So here we are moving toward the exit of the twentieth century with a religious community largely adjusted to the status quo, standing as a tail-light behind other community agencies rather than a headlight leading men to higher levels of justice.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Letter From The Birmingham Jail. April 16, 1963

The world has watched media coverage and commentary on the events surrounding the killing of a 17 year old unarmed African American boy named Trayvon Martin. This tragedy has gained momentum and sparked necessary and in some cases, hateful and hurtful dialogue. As I have stood in solidarity with those heartbroken calling for justice in the midst of senseless violence I can’t help but see connections between the racial dynamics and rhetoric of this case and those of The United Methodist Church. Perhaps, this tragedy presents a teachable moment for us and an opportunity to choose a more excellent way in our living together so that we can be light and salt in a world so desperately needing a vision of God’s beloved community.

Here are a few lessons that I hope we can finally learn as a denomination as a result of this case:

Race and racism are real. We’ve all heard these statements, “I don’t see color; I only see the person”; “The President is African American, we’re post –racial”; “Race is a social construct, there really isn’t anything different about us after all we all bleed red.” Comments such as these and the beliefs that support them seek to down play or even deny the importance that race and racism play in virtually every aspect of society. Questions about George Zimmerman’s ethnic identification and whether or not he expressed racist ideas before the shooting only obfuscate the reality that there is a history and pattern of disparate treatment based on skin color in this country. Features of that history and pattern can be seen in the Trayvon Martin case. Racism does not require intent. When racial incidents happen in the Church the response is all too often one of defense, rationalization, explaining away, or avoidance. Congregations that treat a pastor of color and their family poorly are described as simply, ‘not a good fit’ or the church is labeled as “troubled” with little to no addressing of their behavior. Conference and agency staff who feel persuaded to point out racial inequities in the workplace are branded as ‘not team players’ and threatened with job loss. People of color are asked to trust (without conditions or accountability measures) that a commitment to diversity will be maintained when our racial history and patterns as a denomination indicate that such blind trust may be foolhardy. Our inclination to sublimate our struggles with race as a church also makes us unable to answer the call to true transformational discipleship. In light of this tragedy we have an opportunity to acknowledge the history and legacy of race and racism in Methodism and to take concrete steps of vigilance against this sin in our midst.

Despite significant racial gains, equity has not yet been achieved. While the church has publically stated principles rejecting racism and valuing diversity and inclusion we can still track as an institution the fault lines of race that run throughout the denomination. Our church is not reflecting the growth of communities of color within the United States. Racial division within congregational membership and leadership continues unabated. Native Americans and Pacific Islanders continue to seek full participation in the highest levels of denominational leadership. The death of Trayvon Martin reminds us that although society has come a long way, the systems that govern our land aren’t equitable or equal for everyone. So it is in the church. We still maintain policies and practices that ensure that ordination, appointment, nominations, and ministry support systems don’t produce favorable results for communities of color at the same rate as they do for white communities.

Equity is more than diversity. The notion of racial equity is closely tied to the notion of gaps. The Trayvon Martin case illuminates gaps in the justice system as well as in public perception about racial issues. As a church we are faced with gaps in our anti-discrimination accountability systems, our systems to select and appoint diverse leadership, and our systems to engage the mission of the church in growing communities that do not reflect the dominant culture of our denomination. For more than 40 years the church has looked to GCORR to continue to challenge the existence of these and other gaps and to equip the church to take meaningful steps to close them. The denomination’s intentionality in having such an agency has contributed in part to our success in taking positive steps in our journey as a multi-cultural community. Now, in an effort to be even more effective in this mission, GCORR has drafted legislation that offers a fresh articulation of our mandate and responsibilities in response to the Church’s need for greater relevance in an increasingly diverse global world. The agency’s commitment is to help leaders at all levels of the Church all over the world close the gaps that hold us back from reaching more people, more diverse people, and more young people. The church will be mediocre at best if there is no clear structure and accountability to address conditions, policies, and practices that keep the growing populations –that we must reach if we are to thrive- on the margins economically, educationally, and socially.

In about one month the General Conference will convene and it will be an opportunity for the Church to demonstrate that we can indeed turn around the lament of Dr. King and be a headlight to society because of our faithfulness. The Acts of Repentance for Indigenous Peoples is an opportunity to acknowledge that race and racism are in fact real and are sinful conditions that must be repented of by all who call themselves United Methodist. Ensuring that the racial gaps in our denomination are closed rather than widened on issues related to the security of appointment, process of selecting leaders for General Agency and Conference boards or the proposed Center of Mission and Ministry, as well as the quadrennial budget will demonstrate that we are continuing to strive for equity. Passing legislation that seeks to broaden the table and deepen our witness as Christians engaged in God’s work of creating a new heaven and a new earth, including the new mandate and responsibilities of GCORR regardless of any structural change will be a sign that the Church’s commitment is more than talk.

The sadness that we feel over the loss of Trayvon Martin does not have to be the end of the story. My most fervent prayer is that our church and world will have eyes to see and ears to hear that striving for perfection means doing the hard work of acknowledging, repenting and turning with intentionality toward a new way of living. After all, ‘Tis the season….