump-across-usa/569275001/• SamplemediareleasefromMCCRichmond,Virginia• Samplelettertotheeditor• MCCStatementofFaithandCoreValues• Additionalresources

Asyouwritesermons,asyourlettersandop-edsarepublished,andwhenyoudiscovervaluableresources,pleasesharethemwithus.WewillalsoupdateyouwithquotesfromMCCleaders,whichcanbeusedinyourpublications,talkingpoints,andadditionalresources.Ourworkwillbeongoing.Gratitudeisextendedtothosewhoassistedwiththecollectionofresourcesforthistoolkit:Rev.CandyHolmes,Rev.Dr.RolandStringfellow,Rev.BrendanBoone,Rev.Dr.ElijahNealy,PADWorkingGroup,MCCRichmond,Rev.ElderRachelleBrown.MCCCommunicationsTeamLindaBrenner,AssociateDirector/Communications Rev.AnnCraig,MCCMediaConsultantLindaBrenner@MCCchurch.net,+1941-321-7886 craignewyork@gmail.com

3–MetropolitanCommunityChurches

(SAMPLEMEDIARELEASEfromMCCRichmond)

MEDIARELEASE

DATE:Contact: Name Email MobilePhone

(TitleofStatement)TheMetropolitanCommunityChurchofRichmondjoinsinsolidaritywithallthoseaffectedandimpactedbytheracisthate,violenceandinjusticeofwhitesupremacistsandalt-rightactiviststhispastSaturdayinCharlottesville.Webelievethatactsofracism,sexism,homophobia,transphobia,ableism,andhatred,aswellasanyformofviolenceandmarginalization,areevilandcannotbeignored.

AspeopleofGod,weboldlyproclaimandsharethebeautyofGod’sinclusivelove,hope,grace…andsomuchmore…withALLpeople.Wedonotandwillnotendorseracism,hateorsystemsofviolenceandinjusticeofanykind.Instead,weareapublicvoicebringinghope,changeandcouragetooneanother,ourcity,ourcountryandourworldbyradicallysharingGod’slovewithALLpeople.MetropolitanCommunityChurchesaroundtheworldarenostrangerstoactsofviolence,bigotry,intimidation,sexismandracism.Fornearly50years,wehavestoodagainsthateandviolenceevenashomophobictroublemakersburnedourchurchesandgatheringspotskillinginnocentpeoplewhilelocalofficialsandthemainstreammediawerelargelysilent.NoneofthisdefeatedusforweareapeoplewhobelieveGod’sloveisstrongerthanhatred,violenceoranyactofterrororinjustice.WebelieveGod’sgiftsoflove,graceandacceptanceareforALLpeopleregardlessofskincolor,race,sexualorientation,genderorgenderidentity.WestrivetobeaplaceofsafetyforALLpeopletobeaccepted,lovedandvaluedjustthewayweare.WeareavoiceforGod’sinclusivejusticeandequalityforALLpeopleandwewillnotbesilenced.

Weprayforthosewhoseheartsarefilledwithracism,violence,bigotry,hatred,ignoranceandinjustice.WepraythatGod’slovewillbreakthroughthesebarriersandhelpusseeeachotherashumanbeingsworthyofrespectandkindness.

Intragediesofviolenceandhatred,weareremindedthatwhateverourdifferences,wecanacceptandhonorthosedifferenceswhilealsosharingloveandgracewithoneanother…standingfirmlyinJesus’teachingtoloveoneanotherasGodlovesus.Inthis,wecelebratethediversityandbeautyofALLGod’speople.

BecausewetrustinGod’sloveandtheteachingsofJesus,thereisnoneedforfear.Asafaithcommunity,westandtogetheragainsthate,bigotry,violenceandinjusticeofanykindwhilesharingthebeautyandlightoflife…believingthelightofourCreator’sloveshinesindarknessandthedarknesswillnotextinguishit.

TolearnmoreabouttheMetropolitanChurchofRichmondreviewourwebsite:mccrichmond.org.###

4–MetropolitanCommunityChurches

TipsforWritingaLettertotheEditor

• Printversionsareusuallyonlyabout100words• Onlinecommentarycanbelonger,butsometimesbrieferisbetter• Havesingularfocus;drivethatpoint• Hookreaderwithstrongfirstsentence.• Endwithmemorablelastsentenceand/orcalltoaction

Sampleisprovidedbelow:CitiesacrosstheU.S.arebeingtargetedbywhitesupremacygroupscarryingtheirmessageofhate.InCharlottesville,civicleaderstookstockofpublicmonuments,whichpaidtributetoslavery,andmadetherightchoicetoremovethem.Inresponse,whitesupremacistsattackedthecity.WeneedtodotherightthingtodayineachU.S.community.Eachofusmustask,“Wherearethebuildingsnamedforracistsandstatueshonoringbigots?”Placetheminamuseum.Createamovementtonamebuildingsandhoiststatuestohonorpeopleofallraceswhomadethiscityabetterplace.

