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First Christian Church Bloomington, Illinois Hosts Interfaith Peace Vigil
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota Disciples’s Pastoral Letter on Acquittal in Philando Castille case.
A Pastoral Letter to Disciples in the Twin Cities:
It was nearly a year ago that Minnesotans awoke to the startling news that an African-American motorist named Philando Castile was shot dead in Falcon Heights by Jeronimo Yanez, a St. Anthony police officer. It was a cruel irony that Philando lost his life just in front of the state fairgrounds, which Minnesotans call “the Great Minnesota Get-Together.” This event reminded Minnesotans that not all of us are treated equally, especially when it comes to race. The recent acquittal of Yanez brought pain to the family of Philando Castile and the African-American community here in Minnesota. It made many feel that in the Great Get-Together that is Minnesota, African Americans are valued less than white Minnesotans.
Members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have a theology of the Table. We believe that the communion table is not our table, but belongs to Christ who welcomes all to partake of the feast. As Disciples, we believe that we are called by Jesus to welcome everyone to the table both in our congregations and in our lives. We are called to bring those that have been kept away from God’s love and make room for all at God’s Table.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to pray for justice and speak out against injustice. But that is just the beginning. Christ compels us to listen, to hear and to be in mission with our African-American sisters and brothers to dismantle the structures that have made coming to God’s table difficult.
In the Design of the Christian Church, we Disciples are to yield ourselves to God in the bonds of Christian faith. May God lead us to build deeper relationships across racial boundaries to partner together to create a more just society.
May God be with all of us as we work to welcome all to God’s Welcome Table.
Yours in the Unity of Christ, the Congregational Pastors of Twin Cities Disciples of Christ,
| Laurie Pound-Feille, Senior Pastor
First Christian Church Minneapolis, MN |
Dan Adolphson, Associate Pastor
First Christian Church Minneapolis, MN |
| Dennis Sanders, Pastor
First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN |
Tammy Rottschaefer, Pastor
Lake Harriet Christian Church Minneapolis, MN |
| Mark Keeler, Lead Pastor
Plymouth Creek Christian Church Plymouth, MN |
