Pastoral Letter from Seattle Presbytery's Executive Board
Beloved Community:
We know the litany well—
Covid 19 is on the rise again, and not going away anytime soon.
The stock market hums along as unemployment climbs to epic highs.
Exhausted parents work at home while trying to keep the kids on track with school, everybody just trying to hold it together.
The long unfinished business of racial justice gnaws at our nation’s soul.
We’re enduring a political season as divisive as our nation has known.
And now an election threatens chaos and violence.
These are overwhelming—and for some, frightening—times. People are anxious, even scared.
In these unprecedented times we humbly urge our Presbyterian siblings to
reclaim our ultimate allegiance to the kingdom of God (Jesus’ favorite topic!), which is not a place we go after we die, but a new reality that began long ago. God’s reign begun in Jesus—a kin-dom of peace and justice—turns conventional values upside down (if you want to save your life, lose it; if you want to be first, you must be last).
make a plan to vote, but as we do so be aware of what can cloud our vision: the lens of American nationalism that too easily conflates the kin-dom of God with our nation, robbing the upside down kin-dom of its counter-cultural power; the lens of whiteness that obscures people of color, distorting the kingdom of God; and, an exclusive fixation on the world to come that obscures the kin-dom’s focus on poverty, oppression, and injustice right now.
remember real people are in real danger, and scared. As individuals and as congregations let us rededicate ourselves to embody radical hospitality, love of neighbor, and concern for those whom society regards as the least—especially Black and Brown bodies, who are at greater risk and extremely vulnerable to violence during this election and its aftermath.
In this chaotic time, let us make every effort to be the body of Christ and reach out in love.
Grace and peace, dear friends,
Jared Chase
Dani Forbess
Brocc Snyder
Hugo Torres
Loretta Pain
Seattle Presbytery Executive Board
Heidi Husted Armstrong
J.P. Kang
Lina Thompson
Jesse Mabanglo
Leslie Ferrell
September 29, 2020 DRAFT Presbytery meeting minutes available
September 29, 2020 DRAFT Seattle Presbytery Meeting draft minutes available.
Contact Stated Clerk Glen Ferguson with suggested corrections.
Presbytery standing rule regarding the minutes of the Executive Board and the presbytery: The Stated Clerk will draft the minutes and distribute them, in the case of the presbytery, to the continuing members and the churches, in the case of the Executive Board, its members, for review and suggested additions, corrections or deletions. Ten days after the distribution and after reviewing any suggestions, the moderator, vice moderator and immediate past moderator may approve the minutes.”
Background: The Stated Clerk proposed a standing rule at the April 30, 2019 Presbytery meeting for approving minutes since the two decision making bodies of the presbytery meet quarterly and their minutes are required to execute approved actions. Waiting until until the minutes are approved at the next meeting creates an inconvenience.
September 17 Update from Co-EP Eliana Maxim
Dear Friends,
I’ve been doing my very best not to think about Deuteronomy 28. As we continue with this Covid pandemic, continuing racial unrest, rising unemployment, climate based disasters, contentious election season, and most recently the oppressive smoke cover it’s hard not to think of the challenges around us in biblical terms. Layer on all this, parents trying to work from home while their children are schooled from home as well, limitations in personal interactions and travel, and the uncertainty of when this all might change, it’s no wonder many of us feel fearful, angry, or depressed.
And yet, in the midst of all this we are called to be church. We are called to be faithful and prayerful. Like the exiled people in Babylon, God does not release us from singing our song, but rather longs for us even more.
Remarkably, our congregations continue to gather and worship, albeit virtually, every week. Bible studies, book groups, Sunday school classes. All these too are finding a new way to take place. Sessions and congregations hold meetings, elders are being ordained and installed, baptism and communion are being celebrated, lives lost are remembered and mourned. Congregations are finding their voice and place in their communities, coming alongside as valuable partners, seeking ways to serve and accompany.
As a presbytery, we are called to be church despite the swirl of uncertainty and stress as well. We continue to do our work around issues of race and equity and walking alongside 6 congregations in pastoral transitions. We are committed to partnering with our churches in their community engagement and supporting inquirers and candidates for ministry.
