May 17, 2022
On May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, New York, a self-described white supremist, 18 years old, went to a grocery store in a predominantly Black neighborhood and shot thirteen people, killing ten, in a racially motivated mass shooting. The shooter holds to the “replacement theory” that the White race is being “replaced.” Race is a human construct designed with the intent to divide and diminish the full humanity of some for the benefit of others. The sin of racism is counter to the message of the love of God.
As the Anti-Racism/ Pro Reconciling Team of the Upper Midwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):
- We condemn the killing of Roberta A. Drury, Margus D. Morrison, Andre Mackneil, Aaron Salter, Geraldine Talley, Celestine Chaney, Heyward Patterson, Katherine Massey, Pearl Young and Ruth Whitfield. We lament the loss of life and the trauma caused by the sin of white supremacy.
- We condemn the shooting and injury of the other three victims.
- We condemn systemic white supremacy in all of its forms.
- We condemn the spreading of false narratives such as the “replacement theory.”
- We pray for the families and friends of those killed and injured.
- We acknowledge that prayers alone will not change the insidious nature of systemic white supremacy. We must live into being a church that is working to dismantle it on a daily basis.
- We implore the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to address the systemic white supremacy that exists within our own denomination.
- We implore the Upper Midwest Region and congregations to address the systemic white supremacy that exists within our own Region.
- We call on our congregations to be the message of love for all of God’s children and to counter the messages of white supremacy and replacement theory.
We invite you to sign on to this important statement: https://forms.gle/
Signed:
Rev. Dr. Laurie Pound Feille, Senior Pastor, First Christian Church, Minneapolis, MN
Rev. Candice K. Brown, Highland Park Christian Church, Des Moines, IA, Retired Clergy
Rev. Gary Sneller, Retired, member at Marion Christian Church, Marion, IA
Rev. Kate West, Pastor, First Congregational UCC, Neligh, NE and Park Center Congregational UCC, Elgin, NE
Rev. Leslie Dalstra, Pastor, First Christian Church, Fort Madison, IA
Rev. Linda Hunsaker, Pastor, First Christian Church, Davenport, IA
Rev. Dawn Ingram, Pastor, Des Moines, IA
Rev. Joshua Patty, Regional Minister and President, Christian Church in the Upper Midwest
Rev. Jill Cameron Michel, Pastor, First Christian Church, Coralville, IA
Rev. Mary Jane Button-Harrison, Pastor, First Christian Church, Ames, IA
Rev. Melea White
Malinda Thomas, Upper Midwest AR/PR Team, First Christian Church, Coralville, IA
Rev. Micheal K. Carlson, Retired, Central Christian Church, Boone, IA
