proclaiming against racism and all the forces that defy god.

this past weekend i was in a place of sanctuary in many ways.  i was at the proclaim retreat.  it was a time to be with others both similar and different from myself.  we all share that up until 2009 the general (though not universal) policy and practice of the elca was that we not be ordained--especially if we were in a relationship.  as i was at the retreat, i realized a couple things.

1-we have come a long way as a church and i am proud of the cloud of witnesses around me, especially in proclaim.  without those who went before me, change wouldn't have happened.

2-even within our community we battle against sexism and heteronormativity.  much like women who internalize sexism, we all are affected by systems of oppression, whether we are oppressor or oppressed.

3-we know the margins, which means i have a responsibility as a white, able-bodied, english speaking person to do my best to be an ally to others.  one of my friends from seminary was with us and talked about racism and the conversation helped me remember that even though i can sometimes say things that are racist (or ableist), it is more important that i continue to work against racism and ableism and admit when i mess up than it is that i don't mess up.

these realizations came into sharp focus this week.  while heading to the airport to come back to kansas city, we found out about the boston marathon bombing and even without tv where i'm living, i got my fair share of the news throughout the week.  the trouble was that most of what i was finding out about was racism.  lots and lots of incidences of racism.

racism sucks.  this country is riddled with it.  i preached a sermon a while back and we had a baptism that sunday and one of the things i talked about in the sermon were the renunciations that we do when we bring someone to be baptized or affirm our own baptisms.  ever since text study at the beginning of february, i've been renouncing forces that defy god all the time.  in sermons, in scripture, with the presiding bishop.  everywhere, yet these forces that defy god--forces like racism--still persist. 

over and over again, we must renounce all the systems of oppression that rebel against god.  we, especially when we hold positions of power in those systems, must continuously renounce those systems that separate us from each other--that make us oppressed or oppressor.  we must choose another way.

this evening i caught a glimpse of that other way.  the second suspect has been captured.  most of the posts regarding him have been either relief that he was captured or (more importantly) prayers and requests for prayers for him.  because everyone is a beloved child of god.

so, i renounce racism, xenophobia, and the fear that our united states culture perpetuates.  maybe that is the first step to ending racism.  renouncing it.  may it be my next step and yours.