Tuesday, September 29 at 5pm we will gather as a presbytery for our first virtual meeting. Like everything we’ve been experiencing these past 6 months, it will be different. It may have bumps in the road and glitches along the way. But we will gather and be church together. And for this - despite smoky skies and uncertain times - we give God thanks.
In grace and peace,
Eliana Maxim
Co-Executive Presbyter
September 4 Update from Co-EP Scott Lumsden
Dear Friends,
As many of you know, we’ve been seeking ways to act, individually and collectively, in ways that support racial justice. One thing we’re doing as a presbytery is beginning to walk with Seattle Urban Academy as it seeks to relaunch its ministry. (Their relationship with CRISTA ended this June).
To that end, Rev. Tali Hairston and I are working with SUA's former Executive Director, Sharon Okamoto (a member of Japanese PC), on approaching this coming year as a transition / redevelopment year. This may include creating an academic coaching program while students are online this fall. Another part of this work involves the development of a community organized leadership group (who we are informally calling Friends of SUA) to lead and guide the program long term. Education for communities of color has never been more important to sustain, and we’re eager to help organize this effort.
Seattle Presbytery's role (represented by Tali and me at the moment) is to lend leadership, guidance, and administrative support to form a new community led 501c3 (with its own board eventually) so that it can pursue the future God has for it. We may need to contribute some funds to get this initiative started, but the bulk of support will come from the broad community it has had for 30 years.
Though in the early stages of this endeavor we are working on vision, staffing, and budgets; it is also important we all understand what the goal is -- to accompany an extremely important ministry. We're not taking it over and making it ours, or planning on running a school long term -- we're entering into a relationship with a well established ministry who successfully serves students of color with the goal of learning and growing with them. This accompaniment will in turn assist us in our own journey as a presbytery toward making tangible growth in our ability to do racial and economic justice work with our community partners.
We have as much (or more) to learn and grow in this partnership as SUA does. In the end, this is not about oversight or support. We'll still provide that along the way, but those things are not the point -- deepening our relationship / friendship / partnership with communities of color and learning what that looks for us as a presbytery is the opportunity I believe God has in this for us.
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend,
Scott Lumsden
Co-Executive Presbyter
August 26 Update from Co-EP Eliana Maxim
Dear Friends,
Despite being in the midst of a pandemic, with many working from home, and our usual extracurricular activities limited severely, some things don’t change. Students are preparing or already engaged in virtual or hybrid schooling. Most of us are clinging to whatever sunshine we can in these waning days of summer. And congregations in our presbytery are embarked on pastoral transitions.
Yes, even in a pandemic, pastors discern calls either to serve elsewhere or to retire, and we currently have 6 churches seeking head of staff or senior pastors.
If you have ever been in this process either as a candidate seeking a call or member of a pastoral nominating committee, you can imagine how social distancing complicates matters. Everyone involved has had to draw on deep reserves of patience, grace, and faithfulness. Folks have found creative ways to learn about each other. And the entire process has slowed as the uncertainty of what comes next and how long this season of nationwide coronavirus contagion will last becomes reality.
This has meant that we have leaned on our interim and transitional pastors more so than usual, and are so very grateful for their call to this specialized ministry. We are blessed to have these leaders maintain a steady hand with congregational worship and life, while at the same time engaging the church with challenging questions and work around identity, purpose, mission, and change.
Interim and/or transitional pastors are specialized in this area of ministry, and we are fortunate to be one of the few centers in the PCUSA for this training right here in Seattle. Usually an in person week of workshops, Transitional Ministries Workshop Training has now gone virtual with its first session scheduled for October. If you or someone you know are interested in this program, please contact us.
In the meantime, I ask each of you to hold our congregations* in prayer as they journey through pastoral transition. Pray for wisdom and patience; for the congregation to remain faithful to the process; for the sessions and Pastoral Nominating Committees to discern together the will of God; and for the interim/transitional pastors to continue ministering and caring for the congregation with energy, imagination, and love.
In peace and hope,
Eliana Maxim
Co-Executive Presbyter
*Congregations in pastoral transition:
August 21 Update from Co-EP Eliana Maxim
Dear Friends,
As summer winds down and we begin to consider the next season, it’s hard to imagine what to expect or how to plan for what is to come. I know that for many of our congregations and pastoral leaders, a certain sense of weariness might be setting in. After all, we have crossed the 6-month mark of the state’s stay at home order, and doing life in a pandemic. Despite all this, I marvel at the ways the church is being called at this time.
