Monday, June 1, 2020

AMD statement on George Floyd


“True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” –James Baldwin.

Over the past week, we have watched and mourned as, once again, a black man’s life was unjustifiably and brutally taken from him at the hands of a police officer in the United States. George Floyd was wonderfully and beautifully made in the image of God, and what happened to him is not only unacceptable, but it has become a far too common occurrence in an increasingly divided society.  
The leaders of the Association of Ministers with Disabilities of the United Methodist Church affirm our solidarity with those who protest Floyd’s senseless death and the countless other black lives that have been lost. We, along with many who are fighting for justice, mourn the ongoing systematic racism and brutality that continue to hold an evil grip on our country.

As Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians, we are all jointly a part of the body of Christ, and when one suffers, we all suffer, and when one is honored, we can all rejoice together (1 Corinthians 12:26)

As members of the disability community, we, as the Association of Ministers with Disabilities know what it is like to be a part of a group that experiences prejudice and bigotry because of the way we look, speak, and behave. Today, we voice our support for all minority groups who face continued oppression, and we are committed to listening to, lifting up, and amplifying voices from within these communities.

As AMD member Chris Wylie said, “You cannot call for peace without also acting for justice. Injustice, racism, systemic failure, and greed is the cause of all we see. It’s up to each of us to change that.” 

on the left, a photo of 16th Street Baptist church, in the center, a portrait of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King jr, on the right text, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere... whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly







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