Letter from White Clergy of Clemson
We stand with our communities of color and are appalled by the injustices inflicted upon unarmed Black men and women. We, like millions of Americans and citizens around the globe, have been jolted from our complacency by the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery and recognize this continues a litany of victims before them.
The ideal of all persons being created and treated equally is something we continue to work toward in this country. As part of the Church in this community, we are called to serve. Our faith in Jesus Christ calls us to listen, heal, and work for redemption empowered by the Holy Spirit. We follow the Prince of Peace who was tried unjustly for treason at the hands of an angry crowd and timid leaders.
First, we must confess to the sin of racism and its institutional manifestations. To our Black and Brown members and neighbors in this community, we confess that we are part of systems that have hurt you. We repent of the hate in our hearts and feelings of superiority that cause you pain. We humbly bow before the Lord asking for forgiveness and grace to start again in the work of mending God’s world. We know we must listen and learn. We commit to engage our own racism and privilege, but also to use our voices and power to serve as reconcilers. For Christ is our peace. We reject violence and choose dignity and discipline. Jesus has broken down the dividing walls to bring unity to his people. We are called to be ambassadors of that same peace.
Secondly, we must act. To our community leaders and neighbors, we ask that we come together and alongside one another to dismantle racism. To every member of our churches: as your pastors, we reject indifference (“It’s not my problem”), we reject our claims of innocence (“I’m not a racist”), and we reject willful helplessness (“I can’t do anything”) when it comes to racism in our lives, our ministries, the churches we love, our city, and nation. We commit to partner in the work for racial justice and racial equity. We commit to becoming anti-racist.
We acknowledge that no one letter, not one act, will complete the work of undoing and repairing 400 years of injustice. We know that for us the fear, weariness, anger, and even despair that some of our Black and Brown brothers and sisters carry every day is a burden we must share. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we strive to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.
Will you join us, and how can we partner with you?
Rusty Brock, First Baptist Church of Clemson
Suz Cate, Holy Trinity Episcopal
Laura Smith Conrad, Fort Hill Presbyterian
Ken Dill, Southern Wesleyan University
Fran Elrod, Clemson United Methodist
Jon Heiliger, University Lutheran
Josh Kestner, University Lutheran
Dan McLellan, St. Andrews Catholic
Bob Menard, St. Andrews Catholic
Mary Morrison, Fort Hill Presbyterian
Mollie Reddic, Lawrence Chapel United Methodist
Jim Richardson, Fort Hill Presbyterian, Pastor Emeritus
Michael Sanchez, Fort Hill Presbyterian
Steve Simoneaux, Clemson United Methodist
The ideal of all persons being created and treated equally is something we continue to work toward in this country. As part of the Church in this community, we are called to serve. Our faith in Jesus Christ calls us to listen, heal, and work for redemption empowered by the Holy Spirit. We follow the Prince of Peace who was tried unjustly for treason at the hands of an angry crowd and timid leaders.
First, we must confess to the sin of racism and its institutional manifestations. To our Black and Brown members and neighbors in this community, we confess that we are part of systems that have hurt you. We repent of the hate in our hearts and feelings of superiority that cause you pain. We humbly bow before the Lord asking for forgiveness and grace to start again in the work of mending God’s world. We know we must listen and learn. We commit to engage our own racism and privilege, but also to use our voices and power to serve as reconcilers. For Christ is our peace. We reject violence and choose dignity and discipline. Jesus has broken down the dividing walls to bring unity to his people. We are called to be ambassadors of that same peace.
Secondly, we must act. To our community leaders and neighbors, we ask that we come together and alongside one another to dismantle racism. To every member of our churches: as your pastors, we reject indifference (“It’s not my problem”), we reject our claims of innocence (“I’m not a racist”), and we reject willful helplessness (“I can’t do anything”) when it comes to racism in our lives, our ministries, the churches we love, our city, and nation. We commit to partner in the work for racial justice and racial equity. We commit to becoming anti-racist.
We acknowledge that no one letter, not one act, will complete the work of undoing and repairing 400 years of injustice. We know that for us the fear, weariness, anger, and even despair that some of our Black and Brown brothers and sisters carry every day is a burden we must share. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we strive to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.
Will you join us, and how can we partner with you?
Rusty Brock, First Baptist Church of Clemson
Suz Cate, Holy Trinity Episcopal
Laura Smith Conrad, Fort Hill Presbyterian
Ken Dill, Southern Wesleyan University
Fran Elrod, Clemson United Methodist
Jon Heiliger, University Lutheran
Josh Kestner, University Lutheran
Dan McLellan, St. Andrews Catholic
Bob Menard, St. Andrews Catholic
Mary Morrison, Fort Hill Presbyterian
Mollie Reddic, Lawrence Chapel United Methodist
Jim Richardson, Fort Hill Presbyterian, Pastor Emeritus
Michael Sanchez, Fort Hill Presbyterian
Steve Simoneaux, Clemson United Methodist