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Please note: this version of readingremy.com is about to be taken down and moved to Squarespace. If you would like to subscribe to the NEW website, please click this link.

I’m an author and speaker, having spent over 25 years in pastoral ministry as well as consulting in an addiction treatment center. Now, retired from pastoral ministry, I continue to write and speak on issues related to helping people recover from spiritual abuse, past hurts, and anything else that might provoke me.

My goal is to help people overcome everyday problems in practical ways with God’s help. I purposefully write and speak in a way that makes God approachable and understandable.

I hope you will subscribe to my new website. I’ll see you there!

F. Remy Diederich

 

 

Help! I don’t want to lose you!

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To my subscribers:

I’m in the process of switching my website provider from WordPress to Squarespace. I’ll be launching a brand new website that I think you will really like.

But whenever there are changes, there is a chance of losing subscribers. 

So… would you do me a favor and simply click this link and send me an email to confirm that you want to remain subscribed to the blog?  

I’m excited for you to see my new website. I am offering a few new things for my readers:

  • personal consulting regarding issues that I address in my six books.
  • a weekly reflection on my favorite quotes from Henri Nouwen.
  • regular updates on my ministry travels (I’m currently in Chile visiting two churches, then Mexico, and potentially Sweden and Ecuador in the fall).
  • and for pastors, personal coaching and sermon analysis to help them be at their best.

There you have it! Once again, click here to send me a note that you want to stay subscribed and I will make sure you stay on the list when the new site is ready. 

This is my last post on WordPress. I’ll see you on the flip side with Squarespace soon!

Remy

p.s. You might get a note from me to “reset your password” from WordPress. I have thousands of spam followers. I’m doing this to find out who the true followers are. If you click the link above to confirm, there is no need to respond to the reset notice.

Follow me as I travel to Mexico and Chile

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I have recently retired from pastoral church ministry and will soon be traveling to Mexico and Chile to encourage pastors and churches there. This post is to give you a heads up on my travel and invite you to follow me.

I’ve spent the last thirty years as a pastor and spirituality consultant at an addiction treatment center. But all good things come to an end and hopefully lead to more good things. Now I’m free to interact with a variety of people and churches around the world. I will have more time to write as well.

I thought you might be interested in my travel and ministry experiences. I don’t want to broadcast them all on this blog since that’s not the main focus of the site. But if you email me and request to be put on my email list I’ll send off an occasional update.

Here is my upcoming schedule:

  • Puerto Escondido, Mexico. My wife and I will be here to attend a Spanish language school. We have been slowly learning Spanish over the last few years. We are taking some time to speed up our learning to start this trip. We will be there January 23- February 11.
  • Antofagasta, Chile. This is in northern Chile. We’ve been there twice before to visit a precious church and pastor who love their city. I told them that I’d come visit once I retired so I could spend a whole month with them. We will be there February 12-March 12.
  • Mexico CIty, Mexico. Covid has been hard on all churches. Mexico is no exception. My wife and I will return to encourage a small church that has been forced to meet outside in a park for months. We will be there March 13- April 13.

There are many traveling restrictions right now. With Covid and flights being canceled, traveling will be dicey but we are hoping and praying for the best! Let me know if you want to receive my updates.

Retirement or Re-tire-ment?

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I recently retired from being a pastor of over 30 years. I’m not done working, but I don’t plan on taking up another role as pastor. It’s only been two months but I’ve already done a lot of thinking about what retirement means.

New Freedom

The first thing that hit me after I stopped working was a tremendous freedom to redefine myself. This is true for any profession. No matter how much you enjoy your profession, it puts you in a box with a label. It defines who you are and who you will be. 

After so many years in a profession, it can become very routine. In fact, I could pretty much tell you in advance what I would be doing on any given day at any given moment. But now that I’ve retired that has all changed. Every day is different. Every day presents a new possibility. I find it refreshing, which got me thinking about the meaning of the word “retirement.”

