Rev. Victoria Rebeck, Director of Connecting Ministries
Make this your Christmas offering
A world in which the image of God, and the dignity that conveys, is recognized in all people and peace, health, wholeness, compassion, and justice endure: this is the Beloved Community. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Fellowship of Reconciliation emphasized this idea, which also reflects Jesus’s teaching about the realm of God.
Bishop Jeremiah Park adopted this vision to establish the Building the Beloved Community Fund, which will support Susquehanna Annual Conference’s participation in the connection-wide priority to end racism.
The fund will aid efforts to:
- combat racism
- promote diversity
- help churches connect with the diverse demographics of their region
- prepare churches and clergy for cross-racial appointments, and bolster supportive fellowship among clergy of color
- build just and respectful relationships among people of various races
Bishop Park is encouraging churches to make this fund the recipient of their Advent and Christmas offerings. Though the world is struggling with the two pandemics of COVID-19 and racism, Advent and Christmas joyfully remind us that our hope for salvation is realized in Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God-with-us. This fund proclaims that hope to the world.
We stand in a long Methodist tradition of professing the equal value of every person. Methodism’s founder, John Wesley, abhorred racism. While other white church leaders called for the end of the slave trade, Wesley vehemently condemned the practice of slavery itself. He invited and welcomed African Americans to be among the first Methodist leaders in the American colonies.
Our United Methodist Social Principles teach that “racism, manifested as sin, plagues and hinders our relationship with Christ, inasmuch as it is antithetical to the gospel itself... We define racial discrimination as the disparate treatment and lack of full access and equity in resources, opportunities, and participation in the Church and in society based on race or ethnicity” (The Book of Discipline 2016, ¶ 162.A).
In the law, the prophets, Jesus’s preaching, and the epistles of the early church leaders, scripture clearly teaches that asserting group superiority is antithetical to holiness. You are familiar with Paul’s declaration in Galatians 3:28: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Jesus goes a step further, saying that “for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). God calls us to serve each other, especially those who are usually denied a place at the table.
Those of us of European background are slowly recognizing that racism is more than a personal dislike of or sense of superiority over people with brown skin. We are starting to see that limited access to educational opportunities, health care, and employment; distrustful treatment by some police officers and store managers; and much more are facts of life for people of color. Most of us white people have lived unaware, assuming that our experience is shared by all other Americans. The more we are willing to listen, the more we are learning that we have much to do to conform our societies to God’s expectations.
You will find at susumc.org/endracism a flier and a slide that you can use to promote giving among your church members and worshipers. By sharing in our support of this fund, we are better together in our efforts to participate in building the realm of God.
Racial-justice ministries are already emerging across the Susquehanna Conference. Individuals, congregations, and conference committees are offering book studies and webinars and seeking further learning. Joyce Davis, our conference lay leader, organized and moderated a Faith and Blue online discussion that brought together law-enforcement leaders and people of faith called to work for justice.
We know that there are other projects in the works. As the fund grows, we will be working on guidelines for submitting requests for grants. Watch for announcements in 2021.
The world is starving for hope and joy. This Christmas, be a messenger of Christ’s hope and peace by supporting our shared Building the Beloved Community Fund.
How to Give
Give through your church. Mark on your check or donation form “9300, BBCF.”
Give directly through the conference’s secure web site for donations at https://susumc.org/donations/4605/.
Mail donations to:
Susquehanna Conference
Attn: Finance Office
303 Mulberry Dr., Mechanicsburg, PA 17109.
Please make the check payable to Susquehanna Conference and write “9300 – BBCF” in the memo line.
Churches can identify donations on their remittance report by writing 9300 – BBCF in one of the line items under G. Miscellaneous items.
100% of your giving will go to the fund to enhance the vision.
Raising donations for this fund is a good project for United Methodist Women or United Methodist Men’s groups, youth groups, missions or justice committees, and others.
susumc.org/endracism
