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A Lutheran pastor's eloquent response to Ferguson
Last edited Tue Nov 25, 2014, 04:01 AM - Edit history (1)
I had to share this deeply moving reflection on Ferguson posted on Facebook by my friend, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Bouman, former Lutheran bishop of Metro NY, and a pastor under whom I worked as organist/choir master for eight years in Bogota, NJ. Steve has deep roots in St. Louis, as an alumnus of Concordia Seminary there, and as one whose grandfather was president of the same institution.
Stephen Bouman
I am listening to the Q and A of the prosecutor in Missouri who has just shared that there will be no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown with profound sadness and memories which still haunt me. The rhetoric is flying, with one mass email from an organization saying that black lives do not matter in St. Louis, Missouri. I don't believe that, but I am sad that it can look that way, especially in our society where racism is still embedded in overt and subtle ways across our communities and institutions. I am sad that this process did not allow the evidence to go forward and leaves people wondering about its fairness, and certainly does not indict or exonerate anyone.
But mostly I am sad that Michael Brown is dead, that his family is grieving, and that the death of young black males by police still happens too often in our communities. And I am sad that a rite of passage in young black lives is to learn survival skills as they learn how to negotiate being out and about in the world and encounters with law enforcement.
I am sad that police will be painted by the same broad brush. And I am sad that Ferguson will continue be a beleaguered community, where nothing changes in the laws and habits which contributed to Michael's death, and also as a place for demonstration of rage from far beyond its borders.
The memories are about Philip Panell, a young black male killed by police in Teaneck, New Jersey during my years as a pastor there. Amadou Diallo, an African immigrant in the Bronx killed by thirty six police bullets reaching for his wallet, in the wake of which some of our pastors were arrested for taking part in demonstrations at the police headquarters.
Do we as a church have anything to say in a world which refuses to truthfully admit that we have a problem of race and poverty in our communities? Will our leaders in church and society have the resolve to face it with courage and hope? I'm sad, because tonight I am not sure.
My deepest sadness is for Michael's parents and family. May their child rest in the arms of our Good Shepherd.
Stephen
I am listening to the Q and A of the prosecutor in Missouri who has just shared that there will be no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown with profound sadness and memories which still haunt me. The rhetoric is flying, with one mass email from an organization saying that black lives do not matter in St. Louis, Missouri. I don't believe that, but I am sad that it can look that way, especially in our society where racism is still embedded in overt and subtle ways across our communities and institutions. I am sad that this process did not allow the evidence to go forward and leaves people wondering about its fairness, and certainly does not indict or exonerate anyone.
But mostly I am sad that Michael Brown is dead, that his family is grieving, and that the death of young black males by police still happens too often in our communities. And I am sad that a rite of passage in young black lives is to learn survival skills as they learn how to negotiate being out and about in the world and encounters with law enforcement.
I am sad that police will be painted by the same broad brush. And I am sad that Ferguson will continue be a beleaguered community, where nothing changes in the laws and habits which contributed to Michael's death, and also as a place for demonstration of rage from far beyond its borders.
The memories are about Philip Panell, a young black male killed by police in Teaneck, New Jersey during my years as a pastor there. Amadou Diallo, an African immigrant in the Bronx killed by thirty six police bullets reaching for his wallet, in the wake of which some of our pastors were arrested for taking part in demonstrations at the police headquarters.
Do we as a church have anything to say in a world which refuses to truthfully admit that we have a problem of race and poverty in our communities? Will our leaders in church and society have the resolve to face it with courage and hope? I'm sad, because tonight I am not sure.
My deepest sadness is for Michael's parents and family. May their child rest in the arms of our Good Shepherd.
Stephen