For too long, too many of us have looked away as our angry neighbors and leaders spread lies and vitriol. We have courted danger, treating politics like a spectator sport, not realizing that polemics — especially polemics that prop up white supremacy and bigotry — is a deadly game.

“Have the mind of Christ who though he was one with God chose to become a human, enslaving himself for the good of others.”

I’ve been thinking about this passage a lot lately, as I see our society trying to enroll us once again in the slaveholder mindset…

I trust you. That may seem strange to say, since I have so little contact with many of you. However, trust is the bedrock of my work as Conference Minister…

Note: This post is about the violence, threats of violence, and self-harm that are prevalent in our society right now.

People are on edge, anxious about the future, tired of being cooped up, worried about finances and health, angry about the political situation — and all of that is leading to increases in domestic violence, public violence, and self-harm.

I’ve been thinking about the Beatitudes lately, because I’ve heard them compared to the statement: Black Lives Matter. Jesus didn’t get up on a hill and say, “All of you are blessed,” because he knew a lot of us would assume all didn’t mean all. For many of us, circumstances and society teach us that we are not blessed and we don’t matter. That’s why it’s important to be specific.

During the tumultuous first months of 2020, as your Conference Minister, I’ve relied on what I see as the Central Pacific Conference’s “identity and calling statement.” When I came to the conference, I was told we didn’t have a Mission Statement. However, as I’ve listened to my lay and ordained colleagues in ministry, I have found we do have an identity and a calling.

As I’ve wrestled with what to say to you during the protests following the killing of George Floyd, I’ve returned again and again to the words of Jonah 3.

This pandemic has highlighted for me the strength, resiliency, and beauty of our CPC churches and members — and how much we need each other.

Among the Council of Conference Ministers, we’re having serious conversations about canceling our in-person meeting later this month. In the desire to stay safe, the message we’re hearing is that we’re better if we’re alone. I don’t know about you, but I’m already feeling the sense of isolation this disease brings. And yet, I remain certain we’re better together.