December 2022 Newsletter
Bishop Kusserow on reparations for Bethel AME
On November 18, 2022, Bethel AME Church held a press conference on the topic of reparations. The entire press conference may be viewed here. The following remarks were given by Bishop Kurt Kusserow as part of that event.
Pastor Snyder, thank you for the honor of being among those asked to speak today. We speak publicly today to expose the sin of racism, to condemn the ideology of white supremacy, to call for reparations, and to strive for racial justice and peace in this city.
As bishop for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America I seek to bring the voice of my church into this conversation. As your friend and brother in Christ, I seek to do justice with you, and to love kindness with you, and to walk humbly beside you with our God.
Seven and a half years ago nine members of Mother Emanuel in Charleston, South Carolina were shot and killed by a professed white supremacist during a Bible study. Nothing that we do will change the history of that terrible event or bring those nine martyrs back. But if we do nothing, we resign ourselves to a future that is no different from our past.
My presence here today gives voice to a national church body that is not willing to do nothing. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is determined to recognize its complicity in the sin of racism and to do something about it by taking an active stand for reparations.
One visible expression of that active stand is a pledge to get to know the people of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as friends and family.
While doing this provides no guarantee to end race-based violence, it does begin to repair a great tear in human relationships in this country between people of European descent and people of African descent. If a giant needle and miles of thread could sew closed that tear, we would use those things. But this work of repair, this work of reparations, requires different tools.
One tool is truth. We tell the truth. Generation after generation, for hundreds of years, people of color in this country have been made to bear the burden and pay the cost of economic progress that benefits white people. That’s the truth; and if that truth has a sharp point to it, well, then let us use it as we would a needle, working to repair the torn fabric of our nation. Today is about telling the truth. The truth is that Bethel Church was among many properties of Black people taken by eminent domain while neighboring properties that belonged to white people were spared.
Another tool in the work of repair is trust. Trust is built in small and consistent actions, like stiches sewn into torn clothing. Trust is built by saying something and then doing it. Trust is built through honesty and transparency. Trust acknowledges the truth and then responds to damage with repair. While the lives of people taken away by violence cannot be given back, land taken away by eminent domain can be given back. Today is about building trust. Say it; then do it; give Bethel back its land.
A third tool in the work of reparations is temerity. Not timidity, but temerity – bold courage that dares to risk stepping a bit out of line in calling for justice because it has learned that staying comfortably within the lines only perpetuates injustice. Temerity decides to speak up when keeping silent would be easier. Temerity asks for more than is strictly necessary, dreams for more than is thought possible, harbors hope against all odds. Today is about adopting temerity as pattern of life.
And I mean to address this third tool specifically to the white Christian population of this city. Use your place of privilege to call for reparations. Absolutely you should do this. But don’t stop there. Have the temerity to sew a little embroidery into the stitch and reach for real equality. Don’t settle for settling up over land that was taken decades ago, but reach for more – genuine friendship across racial lines in the promised Beloved Community.
The real work of reparations won’t be complete until we are stitched back together: Black and white, one people who desire to live together in mutual love and trust. This is our shared dream. But this blessed future will remain only a dream until the first steps are taken to repair the damage done. Today is about taking those first steps.
So today we say together: Tell the truth. Right the wrong. Build trust. Return the land. That at least gets us back to square one. From there, from that holy ground, we begin again.
Christmas Benediction
Listen to the angels: fear not, this is good news!
Go like the shepherds to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.
Be like Mary, Treasure these words you have heard, ponder them in your heart.
And may the peace of baby Jesus give you good courage to go into the world, glorifying and praising God for all that you have seen and been told.
This benediction was written by Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin for Disrupt Worship Project. See additional liturgy pieces for Christmas Eve here.
Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit
The Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit will be held January 20-21, 2023. Organizers are accepting proposals for workshops and wellness sessions through the end of December.
Racial Justice Training - Save the Date
Region 8 will offer an in-person racial justice training led by The Rev. Carla Christopher Wilson, with opportunities on both Thursday, May 4 and Saturday, May 6, 2023. More information about this event will be shared in the spring.