Many pastors are reporting higher than usual worship attendance in their virtual offerings. Churches are seeking to deepen their engagement with community organizations and partners to be more effective in responding to community needs.
Generative, creative, and yes, hard, conversations are taking place about the role and identity of the church, the value of property and buildings, redefining community and relationships, and theological explorations of what God might be up to in our neighborhoods and the world.
I give thanks and delight that we are able to embark on all this together, as a presbytery, as a denomination, as the body of Christ. With that, I want to highlight some ways you can stay engaged with your siblings in faith.
Pastor’s Zoom: Wednesdays at noon. An invitation to all our ordained ministers to join in checking in, exchanging ideas, and learning from one another. Zoom information is available online.
Presbyterian Week of Action: August 24-30. An assortment of opportunities to engage with the national church on issues of racial justice. Please visit https://www.pcusa.org/weekofaction/ to check out the schedule and activities.
Colombia Partnership Zoom: August 31 at 9:30am. Seattle Presbytery pastors are invited to join in this Zoom conversation with pastors from our partner presbytery in Colombia. A time to listen and share on leading during a pandemic, and praying for each other. Please register online for Zoom information.
“May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.” (1Thes.5:23-24)
Grace and peace,
Eliana Maxim
Co-Executive Presbyter
“Trouble the Water: Conversations to Disrupt Racism and Dominance”
“Trouble the Water: Conversations to Disrupt Racism and Dominance” is a documentary series resource produced by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for communities and congregations to facilitate conversation and engagement around the issues of race and racism. As we struggle as a nation with these deep systemic and structural issues on a daily basis, we hope this series can be a resource to listen to one another, have difficult but honest conversations and collectively work together to disrupt systemic racism.
Presbyterian Week of Action
August 24–30, 2020
While we recognize and honor the good work toward justice that has been ongoing in our denomination, we also realize that in this time, it is not enough. Though the Presbyterian Week of Action hopes to meet the immediacy of our current context, it will not be the culmination of our work as a denomination, for we have a long way to go to eradicate systemic racism and white supremacy. It is our hope and prayer that this week will empower us, challenge us and enliven the faith we follow.
Contents
Why we say: Presbyterians affirm Black Lives Matter
“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” — Proverbs 21:3
“God sends the Church to work for justice in the world: exercising its power for the common good; dealing honestly in personal and public spheres; seeking dignity and freedom for all people…” — Book of Order, W-5.0304
It is abundantly clear through the gospel narrative and the greater witness of the Bible, that God has called us, as people of faith, to seek justice for those most marginalized in our world. As a Matthew 25 denomination, it is the vision of our church to eradicate white supremacy and dismantle institutionalized racism. Furthermore, in an effort to do the “hands & feet” work the Lord ordains, we must act and bear witness to the gospel in these crucial times.
The PC(USA) staff expressed a deep yearning to be more engaged in responding to the murders of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others who died at the hands of the police and racism. From this need has come the “Bearing Witness” working group which has participation from the Presbyterian Mission Agency, Office of the General Assembly, Administrative Services Group and Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. From this group a number of strategies are being formulated to provide advocacy campaigns, education initiatives and opportunities to join with community efforts organized by the Movement for Black Lives, Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice, the Bail Project and other grassroots groups.
As a centerpiece of this movement, we will host a Presbyterian Week of Action. This endeavor is structured to provide a public witness that facilitates education, visibility, and action that reinforces our PC(USA) statements and policy around the support of eradicating racism and acknowledging that God loves all Black lives. By joining together as national staff and the greater church, we hope to provide faithful leadership in the area of justice, love, and equality within our denomination and communities.
Adult & Family Events @ Tall Timber Ranch
Come away to 140 acres of fresh air in the Mountains!
Avoid the crowds at packed campgrounds and trailheads!
Stay in a cabin, a tent, or your own RV away from the masses.
We believe you could use some time in the wilderness! We get it.
You can spend a few days disconnecting from the quarantines and reconnecting with each other in a place set apart for you and your family.
