On September 15, 2020, the Edwards Church Council voted unanimously to endorse the following statement of conviction. It was written by members of the Board of Wider Mission and was originally published as a letter to the editor in the Metrowest Daily News on June 28.
The deaths of David McAtee, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and all black lives ended by police brutality and white supremacy, are outrageous crimes. Systemic racism devastates our nation and warps our criminal justice, education, social service, and health care systems. We are incensed by this, and we admit our own complicity and culpability.
We seek to follow Jesus’ call to listen to the oppressed, fight injustice, confess our sins, and change our lives until justice prevails. We pledge to take measurable and ongoing action to end racism. We urge all people to work together to deconstruct racist systems, and create new, safe, just, and equitable societal structures.
We will continue to educate ourselves about systemic racism, how white people benefit from it, and to examine our own biases and beliefs. We will listen to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), talk to our families and communities about racism, and make anti-racist life choices. We will speak up when we hear racist remarks, and advocate for effective, transformative and lasting change. We will trust in God, and take action to help create an anti-racist America. We hope you will too.
In addition, you can find an Open Spirit blog post and a statement by the Framingham Interfaith Community Association.
Here are a few ways you can be part of a movement for racial justice:
Rapid Response
If you would like to be part of a “rapid response” team that shares information about opportunities to participate in rallies, write letters and sign petitions, please contact Mary Memmott.
Standing Up and Speaking Out
Open Spirit and Jewish Family Services are collaborating to offer on-going Active Bystander Trainings for the greater Framingham community. Watch for more details.
Watching and Learning
Open Spirit is currently sponsoring an 8-week Mindful Antiracism: A Radical Exploration of Race and Resilience course, which is co-sponsored by Edwards Church Board of Wider Mission (and other community organizations). Watch for further opportunities to take this class.