News and Views

Friends:

I have a confession to make: I hesitated to write this letter to you. In light of the shootings this week in Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas, words began to feel insufficient. The tragedy, the anger, and the loss seemed to loom too large.

But then a sign appeared outside of Mt. Zion UMC in Highland, near the episcopal residence. It says, “Love overcomes hate.”

I know in my heart that this is true. I know Christ calls us to be bold witnesses to this love, even in the midst of darkest despair. And I became re-convicted that words like “hope” have power.

And so, in a spirit of lament, I call on all the churches of the Baltimore-Washington Conference to make time and space for people to grieve, protest, and give voice to the emotions that surround this week’s shooting deaths of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Philando Castile near St. Paul, and five police officers in Dallas.

In a spirit of possibility, I call on United Methodists to start and encourage conversations that explore the relationships between law enforcement and communities of color. In a spirit of faith, I urge us all to examine how we can make a difference in a growing gun culture, and a society, and a church, still too divided by race.

The images from the videos of the shootings this week were vivid and shocking. I urge you to consider what images we might create of people of faith addressing the violence, suffering, and hatred that surrounds the 123 police shootings of African-Americans this year. What images might we live out of United Methodists honoring our public servants who risk their lives seeking to serve and protect? What are the images of our faith?

As my time as bishop of the Baltimore-Washington Conference grows short, I reflect back on other letters like this one that I’ve written to you: after the death of 20 six- and seven-year-olds at the hands of a gunman in Sandy Hook; following the shooting of the Rev. Clementa Pinkney and his eight Bible study class members at Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina; and this week — we’ve been called together for profound times of prayer.

It is my hope you will all pray together today, and this Sunday, as we gather for worship across the conference. It is my simple prayer that you will also be called to action — to make a difference — and to honor and serve God in ways that begin to unite people, disarm hate, and bind us all together in justice and peace.

In Christ, we are more than conquerors. May love triumph and justice prevail.

Grace and Peace,
Bishop Marcus Matthews
Baltimore-Washington Conference
United Methodist Church