Come and walk, hike, relax, read, and be — in a special place set aside for you.
COVID-19: August 7 Update from Co-EP Scott Lumsden
Dear Friends,
I pray that as we head into the heart of summer, you are doing well and maybe even getting a bit of a break from your daily routine (previously known as a vacation). Mid July, I was able to enjoy a week of hiking with my two daughters, and even though we hit some serious snow (enough to force us off the trail), the change of scenery and the time together was quite rejuvenating.
It seems that small breaks now (or real breaks from work even if you don’t go anywhere) are the name of the game as far as trying to maintain our mental and emotional health during this pandemic. So I’d encourage you, if you don’t already do so to take a regular sabbath -- and an extended one when you can. And as always, feel free to reach out to Eliana or me (Scott) if you need a preacher. If we can’t do it, we know many who can.
As we turn our attention to the fall, it must be acknowledged that the progress we made by flattening the curve seems now to have been lost to an increase in new cases. Sure, they are slowly going down again, but this reality makes whatever plans we were making for the fall and winter quite challenging as we try to balance expectations versus reality.
In this vein, we’ve gotten many questions about building related issues -- not just related to returning for worship -- but for building use for the congregation’s programs and by outside groups. To address this we asked our attorney’s office to craft a document that defines best practices around building use guidelines.
If you would like a copy of our Building Use Guidelines, please email EJ and we’ll email it to you. It’s designed to be a template for your session to customize and then adopt as their building use policy (if you don’t already have one).
We continue to pray for our congregations as they navigate these important times. Let’s stay connected. (1 Cor 12:12)
Scott Lumsden
Co-Executive Presbyter
2020-2021 PW/Horizons Bible Study
Introducing the 2020-2021 PW/Horizons Bible Study
For information about Horizons Bible study groups and fall gatherings, contact Cherie Murchie (Calvary Presbyterian Church).
Race and Equity: A Young Leaders Panel Discussion
Who gets to tell their own stories?
Which voices are amplified?
What narratives are considered to be normative?
What qualifies as expertise or authority?
These critical questions have been bubbling up, not only in our national conversations, but also around our dinner tables and our elder board meetings and our church social media feeds. How we, the members and friends of the Seattle Presbytery, decide to answer those questions will undoubtedly have a significant impact on our future together. How does the gospel of Jesus Christ compel us to answer?
On Wednesday evening, over 100 people from around the presbytery tuned in to hear the voices, narratives, and expertise of six young leaders of color: Ronald Alvarado, Anthony Ballard, Indigo Brown, Esther Lee, Phil Lewis, and Bianca Quezada. They spoke for over an hour, sharing about what gives them hope and joy in their work, how they see God on the move, and what they believe the Church is called to in this moment.
Throughout the panel, the webinar's chat feature was lively, often with words of support for panelists as they spoke: Amen, Indigo! and Yes, Phil! and Thank you Anthony! Many of us expressed appreciation for the opportunity to listen to their insights, ideas, and experiences in ministry. The story of Jesus' reception in Capernaum comes to mind... "they were amazed by his teaching for he taught as one with authority." (Luke 4:32, Mark 1:22)
In closing I will share, with her permission, Bianca's reflection from the event:
Thank you for the support from Presbytery to host this event. I believe our solid foundation on Jesus Christ will hold us as we continue to build places of peace, rest, and truth for everyone. Stay curious about what God is doing in your life and in the lives of others.
Peace,
Haley Ballast
SeaPres Race & Equity Task Force Chair
Zoom recording link available upon request. Contact SeaPres Communications.
Race & Mission: October Series for Congregations on Racial Justice as Part of God's Mission
Looking for tools to lead your congregation or student group into deeper conversation on how racial injustice and racism at home impact God's mission in the world?
Join Pittsburgh Seminary's World Mission Initiative for Four Wednesdays in October at 7:30 p.m. (ET) for national speakers Brenda Salter McNeil, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and David Campt. Due to COVID-19 and in the spirit of the namesake of our W. Don McClure annual lecture, we are "flipping" what has traditionally been an on-campus lecture, giving pastors and congregational mission leaders the tools they need to encourage and enhance their congregation's engagement in God's mission around issues of race and racial justice.