Defining Retirement

For many people, retirement is a time to cease from all work. It’s a time to relax and travel. That’s okay, but I’m not looking for an endless vacation. God has gifted me with certain skills (primarily writing, speaking, and leadership) and I fully intend on using them until I’m unable to do so. As I looked at the word, retirement, I saw “re-tire,” as in putting new tires on your car. We all have to do that. Our tires wear out and the car becomes worthless without new tires. 

I think that’s the same thing with your career. At some point, you need to re-tire. You need to stop what you are doing and decide what’s next. Break out of your box and get a fresh perspective on who you are and how you want to finish your time on earth. You might decide to to resume what you have been doing for decades. But maybe there’s more out there for you to explore.

Active Waiting

Personally, I want to take this first year of retirement as a sabbatical… a time away to reflect and not just keep running on the rails that I’ve been on. My wife and I just sold our house of 25 years and are currently “homeless,” too busy traveling and reconnecting with friends and family to want to settle anywhere just yet. We gave away and sold many of our belongings. The few things we have left are in a small storage unit waiting for us to land someplace. We don’t want a house, location, or possessions to define us any more than my career.

I’m curious to know what God has for us, but not anxious. That will come in time. Until then we wait, enjoying the moments we have. Henri Nouwen refers to this state as “active waiting.”

Our spiritual life is a life in which we wait, actively present to the moment, expecting that new things will happen to us, new things that are far beyond our own imagination or prediction. This, indeed, is a very radical stance toward life in a world preoccupied with control. (from “You Are the Beloved”)

Active waiting is part of the re-tire-ment process.

I’m enjoying not knowing my future as new “tires” are put on. Stay tuned. I’ll keep you posted.

Tailwinds and Headwinds

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My wife and I were recently biking alongside a canal in Phoenix. I commented to my wife how effortless it was to bike on this flatland compared to the up and down hills of Wisconsin where we’re from. But then we turned around to head home and found that the “effortlessness” of our ride had nothing to do with the lack of Wisconsin incline. It had to do with a strong tailwind that we didn’t realize we were enjoying. Tailwinds are a wonderful thing! Heading home was much harder.

Tailwinds in Life

That got me thinking about the tailwinds in life that we often take for granted. Maybe it’s our parents running interference for us. Or our friends, teachers, coaches or family members who offer us opportunities that we wouldn’t normally have. It could also be the benefit we receive from our race, education, wealth, or location. Or maybe it’s our grandma praying for us!  

I see all these factors as the hand of God working in our lives to create tailwinds for us. But too often we fail to see the hand of God. In fact, some expect the wind to be at their back and complain when it’s not. Others take credit for their success as coming purely from their own wisdom and talent.  

Next Steps

I offer this simple analogy in hopes that you might stop to reflect on the tailwinds that you enjoy. Is there someone you can thank for the help they gave you? Did someone bring you the comfort, forgiveness, encouragement, or opportunity you needed to succeed? Is there some arrogance that you need to confess to free you from pride? Have you stopped to thank God for the tailwinds in your life? And finally, is there someone for whom you might provide a tailwind so they can experience their own success?

Showing gratitude for your tailwinds produces humility. And that humility will enable you to endure and overcome the headwinds when they come.

Deconstructing Faith

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Deconstructing faith. It seems to be what people are doing a lot these days. Is it wrong? Is it dangerous?

Back when Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, I led a team of people to gut the homes that had significant water damage. The water ruined sheetrock, carpet, appliances. Everything. Nothing could be spared, no matter how good it looked. As a result, we ripped out everything, taking the homes back to their studs, and filling a stream of dumpsters.

I used to joke that I was great at de-construction. Con-struction wasn’t my forte. Thankfully, the experts followed us and rebuilt these homes for their owners.

Deconstructing Faith is Necessary

There’s a lesson for us here in the world of faith. Deconstructing faith is necessary. We don’t always get it right the first time around. Our humanity often gets in the way and we can easily get off the track of what God intended. We add to our faith what was never intended and remove what is essential. 

