A Pastoral Response to Charlottesville

August 14, 2017

Dear Seminary Community,

Over the last several days we have again witnessed the blatantly destructive force of racist ideology, which continues to be a scourge upon our land. The hatred and violence surrounding the white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville have no place in our nation and are fundamentally incompatible with the promise of the gospel. As Christians, we renounce this hateful ideology. We serve a God who delights in the dignity and worth of all humanity and who calls us to work for a more just society in the broken world we inhabit.

May our faith bring us comfort and embolden us with courage. We know that God desires us to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly. We confess that Christ is the light shining brightly in the darkness. We believe that no powers of evil can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Please join with me in prayer for our nation, for Charlottesville, and for our own community, that the sin of racism may be expelled and the redemptive love of God made manifest among us.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Craig Barnes
President