We encourage you to organize congregation “watch parties” and gather members for guided discussions each Wednesday evening in October following the plenary presentations. The format will be the same each week:
• 7:30-8:10 p.m. (ET) Plenary Presentation
• 8:10-8:30 p.m. (ET) Nationwide Question & Answer Session
• 8:30-9:30 p.m. (ET) Your congregation holds its own conversation on plenary presentation, using WMI’s leader guide with discussion questions.
In addition to the four national presentations and leader guide, there will also be five pre-recorded workshops that can be accessed and used in the future by participating churches and individuals to go deeper in the intersection of racial justice and God’s mission.
The event is free to everyone, however, you must register to attend. You can register once for the entire series.
TheoTech Podcast features Eliana Maxim
Today we’re discussing church government and COVID-19 with our guest Eliana Maxim, Seattle Presbytery Co-Executive Presbyter. Eliana shares how Seattle area churches are ministering to their congregations and communities through the pandemic. Churches have been facing new technical problems, like how to have communion during a virtual service. And the solutions aren’t coming from denominations or church governments, but individual church leaders. So the Seattle Presbytery is stepping back to “let the church be the church”, and stepping up to having tough theological conversations that build a framework to support innovation.
This new mission-oriented movement could take us in a new direction, away from institutionalism and toward becoming an agile church, able to move “where the Spirit blows”. If you want to keep up with the work Eliana and the Seattle Presbytery are doing, you can follow them on twitter @seapres.
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New SeaPres Podcast Episode: Leading Change
Leading Change: Join a fireside chat with Co-EPs Eliana Maxim, Scott Lumsden, and Tali Hairston, Dir. of Community Organizing, Advocacy, and Development.
July 8 SeaPres Update from Co-EP Eliana Maxim
Dear Friends,
In the midst of a global pandemic and a national uprising about racial injustice, our denomination the PCUSA held its biannual General Assembly (GA) a couple of weeks ago. What normally takes place over 10 days at a convention center with a couple thousand folks attending plenary sessions, special events, bookstores, and city tours, had to be quickly adapted in less than 3 months online.
Realizing that an online assembly could only cover so much ground, it was determined by the Office of the General Assembly (and its board COGA) that only critical business would be addressed. This meant matters that if left unattended, would breach polity, financial, or leadership denominational requirements.
The technology was there and GA was technically successful. Commissioners were attentive, were able to vote smoothly, and business was tended to. You can read more about key decisions made here.
What was also on full display though, was our denomination’s proclivity toward institutional racism and white supremacy. Not once or twice, but throughout the three day assembly, a variety of micro and macro aggressions were perpetrated against BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), most especially against Black women. I recommend my colleague Ryan Landino’s blog for a more detailed account.
I was dumbfounded. I serve on the committee (COGA) that helped move the traditional GA to its digital expression. We had taken so much into consideration when planning, anticipating a myriad of variables. We had not, however, planned for how to deal with commissioners wielding their white privilege in order to silence voices nor how our existing structure and polity would support and even encourage this damaging behavior.
The church is obviously not exempt from the sin of racism, and there is much work to be done in dismantling the structures, processes, and attitudes that enable this brokenness. This is true for the national expression of the church in the General Assembly as well as our local congregations where each of us is complicit in centering whiteness in our faith communities.
Although my experience with GA was painful and disheartening, as a person of color in the PCUSA I find hope in the insistent and intentional commitment to this work of Gospel truth and justice. God expects this from us. God expects better from us.
And I find strength in the words of the prophet: “Instead, let justice flow like a stream, and righteousness like a river that never goes dry.” (Amos 5:24) and invite you to join me in this hard, but faithful labor of love.
Eliana Maxim
Co-Executive Presbyter
Race & Equity Development and Training
Yesterday over 70 people from the Seattle Presbytery gathered for a Zoom call hosted by the Race & Equity Task Force. One of the most encouraging aspects of our time together was toward the beginning of the call, when participants were invited to comment in the chat if their home congregation had a group, team, or committee working on addressing racial injustice. The comments flooded in, and something in the atmosphere shifted. Every chat entry was a reminder that we are all in this together. We do not labor alone.