And for that reason, it’s important to regularly take a hard look at what we believe to determine why we believe it, if we are living it, and if it’s doing us, or the world, any good. We need to take our faith “back to the studs,” deconstructing what shouldn’t be there.

I’ve recently been listening to a number of podcasts related to deconstructing faith. There’s “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill,” looking at Mark Driscoll and what happened in Seattle. There’s Unfinished: Short Creek, where two reporters look at people from the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (Polygamous Mormons) who are desconstructing their faith. And finally, Heaven Bent, where the podcaster deconstructs her pentacostal faith by looking at both the Toronto Blessing and the Bethel School of Ministry in Redding, California. (see below for links to these podcasts). I identified with many of the thoughts and feelings expressed in these podcasts.

You can add my book, Broken Trust, to this group as it looks at the lives of ten people deconstructing faith that they found to be toxic. Deconstruction was important for these people to find freedom from their oppressive religion. 

Reconstructing Faith

As much as I believe in the necessity of deconstructing faith, my concern is that, like me in New Orleans, most people are better at deconstructing faith than reconstructing faith. We find it easy to tear down and discard the rotten parts, only to walk away in disgust and disappointment: a classic case of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Imagine if homeowners in New Orleans lived in their gutted homes and never rebuilt.

My question is: who is working at reconstructing their faith? That’s the hard part, but necessary if you want a “home” to live in. I feel sad for the many people who have abandoned their faith and are now rudderless in a tumultuous world.

If you are currently taking a second look at what you believe, I think that’s great. It’s healthy. But please consider how you might claim the good (if there is any) and rebuild your faith, this time with more care and wisdom. You might want to find a guide or two to show you the way, people who have been there and done a good job of it.

Podcasts cited above:

Are you in the process of deconstructing your faith? I’d love to hear your story.

I Just Launched a YouTube Channel

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I decided that it was time for me to finally launch a YouTube channel. Be kind. I’m learning. But I thought you should know that I’ve got a number of helpful videos out there with more to come.

I have a few full sermons that I’ve given over this past year with a number of trailers that capture just a three minute segment of the sermon. I’ve developed a few playlists:

> Overcoming – these videos are primarily related to messages around my book, Return from Exile that deal with overcoming loss, failure, and personal setbacks.

> Prayer & Spiritual Growth – this is comprised of messages on the letter from James in the New Testament and a series I did on prayer.

> Justice & Racial Reconciliation – I did a message on “Samaritan Lives Matter” that addresses the current racial tension that we have in our country.

> Spiritual Abuse – has a few messages where I addressed spiritual abuse and toxic faith.

> Book introductions – I have a couple homespun videos that need to be upgraded. Look for more in days to come.

> Forgiveness – this playlist has four brief clips from a message on forgiveness.

Thanks for your support. I appreciate those of you that have subscribed to my e-list. As you know, I rarely post. I’ll be retiring at the end of this year, so maybe that will change.

Please subscribe to the YouTube channel. I’d love it if you would post any video that you find helpful. And let me know what kind of video content you’d like to see.

Spiritual Abuse in Latin America, Abuso Espiritual in America Latina

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I wrote a book recently about spiritual abuse because I’ve heard from so many people suffering from abusive pastors and churches. But then I traveled to Latin America and found the same to be true there as well, possibly even more than in the USA.

Last October, I spoke at a conference of pastors in Concepcion, Chile (C.I.P.E, Confraternidad de Iglesias del Pacto Evangélico) on the subject of spiritual abuse and it was well-received. The pastors acknowledged that spiritual abuse is indeed a problem in Latin America.

Currently, I’m in the process of having my book translated into Spanish. In the meantime, I’d like to share with my Latino readers portions of the translation that are already complete. I hope you will share this post with those who suffer from spiritual abuse in whatever country you are in. What follows is a translation of Chapter 8 from my book, Broken Trust: The Definition of Spiritual Abuse. My thanks to Dr. Eugenio Restrepo Madero for his translation.