MCCStatementofFaithPreamble

MetropolitanCommunityChurchesisonechapterinthestoryoftheChurch,theBodyofChrist.Wearepeopleonajourney,learningtoliveintoourspirituality,whileaffirmingourbodies,ourgenders,oursexualities.Wedon'tallbelieveexactlythesamethings.Andyetinthemidstofourdiversity,webuildcommunity,groundedinGod'sradicallyinclusiveloveforallpeople.Wearepartofanongoingconversationonmattersofbeliefandfaith,shapedbyscriptureandthehistoriccreeds,buildingonthosewhohavecomebeforeus.OurchapterbeginswhenGodsaystous:"Come,taste,andsee."OurFaith

"Come,taste,andsee."JesusChrist,YouinviteallpeopletoYouropentable.YoumakeusYourpeople,abelovedcommunity.YourestorethejoyofourrelationshipwithGod,eveninthemidstofloneliness,despair,anddegradation.Weareeachuniqueandweallbelong,apriesthoodofallbelievers.BaptizedandfilledwithYourHolySpirit,YouempowerustobeYourhealingpresenceinahurtingworld.WeexpecttoseeYourreignonearthasitisinheavenasweworktowardaworldwhereeveryonehasenough,warscease,andallcreationlivesinharmony.WeaffirmYourchargetoallofhumanitytocarefortheland,sea,andair.Therefore,wewillactivelyresistsystemsandstructureswhicharedestroyingYourcreation.WithallofcreationweworshipYou—everytribe,everylanguage,everypeople,everynation.WeknowYoubymanynames,TriuneGod,beyondcomprehension,revealedtousinJesusChrist,whoinvitesustothefeast.Amen.

5–MetropolitanCommunityChurches

MCCDenominationalCoreValuesInclusionLoveisourgreatestmoralvalueandresistingexclusionisaprimaryfocusofourministry.WewanttocontinuetobeconduitsoffaithwhereeveryoneisincludedinthefamilyofGodandwhereallpartsofourbeingarewelcomedatGod’stable.CommunityOfferingasafeandopencommunityforpeopletoworship,learn,andgrowintheirfaithisourdeepdesire.WearecommittedtoequippingourselvesandeachothertodotheworkthatGodhascalledustodointheworld.Spiritual-TransformationProvidingamessageofliberationfromtheoppressivereligiousenvironmentofourdayortothoseexperiencingGodforthefirsttimeiswhatguidesourministry.WebelievethatwhenpeopleareinvitedtoexperienceGodthroughthelifeandministryofChrist,liveswillbetransformed.JusticeWorkingtotalklessanddomore,wearecommittedtoresistingthestructuresthatoppresspeopleandstandingwiththosewhosufferundertheweightofoppressivesystems,beingguidedalwaysbyourcommitmenttoGlobalHumanRights.WebsitesSouthernPovertyLawCenter:https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/08/07/extremists-unite-right-rally-possible-historic-alt-right-showcaseAnti-DefamationLeaguehttps://www.adl.org/ColorofChangehttps://www.colorofchange.org/Gay&LesbianAllianceAgainstDefamationhttps://www.glaad.org/RESOURCESSouthernPovertyLawCenter:"TenWaystoFightHate"https://www.splcenter.org/20170814/ten-ways-fight-hate-community-response-guideAuburnSeminary:ThereisNo‘AltLeft’–ThereAreJustWeThePeopleSeekingJusticeForAllhttp://auburnseminary.org/no-alt-left-just-people-seeking-justice/WesternStatesCenter:DismantlingRacism:AResourceBookforSocialChangeGroupshttp://bit.ly/2uQuYDfAuburnSeminary:WillAmericaPickUpItsCross?http://auburnseminary.org/will-america-pick-cross/AuburnUniversity:WhatISawinCharlottesvillehttp://auburnseminary.org/what-i-saw-in-charlottesville/

6–MetropolitanCommunityChurches

AdditionalResourcesforSocialActionandWhiteSupremacyBlackLivesMatterFall2016Syllabus,©2017FrankLeonRobertshttp://www.blacklivesmattersyllabus.com/fall2016/WhitePrivilege:UnpackingtheInvisibleKnapsackhttps://nationalseedproject.org/white-privilege-unpacking-the-invisible-knapsackShowingUpforRacialJusticehttp://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/

AdditionalResourcesforMinistry“BlackBodies,WhiteSouls”byAustinChanninghttp://austinchanning.com/blog/2014/8/bodies-soulsEmilyScottonPreachingonFergusonandHowtoBeginhttp://sitandeat.typepad.com/blog/2014/11/preaching-while-white-why-you-need-to-preach-on-ferguson-and-how-to-begin.htmlResourcesonPreachingonRacismhttps://politicaleconomyofmisery.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/resources-for-preaching-on-racism.pdfCrass,Chris.Towardsthe“OtherAmerica”:Anti-RacistResourcesforWhitePeopleTakingActionforBlackLivesMatterDownloadthefreee-bookhere:http://www.chriscrass.org/books.html

Foundedin1968,MetropolitanCommunityChurches(MCC)hasbeenatthevanguardofcivilandhumanrightsmovementsbyaddressingissuesofrace,gender,sexualorientation,economics,climatechange,aging,andglobalhumanrights.

MCCwasthefirsttoperformsamegendermarriagesandhasbeenontheforefrontofthestruggletowardsmarriageequalityintheUSAandothercountriesworldwide.MCCrecognizesastateofneedaroundtheworldintheareasofhumanrights

andjustice.Aspeopleoffaith,MCCendeavorstobuildbridgesthatliberateandunitevoicesofsacreddefiance.MCCleadsfromthemarginsandtransforms.