My colleague Maria French writes in a recent article entitled, Coronavirus and Racism: A Tale of Two Pandemics
As the coronavirus pandemic swept the world earlier this year most of us never imagined that we would be facing another pandemic of even more epic and grave proportions, racism. In a few short months all of our lives have fundamentally changed because of the Covid pandemic. But it only took 8 minutes and 46 seconds for the world to change because of the long and deep seeded pandemic of racism. And by change, I mean a pot boiled over in which finally enough was enough. When the coronavirus pandemic hit I didn't expect we'd be simultaneously rallying around a call to address racism, but when the arc of justice is bending - bend baby bend. 10 days ago I posted my view as a parent of black boys in this article entitled, People of Color cant wait a moment longer for us to be comfortable enough to speak out. It's truer now than it was then. 4 days ago our General Minister and President, Teresa Hord-Owens posted this call to 'be the church we say we are' Sunday, I invited those online for our gathering to add their name to the 'we need to be the church we say we are' joint statement Rev. Owens and our General Church partners and disciples of Christ aross the country are actively signing. Harmony Springs has joined our DOC network of churches in supported the New Poor People's Campaign June 2020 Digital Mass Gathering in reviving an organized address of the moral issues MLK stood for understanding that A global pandemic is exposing even more the already existing crisis of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. Can we do church in the midst of coronavirus, build a new building AND contribute to bending the arc of justice in our day? You better believe we can! Let's go Harmony Springs, we got this. Pastor Joel