CAPÍTULO 8: Definición del abuso espiritual

Doy clases en un centro de tratamiento para adictos. En una de mis sesiones, hablo sobre el abuso. Comienzo preguntando a la gente cuáles son los cinco tipos de abuso. Las personas siempre se apresuran a proporcionarme cuatro tipos de abuso (físico, sexual, emocional, verbal), pero inevitablemente quedan perplejos con el número cinco: abuso espiritual.

Cuando les pregunto qué creen que es, no tienen idea; Sin embargo, supongo que muchos de ellos han estado expuestos al abuso espiritual hasta cierto punto en sus vidas. Una razón por la que las personas no saben sobre el abuso espiritual es porque se ha normalizado, es decir, no piensan en él como abuso porque eso es lo que la religión es para ellos. Han sido condicionados a aceptar comportamientos espiritualmente abusivos como normales.

Por ejemplo, un amigo me dijo una vez por qué había abandonado su iglesia, después de ir allí durante años. Él dijo: “Estaba rojo de ser golpeado cada semana” (refiriéndose a los sermones severos). De hecho, he escuchado mucho esta queja. Esto es abuso espiritual, pero estoy seguro de que mi amigo no lo vio como abuso. Eso es exactamente lo que se suponía que eran los sermones. Eso es desafortunado porque cada semana su valía y dignidad fueron aniquiladas por las palabras del ministro.

¿Qué es el abuso espiritual?

Quiero ayudarlo a identificar las muchas formas en que se manifiesta el abuso espiritual. En mi libro, Sanando las heridas de tu pasado, ofrezco esta definición de abuso:

El abuso ocurre cuando alguien cruza los límites de otra persona y entra en el espacio personal de esa persona para su propio beneficio y en detrimento de su víctima. El abuso involucra una pauta sistemática de manipulación, intimidación o coacción de sus víctimas para obtener y mantener el poder y el control sobre ellos. (página 34).

Continúo describiendo el abuso emocional, diciendo que:

… el abuso emocional a menudo funciona en conjunto con otras formas de abuso. Puede reconocer el abuso emocional cuando alguien:

● descarta sus dificultades, problemas o aportes por no tener importancia o por un exceso de información. ● no te escucha. ● te molesta llamándote y te humilla frente a los demás. ● desecha tus opiniones o logros. ● actúa excesivamente, como controlador o celoso: ○ limita el uso de dinero, tecnología, viajes, etc. ○ te impide ver a amigos o familiares. ○ constantemente vigilándote. ● ignora la lógica y actúa dramáticamente e incluso con hostilidad para salirse con la suya. ● te hace sentir responsable y culpable por cosas que no tienen nada que ver contigo. En otras palabras, siempre es tu culpa. Nunca es su culpa. ● se esfuerza por destruir cualquier apoyo externo que reciba al criticar a tus amigos, familiares, religión, consejero, etc., lo que hace que “camine sobre cáscaras de huevo” en un esfuerzo por no molestarlos. (página 35).

Todos estos componentes también son parte del abuso espiritual, pero el abuso espiritual va más allá del abuso emocional. Aquí está mi definición actualizada sobre el abuso espiritual adaptada de mi libro:

El abuso espiritual ocurre cuando las personas usan a Dios, o su supuesta relación con Dios, para controlar su comportamiento para su beneficio. El abusador físico podría usar su puño para amenazarlo. El abusador verbal usa sus palabras. El abusador espiritual usa a Dios (o la Biblia, la iglesia o la religión) como su justificación y/o amenaza. (página 36).

Lo que distingue el abuso espiritual de otros tipos de abuso, es que una autoridad espiritual invoca a Dios, la autoridad última, para justificar el abuso. Esto hace que el abuso sea mucho más traumático devastando a la víctima. La víctima llega a creer que Dios apoya el abuso. Si eso es cierto, entonces o Dios es terrible, o ellos son terribles … o tal vez ambos son ciertos.

