"On the Anniversary of Hate: Will We Choose Democracy or Destruction?"
On this Anniversary of August 11-12 2017, I am braced for the burgeoning assault on Democracy.
We can overcome this horror, but, will we?
Will we lay aside fear and privilege and class and economic and social status, tribal allegiances and plain old human greed to allow the safe, live birth of the necessary next phase of this republic?
The Civil War is still being adjudicated here--we know this is so because all roads from that time to the January 6 insurrection to Charlottesville's Summer of Hate, to tRump’s current occupation of Washington, DC are all living proof that America's original sin still and always muddies the waters of our collective life.
Jim Crow and the Klu Klux Klan could not have existed in a country whose people really believed that all people are created equal.
Could not happen in a country whose people really trusted in GOD (however GOD is called).
Would immediately be recognized as the hypocrisy of white nationalism posing as Christianity when it is really apostasy, in a democracy of the people, for the people, by the people.
On this Anniversary of our Summer of Hate, the time is fast approaching when we will not be able to stop the devastation of the death of Democracy. All that is necessary to kill America, this dream, is for good people to continue to do nothing.
As Bishop Vashti McKenzie reminds us, sin isn't just what we do. It's what we allow.
Will we allow this cruel, insanity coming from the White House, resonating in the souls of a portion of the country's populous who are so afraid of being outnumbered by what were once "minority" populations that they are choosing the nihilism of burning it all down rather than seeing what can happen in an actual society where all people are created equal and therefore treated as equals?
No one is going to save us but us.
-Brenda Brown-Grooms
President, Charlottesville Clergy Collective
We can overcome this horror, but, will we?
Will we lay aside fear and privilege and class and economic and social status, tribal allegiances and plain old human greed to allow the safe, live birth of the necessary next phase of this republic?
The Civil War is still being adjudicated here--we know this is so because all roads from that time to the January 6 insurrection to Charlottesville's Summer of Hate, to tRump’s current occupation of Washington, DC are all living proof that America's original sin still and always muddies the waters of our collective life.
Jim Crow and the Klu Klux Klan could not have existed in a country whose people really believed that all people are created equal.
Could not happen in a country whose people really trusted in GOD (however GOD is called).
Would immediately be recognized as the hypocrisy of white nationalism posing as Christianity when it is really apostasy, in a democracy of the people, for the people, by the people.
On this Anniversary of our Summer of Hate, the time is fast approaching when we will not be able to stop the devastation of the death of Democracy. All that is necessary to kill America, this dream, is for good people to continue to do nothing.
As Bishop Vashti McKenzie reminds us, sin isn't just what we do. It's what we allow.
Will we allow this cruel, insanity coming from the White House, resonating in the souls of a portion of the country's populous who are so afraid of being outnumbered by what were once "minority" populations that they are choosing the nihilism of burning it all down rather than seeing what can happen in an actual society where all people are created equal and therefore treated as equals?
No one is going to save us but us.
-Brenda Brown-Grooms
President, Charlottesville Clergy Collective
Worship and study with these congregations online
Visit/Subscribe to these congregation’s online pages for worship, studies, and/or devotions! This list was compiled during the pandemic at the request of congregation leaders to promote their online services. Congregations on this list in no way endorse any CCC public statements or any content that appears in our weekly newsletter.
- Aldersgate United Methodist Church - Facebook
- All Souls Charlottesville - Facebook
- Baha'i of Charlottesville - Facebook
- Bethel Church of God in Christ - Sundays, 6 pm on Cville Public Access, Comcast Ch. 13. Weds 7:30 pm; Sundays 10:00 am on Google Hangouts. Email Pastor Ward for invitation.
- Buck Mountain Episcopal Church Earlysville - Website
- Charlottesville Church of Christ - Sundays at 9:45 am, Wednesdays at 7 pm: Zoom link, Password: 990. Website.
- Charlottesville Friends Meeting - Facebook; Online worship
- Charlottesville Mennonite - Facebook
- Church of Our Saviour - Youtube
- Cloud Floating Free Sangha - Website, Facebook. Email for information.
- Ebenezer Baptist - Youtube, Facebook
- Faith, Hope, & Love International Healing and Deliverance Center - Website
- First Presbyterian - Website
- First United Methodist - Youtube, Facebook
- Hinton Ave. United Methodist - Facebook
- Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville - Website
- Islamic Society of Central Virginia - Facebook
- Mt. Zion First African Baptist - Youtube, Facebook, Website
- New Beginnings Christian Community - Website
- Olivet Presbyterian - Website, Youtube
- Pantops Community Church - Website, Youtube, Facebook
- Peace Lutheran, ELCA - Website
- Peakland Baptist, Lynchburg - Facebook, Sermons
- Sojourner’s United Church of Christ - Facebook
- St. Mark Lutheran - Facebook
- St. Paul’s Episcopal - Website
- Tabor Presbyterian - Website
- Trinity Episcopal - Website
- Trinity Presbyterian - Youtube
- Unitarian Universalist Church - Online worship
- Unity of Charlottesville - Facebook, Website
- University Baptist - Youtube, Facebook
- Wesley Memorial United Methodist - Youtube, Facebook
- Westminster Presbyterian - Online worship