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Local Bishop speaks out about Racism at site of worldwide gathering of United Methodists
Published: 4/30/2008 Western New York Conference of the UMC131 John Muir Drive Amherst, NY 14228 Contact Marilyn J. Kasperek Director of Communications 716-564-2316 or 716-984-4673 Interviews possible - General Conference Coverage is available at wnyumc.org - click on the Future with hope logo. For Immediate Release April 30, 2008 New York West Area Bishop speaks out about Racism at site of worldwide gathering of United Methodists Bishop Dr. Violet L. Fisher, resident bishop for the New York West Area of The United Methodist Church, which includes churches in the greater Rochester and Buffalo areas, is speaking out about Racism in general and about a specific incident at a restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas. Bishop Fisher and delegates from the two United Methodist Conferences in the New York West Area are in Fort Worth for the quadrennial global gathering of United Methodists to set policy and celebrate ministry of the denomination. A person of color in the delegation was not served at a restaurant on Friday evening leading to Bishop Fisher taking action. Bishop Fisher conferred with General Commission on Religion and Race president Bishop Linda Lee and formed a strategy that included letters to the restaurant's corporate offices, and reminding the entire body present at General Conference that we are all responsible for the pain of racism, because it impacts more than the intended victim. Bishop Fisher was already scheduled to speak to the General Conference session on the need to dismantle racism in the church and to open the doors of diversity on Wednesday morning. Preaching at the morning worship of the 2008 General Conference at Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Bishop Fisher said the church must emulate the example of Jesus who went through Samaria at the time when the Samaritans were being shunned. "We cannot rest on self-prescribed laurels and pretend that we have already done all we can do to eliminate racism, white privilege, discrimination, and clever tactics of subterfuge that leave our racial and ethnic ministries and pastors of color, underfunded, underappreciated, and misunderstood," she said. She told the nearly 1,000 delegates and about 3,000 observers to lift their Asian, Hispanic, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander or African and African-American sisters and brothers. Bishop Fisher called for United Methodists to begin with an examination of self in terms of equality, justice, privilege, true brotherhood, and true sisterhood - not just in name, not just on paper, but through sincere and repentive acts of restorative justice. In her sermon, "When Necessity Calls," Bishop Fisher used John 4:1-15 as her text reminding the delegates that Jesus had to go through Samaria, a difficult route because the Samaritans were the others, the marginalized people, living on the fringes of society. "We are called to make it a necessity to take the more challenging route of ending racism in The United Methodist Church by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all peoples through diverse ministries, pastors, and laity; modeling for the world that all God's people are part of the beloved community, just as Jesus modeled when he went through Samaria," Bishop Fisher said. "Jesus didn't take the easy way out! He could have avoided Samaria altogether," Bishop Fisher. "However, Jesus indicated that he must go through Samaria for he had a mission: It was time that the Gentiles would hear the Good News of God!" She said Jesus was on an anti-racism campaign - "one that would snatch privilege from the lofty and replace it with equal access to the realm of God through worship and true brotherhood and sisterhood." As the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman showed, the transforming grace of God's love goes beyond one's race, one's status or social standing, one's creed or dogma, or one's religious affiliations. Bishop Fisher said Jesus deliberately and unabashedly modeled for his disciples, not just gender inclusiveness by talking with the Samaritan woman at the well, but also, diversity inclusiveness. "It was at that moment Jesus extended the right hand of fellowship," she told the cheering delegates. "I believe she became the founding pastor of the First Christian United Methodist Church of Samaria." She reminded the delegates that the Council of Bishops, in partnership with the General Agencies of our Church, has covenanted to end racism as the church authentically expands racial/ethnic ministry. "We understand this must happen if we, as a denomination, are committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World." Describing it as a call action, Bishop Fisher said ending racism in the church would require serious work. "I fully understand if we are to be serious about our future as a church, some tables will have to be overturned, some trash thrown out, some walls torn down, some barriers crumbled in the name of Christ. "We understand that when necessity calls, we must not limit or marginalize gifts that are to be used to the glory of God as we build the Church," she said. She urged the delegates to must seek out and utilize the gifts of all our brothers and sisters, regardless of race or ethnicity, thus valuing the distinctive diversity that makes up the body of Christ. This can be done by creating and building ministries that are culturally congruent with God's children, "some of whom may not look like you or like me; some of whom may not speak as you do or I do." Bishop Fisher said the future majority culture is standing at the door of the church. "And they are knocking. They are our sons and daughters ... our neighbors and friends. They are red and brown, yellow, black and white. They are the marginalized; they are the oppressed; they are immigrants and sojourners. They are multi-cultural/multi-ethnic persons. They are the other." Issuing a challenge to the church to show fruits of inclusiveness by the time General Conference meets again in 2012, Bishop Fisher asked: Are we committed to the ministry of transformation? Are we ready to open our hearts, our doors, and our minds? Are we willing to journey thru Samaria? Are we willing to extend the invitation to all of God's children? Will you come bearing the fruits in 2012? Will you have made a difference? Will you take seriously the mandate to do justice? Bishop Fisher, who is retiring this year, was heartily applauded. -30- |