Es importante comprender que el “beneficio” que recibe el abusador podría no ser siniestro. Podrían simplemente anhela que las personas obedezcan a Dios y estén dispuestas a hacer lo que sea necesario para lograr ese objetivo. Ellos creen que saben lo que agrada a Dios y eligen invadir el espacio personal de un creyente si eso es necesario. El fin justifica los medios. Ofenderán al creyente para agradar a Dios, pero no hay daño intencionado. Por el contrario, se ven a sí mismos beneficiando al creyente.

En realidad, su comportamiento cruza los límites personales que causan daño emocional y espiritual, por ejemplo, una persona me dijo: Cuando quería un espacio para pensar las cosas a través del pastor, me presionaba y me decía que yo estaba mal por buscar un poco de espacio. (Sobreviviente al abuso de autoridad)

Algunas veces, el abuso espiritual es siniestro (como puede suponer cualquier víctima de abuso sexual por un representante del clero). Trágicamente hay personas que usarán su autoridad espiritual como excusa para aprovecharse sexualmente de las personas, emocionalmente y financieramente. De hecho, se sabe que las personas entran intencionalmente en el ministerio debido a la naturaleza de alta confianza de una comunidad espiritual. Saben que pueden abusar de personas en el contexto de un ministerio con mucho menos esfuerzo que en otras profesiones.

If you would like a full copy of the translation please email me at remydiederich(at)yahoo.com.

Si desea una copia completa de la traducción por favor envíeme un correo electrónico a remydiederich-yahoo.com.

Am I A Racist?

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Am I a racist? That’s a provocative question.

As a pastor, I always feel a certain obligation to let people know what I think on relevant issues. People are looking for answers in a time like this. I’m happy to help people think things through, but you should know that my thoughts are in process (always). 

I’m not writing to tell you how to think or tell you what to do. I’m simply writing to let you know where my head is currently at and to encourage you to think deeply on the topic of racism. 

Since my thoughts are in process, whatever I write today may not be the full story of what I will believe a year from now or even a week from now. I’m in learning mode. So keep that in mind as you read on.

It’s Not About You. It’s About Me.

One thing I’ve noticed in talking about racial injustice is that people get very defensive, very fast. It seems that people are afraid of being labeled a racist. They are quick to say things like:

  • I don’t see color.
  • I love everyone.
  • I work with people of color. I have friends who are people of color.
  • I’m not prejudiced against anyone.

I’m sure I’ve said those things too. To be labeled a racist is an ugly tag.

Let me put you at ease. This post isn’t to question your moral integrity. Instead, I want to turn the spotlight on me. Let me tell you why I think I might be a racist… and how I’m seeking to change my condition.

Defining Terms

It’s always important to start a discussion like this by defining terms. The online Merriam-Webster dictionary defines racism as:

1: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

2a: a doctrine or political program based on the assumption of racism and designed to execute its principles

b: a political or social system founded on racism

3: racial prejudice or discrimination

So… Am I a Racist?

Treating this definition (above) as a checklist, let me grade myself:

  1. No. Nada. Not a bone of me believes this.
  2. a: Okay, this requires some thought. I believe that some of our political programs probably support racism in a way that I’m not aware of. I need to do more reading and thinking on this because to the degree that I support these programs (if they indeed exist) then I’m guilty of racism.

b. Racism was embedded in our political and social systems from the early days of our country. So it’s hard for me to believe that there are not still remnants of it. I haven’t given this a lot of thought and that’s wrong of me. Just because I haven’t been affected by injustice doesn’t give me a pass to ignore it. So, I’m guilty of racism based on this. It’s not overt (obvious) but no less harmful. If YOU are the target of racism you have the right to question why I’m not concerned about the negative impact it has on you.

