Panelists reflect on theme of moving beyond words
Panelists Margo Hill, Phil Misner, Chalo Martinez and Kiantha Duncan, with Gen Heywood moderating, offered some of their perspectives on the keynote address and theme "Beyond Words: Doing Justice."
Margo, who teaches urban planning at Eastern Washington University and who was attorney for the Spokane Tribe, resonated with the theme, "Beyond Words: Doing Justice," and with the lyrics that "men make laws that destroy other men and women."
"Indigenous people have lived on the land for time immemorial. The trouble is we opened our hearts and the land to welcome newcomers and continue to suffer injustice," she said.
"Native Americans did not ask to be attacked on their lands by invaders who hanged their chiefs, killed their horses and forced them to move on reservations to live in poverty," said Margo, who grew up in a trailer because the land was held in trust, so tribal members could not build houses.
"In Spokane, we experience violence. A young Native American man was shot in the back. Native Americans have higher bail and heavier sentencing," she said.
Margo appreciates police, but questions racial bias of officers she has met in her work with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
"There are 5,712 indigenous women missing according to FBI data, but the U.S. Department of Justice lists just 116 cases," said Margo, telling of state efforts to stop human trafficking and access databases.
She called for churches and the community to understand that people of color experience historic trauma, high rates of violence and poor health care, leaving many vulnerable to human trafficking.
Phil Misner, previously pastor at Peace Lutheran in Colfax, has been since 2018 assistant to the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Northwest Intermountain Synod, which serves congregations in Eastern Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming.
"Caring about understanding diversity and racism is built into our structural guidelines for ministry since we formed the ELCA in the 1970s, but we are still one of the whitest denominations in the U.S.," he said. "We have the words, but have not done well at going beyond words.
"The synod seeks to move beyond words and so leaders become a more concrete example," Phil said. "Words set the intent."
In the synod, he said action is needed. One effort is a recent Color Amazed Preaching Project, bringing ELCA leaders of color to give sermons virtually to introduce diverse voices to the region's ethnically homogeneous congregations, he said.
In addition, anti-racism was a focus of Bishop Kristen Kuempel's recent convocation with deacons and pastors.
On criminal justice and law enforcement, the ELCA in 2013 adopted a social statement on justice addressing inequities in the criminal justice system as central to living out the biblical call to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly, Phil said.
Chalo Martinez, who worked in Los Angeles with Latino parolees, saw the impact of inequities in criminal justice on people of color and people of different social and economic standing, regardless of skin color. People of color had longer sentences.
"I hope the state of Washington will act to be sure justice is fair," said Chalo.
"Catholics believe in equal love as love without exceptions. The catechism teaches universal equality and dignity as persons. Churches say that all deserve respect, but we also need to act," Chalo said. "We need to meet the challenge of words with action."
U.S. Catholic bishops have made statements calling for addressing injustices in law enforcement encounters with African Americans and Latinos.
Leaders pray for humankind to work together, but many want bishops and priests to act as well as speak out, to "go beyond words to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream reality faster and permanently," he said.
Kiantha Duncan has been in leadership and civic engagement for 25 years, and is currently with the NAACP Spokane.
"Hear me with your heart. I tell you these things because I love you, I do not condemn you, but I want to convict your hearts," she said.
"The nation calls and cries for justice," she said. "The way it's always been done has only gotten us so far."
She invited those at the conference to join the NAACP in 2021 to be part of its action, not only as individuals, but also as congregations.
"Nationally people of color are at a disadvantage on health. We want you to bring your congregations to the table and bring your resources.
"Do justice does not mean keep talking about justice at summits, conferences and meetings, but to get into action, movement, get busy collectively to move the city, community and world to do justice," Kiantha said.
"It's time to stand together. Faith based communities need to stand together and welcome us with open doors. Listen to the legislative agenda and leave the conversation knowing we will do something to move toward a more just, compassionate society."
For information, call 535-1813. For recordings of sessions click this link.
Copyright@ The Fig Tree, March, 2021