Gun violence protest
Protests against gun violence may increase after mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colo. (Photo by Heather Mount on Unsplash)
Just as the United States passed a milestone of 100 million vaccinations against the coronavirus, the crisis of gun violence reared again with not one, but two horrific mass shootings within a week.
Along with the crisis of gun violence, one of the shootings – the deaths of eight people at three massage spas in greater Atlanta – raised the specter of racism. Six of the eight people killed were Asian women, highlighting the increase in discrimination and violence against Asians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Religion also played a major role in the Atlanta shootings and a subsequent killing spree at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., that killed 10 people including a police officer. The Atlanta shootings were further complicated by the suspect’s contention that his actions were motivated by a sex addiction intensified by his Southern Baptist beliefs that women are responsible for men’s sexual immorality. In Boulder the suspect told police he believed he was persecuted for his Muslim faith.
Faced with this confluence of contexts, United Methodists struggled to find ways to ease the immediate suffering caused by the murders while also seeking ways to eliminate the fear and prejudice behind them. Among the prompt responses, UM News reported, "Mountain Sky Conference Bishop Karen Oliveto joined with her Lutheran and Episcopal counterparts in a short online prayer service following the mass shooting March 22 in a Boulder supermarket." Watch prayer service
Now it seems that, legislatively at least, the next steps are up to the U.S. Senate, which President Joe Biden has urged to pass a bill for greater restrictions on the type assault weapon used in both crimes. However, legislation has never changed hearts from fear and hate to love, which is the church’s charge. To date the UMC’s Dismantling Racism has focused primarily on prejudice against Blacks, but people of color and their white allies now can reasonably expect that the past year’s 150 percent rise in violence against Asians and Pacific Islanders will be included in the church-wide initiative.
Hope for holiday gatherings tempered with caution
A new Pew Research Center survey finds that “as vaccination rates rise and coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths decline … Americans are increasingly confident they can safely go to services at a church, temple, mosque or other house of worship. Still, the situation in U.S. congregations remains far from ordinary, and this promises to be the second consecutive highly atypical Easter season for Christians,” says the Pew report.
In an article headlined With vaccinations rising, religious groups eye bigger gatherings at upcoming major holidays, Sarah Pulliam Bailey of the Washington Post reports that some religious leaders are “itching” to open their doors for in-person gatherings for Passover, Easter, and Ramadan. Nonetheless, public health officials and top religious leaders, including United Methodist bishops, continue to urge caution in re-opening, stressing the need to keep up with COVID-19 protocols.
For example, this week the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference issued updated safety recommendations if re-opening for Holy Week and Easter. General recommendations continue to be:
- Wear masks in public.
- Keep physical distance of six feet or more.
- Wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces often.
- Limit group gatherings and crowds.
“Congregations that reopen must be committed to the goal of resisting spread of the virus by following all state and city guidelines and have a reopening plan approved by their church council,” the Eastern Pennsylvania newsletter states.
LGBTQ rights gain more support
On at least one discrimination front, it appears that more Americans strongly support LGBTQ protections against discrimination in jobs, public accommodations and housing, according to Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). “In a survey of more than 10,000 Americans, even the groups least likely to support nondiscrimination protections—Republicans (62%) and white evangelical Protestants (62%)—show majority support,” said a PPRI press release. “Majorities of most religious groups also support same-sex marriage, including three in four white Catholics (75%) and more than seven in ten Hispanic Catholics (71%). The only religious group without majority support for same-sex marriage is white evangelical Protestants (43%).”
Further, PRRI reports a new survey which shows support for same-sex marriage is now at 67 percent. "Notably, support among Republicans has risen to 51%, a 20 percentage point increase from 2011. 'The data [are] clear: The vast majority of Americans support LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections no matter where they live, the party they belong to, or the church they belong to,' PRRI research director Natalie Jackson says. Read the full report here."
LMX to hold webinar on anti-Black Racism
Liberation Methodist Connexion (LMX) will hold a “faith-filled conversation” on anti-black racism on Sunday, March 28 at 6pm EDT. Panelists will include Rev. Dr. Traci West, Rev. Akilah Bixler, and Pastor LaQuaan Malachi. Also featuring the creative offerings of artist/pastor YaNi! Event links will be shared by email closer to event dates. Contact LMX at hello@thelmx.org with questions.
Media Mentions as of March 24, 2021
Faith leaders get COVID-19 shot to curb vaccine reluctance – The Associated Press
Faith and the COVID-19 vaccine: 'Don't throw away your shot' – Religion News Service
United Against Poverty's Mobile Market to open at First Kissimmee United Methodist Monday at 10am – positivelyosceola.com
Family Promise of Gaston County provides housing for displaced families – Gaston Gazette
Dedicated Methodist group brings bread to those in need – scriptype.com
For faith communities, COVID-19 pandemic brought a year of challenge and creativity – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette *
Why ‘exvangelicals’ are seeking therapy for religious trauma – The New Republic *
How the Equality Act would legalize religious bigotry – The Federalist
Religious versus LGBT protections roil landmark rights measure – Bloomberg Law*
Black pastors sign letter supporting compromise bill on LGBTQ equality – Religion News Service
Black church leaders in Georgia on the importance of ‘souls to the polls’ – NPR
Where science and miracles meet – The Atlantic *
Evangelicals must confront their toxic sexual politics – New York Magazine *
New doubts over Southern Baptists’ limits on women’s roles – The Associated Press
Accused Atlanta gunman’s church expels him, as local Korean church leaders mourn, call for action – The Washington Post *
Georgia church disowns suspect, says he betrayed faith – ABC News
Atlanta suspect’s fixation on sex is familiar thorn for evangelicals – The New York Times *
Hospital chaplains embrace new role during the pandemic: caring for caregivers – Los Angeles Times *
Progressive Christians arise! Hallelujah! – The New York Times *
For these young evangelical activists, facing the climate crisis is an act of faith – Rolling Stone *
Religious persecution abroad reminds us why religious liberty matters – National Review *
The evangelicals’ Trump obsession has tarnished Christianity – The Daily Beast *
How will we worship — whether Catholic, LDS, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or Protestant — after COVID? – The Salt Lake Tribune *
* Paid subscription required.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.