A Call to Tears and Action
As the Leader of an organization called to witness to God's peace rooted in justice, I stand firm, consistent, and committed to our mission and vision.
Interim Executive Director William Moses Summerville
Upon my return from First Baptist Church of McMinnville, Oregon, I simply want to say thank you for having me in your faith community home for International Peace Sunday and closing out your Seeking Peace Conference. To Pastor Erika, Rev. Kathleen, Cynthia, Don, Doug, Kathy, and "The Mule Trainer," to name a few, it was amazing to be in your company and presence. Prior to my time in Oregon, in Seattle I had the awesome honor to re-assert and re-affirm our necessary and needed long-term commitment to partnering with the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists as the leader in LGBTQIA faith matters and human rights.
After addressing gun violence in our last correspondence, we saw in the same week the assassination of Charlie Kirk and ensuing international outcry. Through this incident, we noticed the most conservative-leaning Baptists display great mourning of such a horrific act. As we share in this kind of collective emotional response, I was obliged to pose the question: Can mass killings receive the same tears?
Can the killing of innocent Palestinians receive the same tears?!
Can the killings of innocent Venezuelans receive the same tears?!
Can the killings of innocent Ecuadorians receive the same tears?!
Can the killings of innocent Colombians receive the same tears?!
Can the killing of Black people in America receive the same tears?!
And, for the recent innocent killings that occurred in Southport, North Carolina, let us keep those same tears coming...
Better yet, let's STOP the killings to mitigate the tears! I am glad, and further honored, at a time such as this on behalf of BPFNA~Bautistas por la Paz to remain in the relentless pursuit of peace and uncompromising demand to our political and influential leaders that political violence must cease... PEACE-FIRE!
I pray for our steadfastness of justice with each other to be the justice we need for the world (1 Cor 15:58).
