From Churches Uniting in Christ, an ecumenical organization that includes the Episcopal Church:
The events of August 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia have added tinder to an already volatile situation in this country, as well as in nations around the world. As we mourn the deaths and pray for the families of Heather Heyer and state troopers H. Jay Cullen and Berke Bates, we not only denounce racist speech and actions against people of any race, religion, or national origin, but we also denounce silence and inaction in the face of this type of hate, a silence and inaction not exclusive of the pulpit.
We must work across religious traditions to reflect on the ways we have been complicit in upholding and benefiting from the sins of racism and white supremacy. We must join others in praying for the strength and courage to stand arm-in-arm against racism, white supremacy, and nationalism in all its forms. We must not back down [from] those espousing hate and we must be willing to participate in acts of peaceful protest, including rallies, marches, and at times even civil disobedience. We must continually and tirelessly engage in action to oppose structural racism, both outside the church and within its walls.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