3. I’m not aware of any prejudice or discrimination in my life but I’m open to it being pointed out and will own it if it’s there.

Am I A Racist? Part Two

The dictionary uses technical words. Let me define racism in more common terms as I see it.

Racism is the open prejudice and discrimination where people reveal their sense of superiority to people of color. It’s obvious and ugly. I don’t own that.

But the racism that I haven’t always seen in myself or others consists of the following:

  • When I fail to see the inherent injustices in our political and social systems. Because I’m not adversely affected I assume no one is adversely affected. I never stop to consider how our society could be structured to harm others. As mentioned above, I’m guilty of this.
  • When I see injustice,  but I fail to call it out and seek change. I’m definitely guilty of this. Let me use a different topic to explain what I mean. I once spoke with an elder in a church where the pastor was spiritually abusing people for years. When the church finally fell apart, I asked the elder why he didn’t say anything about the obvious abuse. He said, “Because no one else said anything. I thought I must be wrong.” Yet deep down he knew he wasn’t. I believe I’ve failed in the same way in regard to racial injustice. I could have said more and said it earlier.
  • When I’m unwilling to consider that I might be wrong. If you want to be a humble person, the ability to doubt yourself is a requirement. You need to hold your thoughts loosely, especially when they are first being formed. But even after that, you want to be flexible enough to welcome new information. I can’t own this. Once someone pointed out my blindness toward racism, I started to make changes.
  • When I’m unwilling to listen to the experiences of people of color to learn and gain empathy. In the book, “White Awake” the author said that he was asked once to list his spiritual influencers. Then he was asked how many were black. His answer, none. The point being, how can we form a conclusion on most anything when we draw from such a limited pool of knowledge. You can’t form an opinion on racism without hearing from people of other colors. This point has caused me to listen and learn from a wider range of voices.
  • When I’m unwilling to give people the benefit of the doubt when I don’t understand their actions. We always want people to give us the benefit of the doubt. Maybe we misspoke. Maybe we had a bad day. If I am always quick to judge the other person as having evil intent, then maybe I’m a racist. I think my book on spiritual abuse helped me to think this through because abuse victims are often accused of doing wrong when the focus should be on the abuser.

Over the last two years I’ve chosen to listen and learn. I’ve read a number of books from black authors to hear a different perspective. The documentary “13th” (on Netflix) was very helpful in seeing how racism is baked into our culture. And with the current national crisis prompted by the death of George Floyd, I’ve recommitted myself to learning more, admitting more, and changing more.

Reflections After Visiting Minneapolis

I recently traveled to the site of George Floyd’s death with my youngest daughter. We felt the need to connect what we saw on TV with the actual sites. (I live an hour away from them while my daughter lives only a few miles away).

I appreciate her concluding words as she reflected on our trek in a Facebook post:

》》As our vision clears like the smoky haze lifting after nights of devastating riots…How will we live differently? What part will we commit to playing in the solution? 》》

This is where I believe voices like mine …need to be found: Initiating frank and honest conversations around dining room tables, living rooms, and offices. **Un-learning what we didn’t think we thought, and actually learning what we thought we already knew.** Remaining genuinely curious. Getting comfortable in the uncomfortable. Speaking up for what’s right. Asking good questions. Fumbling through conversations we’ve previously avoided or skirted around. Operating in humility. Making mistakes and learning from them. Not moving on when the media does. Doing it all with a love that’s beyond (yet within) us.

These are all areas I want to do better. Because we must. It ends with us. – Becca Diederich

Solutions, Not Blame

I’m not interested in casting blame. Like I said in the beginning, that only leads to defensiveness and counter-attacks. Like Becca, I’m interested in finding solutions.

Right now, our country is looking for answers to the problem of racial injustice. They want to enact new legislation and bring reform. These steps undoubtedly need to happen but the cure for this disease goes beyond policies and laws. Racial injustice is a manifestation of conversations that people have had around the dinner table, in the clubhouse, in the office, and even in the church for years. Until those conversations change, we may change laws and policies, but the racism will still exist underground and eventually rear its head again. 

