Dear St. Augustine’s Members, Friends and Visitors:
In 2020, we responded to acts of racial injustice by making a public statement about the mission and ministry of the parish. We affixed a vinyl banner to the building indicating that we believe Black Lives Matter to God and to Us. We intended those words not as a statement of political partisanship, but to convey our conviction that anti-racism is an essential component of our baptismal covenant to respect the dignity of every human being, a conviction we continue to hold dear.
Since 2020, we have worked as one church to discern next steps along the anti-racist path that we set for ourselves. We learned, listened, and prayed together about how to identify and combat systemic racism, and we continue to do so. Knowing that the separation inherent in racism counters what God intends for humanity, we remain distressed that it is still deeply ingrained in our nation and the Christian church.
Today, we state unequivocally that racism and all forms of discrimination and oppression are sins against God, inconsistent with following Jesus. We are working to become a church that includes everybody. “No exceptions,” as Bishop Paula Clark said recently. A church where we all can be transformed by practicing radical inclusion, to be a positive voice and model for change in our larger society.
At the same time, reflecting changes from the conditions that prevailed in 2020, some prominent voices within the Black Lives Matter movement have expanded their agenda beyond the antiracism inspired by the murder of George Floyd and countless other acts of hate. While we stand with much of what BLM still stands for, we believe the time has come to move beyond the affiliation with the group(s) that is often inferred from the signage on our church building. Accordingly, after prayerful consideration, we have decided to remove the sign. We will begin 2024 with a renewed commitment to expand on the groundwork we have laid.
To end racism in the world, we find clear direction in the life and teachings of Jesus. We will continue to take restorative action in response to violence and disparities of wealth and opportunity, working in partnership with organizations that share our commitments to racial justice and reconciliation, and the healing of marginalized communities. We will continue to stand against, speak against and work against racism. In fact, our work has just begun.
As the prophet Micah proclaimed, in a verse deeply felt during the vestry discussions of 2020, “The Lord has shown us what is good and what is required of us: ‘To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.’” (Micah 6:8)
In Christ’s Love, The Rector, Wardens and Vestry of St. Augustine’s