The Race & Equity Task Force, as well as the presbytery staff and Executive Board, are committed to walking alongside church communities and the leaders who shepherd them. To that end, our quarterly forums will become monthly opportunities. We will be offering monthly learning opportunities throughout the summer and fall -- panel discussions, guest speakers, and more -- designed to equip and encourage leaders.
It's important to ask, however, equip leaders for what? Last night, the topic of individualism came up, and I felt the familiar sting of conviction. I regularly fall back into an individualistic mindset, even when I think I'm focused on the common good. I wonder... is our goal to equip leaders to become anti-racist individuals? Or can we imagine a way to become leaders of communal transformation?
Moving forward, our hope is that we will embrace this model of community-based change, not only because it works, but also because our theology is built on mutuality and neighbor love. I hope you will consider attending the upcoming learning opportunities hosted by the Race & Equity Task Force, not only for yourself as an individual, but for the sake of the beloved community.
Haley Ballast
SeaPres Race & Equity Task Force Chair
Resources from June 25, 2020 Zoom:
Zoom recording link available upon request. Contact SeaPres Communications.
Organizing Clergy with White Privilege for Black Lives
Invitation from Rabbi David Basior, Kadima Reconstructionist Community:
This is one way to reach out to you, beloved fellow clergy with white privilege.* **
I am part of an effort to organize us to be showing up in support of the demands made by Black leaders for justice in these times. If this is you, please take a moment to fill out this form. If that doesn't work, be in touch directly and I will work to include you.
We have potential roles to play, on the streets and not, and we want to get a sense of who is already and can start doing what - from chaplaincy to protestors, clergy presence at rally, using our privileged bodies to prevent violence, de-escalation, disruption, social media, tradition-based messaging, organizing other clergy, and more. We recognize that more than ever this is a time where our ability to participate will be varied, and we honor whatever you are able to bring to this. We want to assess what we are able to offer as a group.
I am working on this with Rev. John Helmiere (Methodist) from Valley and Mountain and Rev. Cecilia Kingman (UU) from Edmonds Unitarian, as well as Griff, a Episcopalian priest who works at the UW.
Please forward this to anyone else you feel might wish to be involved in these ways (fine if they get it more than once :)
With gratitude and may we all go in peace,
David
*knowing there is a variety of relationships with whiteness, while I myself identify as a white, Ashkenzi Jew, I know we might vary with our personal identities. My point in this language for the sake of this email is to include anyone who would be seen as white based on appearance and affords privileges white people are granted in our society. Not wanting us to get caught in the language at this time.
**If you know non-Black clergy of color who might want to be involved, there is likely some organizing happening for them to be plugged into also - have them be in touch or share who they are.
--
L'hayim,
Rabbi David
Pronouns: he or they
224th General Assembly (2020)
The 224th General Assembly (2020) Convenes on Friday, June 19 at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Watch the livestream on the 224th GA website or on the Facebook Spirit of GA page. The gathering is being held online June 19, 20, 26 and 27.
GA 224 Frequently Asked Questions
Follow GA 224 Business
We pray for Seattle Presbytery’s GA commissioners and thank them for their faithful service. In addition to their own preparation, they’ve already spent many hours in virtual trainings and other meetings.
Top (from left): Todd Peterson/RE Woodland Park, Stephanie Neu/YAAD Newport, Rev. Kelly Wadsworth Bottom (from left): Glen Ferguson/RE Overlake Park, Rev. Eyde Mabanglo.
We also pray for all PC(USA) staff and leaders who are coordinating this historic assembly, including our own Eliana Maxim who serves on the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA).
June 12 SeaPres Update from Co-EP Scott Lumsden
Dear Friends,
Many pastors and sessions are asking what they can do collectively as a church to make a difference in the work toward racial justice. The Executive Board of the presbytery asked this same question last year, which led us to seek a formal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment. Often reports like this garner a few difficult conversations, but then get swallowed up by the urgency of daily work.
As a staff we decided to try something different and we’re already seeing some changes in how we work.
If you’re interested in learning more about what we did and why, and what steps you can take as a pastor or session, I invite you to listen to Eliana, Tali and I talk about it in this week’s podcast.
Also, check out our new Racial Justice resource page on our website.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 6:12, read by Rev. Al Sharpton at the Houston memorial for George Floyd)
Scott Lumsden
Co-Executive Presbyter