“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Following the fatal shooting of young adult Michael Brown on August 9, 2014, by Ferguson, MO, police officer Darren Wilson, several Disciples clergy and laypersons joined many others in community responses for justice in Ferguson and beyond. This week at Downtown Disciples I was able to experience the documentary film Injustice Anywhere, which arose in the midst of conversations and work of several expressions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as they shared a story of collective experiences from individuals impacted by these events.
Following the viewing of this film, a panel discussion was held with representatives from:
Urban Dreams – a human service agency dedicated to serving in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, education, and public safety as those pertain to underserved and underrepresented populations in urban communities.
#Black Lives Matter – a call to action and a response to the anti-Black racism that permeates our society, and an affirmation of the contributions of Black folks’ contributions to this society, honoring their humanity, and resilience in the face of deadly oppression.
AMOS( A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy) – a group that channels individual action into a
responsible and powerfully-organized force for the common good by building
relationships and cutting through divisions of race, religion, and socio-economic
status.
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (ICCI) – a non-profit of everyday people who talk and act on issues that impact people the most, making Iowa a better place for all.
Des Moines Police Department
Las Americas United Methodist Church and Trinity United Methodist Church
Altoona Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The viewing of this film and hearing this panel discussion made me even more aware of how important and needed are our Conversation and Prayer sessions with Morning Star Baptist Church each 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. I am grateful that we are taking action to address the issue of racism by building relationships with those who share our church building and also serve Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives.
Information on the October 15 community event between our two congregations is found inside this Portrait. I am grateful to Luci Collins and Rebecca Russell for their leadership in the planning and implementing of this unity event. Contact them to find out how you can help.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Blessings,
Pastor Candice
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