I’m asking God to cleanse my heart of any trace of racism and think differently. I’m willing to admit my failures and do my part to make sure that all people are treated fairly and with dignity. I hope you are too.

George Floyd: Enough is Enough

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George Floyd was killed while being arrested in Minneapolis, an hour from where I live. When this happens… and it’s happened a lot… I never know what to say. So many people post their well-deserved outrage, but I don’t because it feels cheap for me to just “pile on.” 

It’s easy to post your shock and dismay along with everyone else. It’s the thing to do. It’s much harder to fight against racial injustice every day of the week when it’s not in the news… when no one else seems to care… when it might make people feel uncomfortable.

Enough is Enough

So I have remained quiet and let others speak who have the moral authority to say something. But enough is enough. Two years ago a black friend of mine said she’s scared her young son is going to grow up only to be shot. I can’t imagine living with that very real fear. But for her, and every black parent, it’s their daily…DAILY reality. That’s not right. That’s not fair. That’s UNJUST.

I’m going to stop here because I still don’t think I have the right to say much…only the responsibility to shine the light on injustice. But I will let someone speak for me.

The Superintendent of our regional church denomination sent out his response to this killing to the pastors he oversees. I think he shares my frustration and sense of inadequacy in the moment.

The Tragic Death of George Floyd: 

A word of lament from NWC Superintendent Mark R. Stromberg

Dear Northwest Conference Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus,

There are moments when it is difficult to know what to say as leaders. Many of us find ourselves in such a moment as we try to comprehend the terrible circumstance that led to the senseless taking of George Floyd’s life in Minneapolis just two days ago. And this, following the heinous murder of Ahmaud Arbery in recent weeks. And the life before that … and the one before that …

Yes, it is hard to know what to say. After all, words are just words if not followed up by actions.

However, to say nothing can also be understood to be saying something, even if unintended. Therefore, this tragic loss of life and the injustice these recent events illustrate cannot be ignored or explained away. Actually, these have never been things to explain away, though sometimes some of us may have tried to do so.

What will it take before we fall on our knees before God and plead for forgiveness? How long will it take? We can no longer say that it is always the “other guy” who is responsible for these reprehensible deeds. For even as we bear responsibility for the nailing of Jesus to the tree, we bear responsibility as part of “Adam’s race” for the dehumanization and mistreatment of others for whom Christ died; for those we are called to love.

I know that I am not alone in feeling heart-sick today, but also feeling a bit helpless. I don’t always know where to turn to or what to do with my thoughts or feelings, lest I do or say something that adds further pain, though unintended. However, on behalf of all of us on the Northwest Conference staff, I express deep sorrow for the pain and dismay that our sisters and brothers of color are experiencing as we know that these are both deeply felt and justified.

We also cannot continue to say that we are “in It together,” unless we are also willing to be in “all of it together.” Our togetherness cannot only remain so long as it serves our own self-interest, without regard to how it is impacting those we claim to love. After all, we are reminded in Scripture that when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer. Or do we?

Personally, I am sorry for not suffering enough alongside those of you that do. I am sorry for the blatant disregard of those in our own communities that have not been given equal treatment or respect as men and women, boys and girls created in the image of God and the nobility that suggests. I am especially sorry for the burdens born by our African-American sisters and brothers at this time, though this is nothing new … just more of the same … tragically.

We have to do more, and we have to do better as the people of God.

Merciful Lord, we are weak but You are strong. We are burdened with grief; our hearts are heavy, our spirits are crushed. Be our strength in times of weakness. Be our shelter from the storm. Be especially near and dear to our African-American sisters and brothers on this day as they feel the weight of this latest tragedy most acutely. Be their rock and shield. Forgive the rest of us for the times we have turned a blind eye to the injustices facing so many in communities of color. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. AMEN.

Mark R. Stromberg,

NWC Superintendent