In Gratitude for BCM Colleagues Staying Engaged

     BCM board member John Parker, who’s been rolling with us since 1999, always has his finger on the pulse of faith and justice work in North Carolina. He alerted us to the May 18 issue of the Alban Weekly, which gave our work a shout out (emphasis ours):

As ministers and congregations bask in the afterglow of the resurrection, we should not miss the fact that there are ongoing social, political and, perhaps, spiritual activities that feel more like Good Friday. These are the moments when the church is called upon to act with renewed courage and conviction. It cannot be business as usual. 

which could lay the groundwork for policies that look and feel more like the Jim Crow South than the Beloved Community. What should followers of Jesus do now?
Brilliant scholars like Ched Myers and the late Walter Brueggemann draw on New and Old Testament sources, respectively, to tell us that Christianity is made for moments like these. It’s not the time for handwringing or head-burying. It’s time for truth-telling. It’s time for fervent prayers. It’s time to stay engaged.

This week’s blog is a bit longer in order to highlight the work of other longtime BCM colleague-collaborators who are exemplary in staying engaged!  

        United Methodist Home Missioner and North Carolinian Steve Taylor, who first discovered us through reading Ched’s work. His poignant comment at our first Bartimaeus Institute in 2007 still brings tears to our eyes (see here, from 7:00-7:45).  Steve has walked with us ever since, most recently collaborating with Elaine on Healing Haunted Histories workshops and Throughlines promotion.
    A few weeks ago, the Chair of the Robeson County Board of Commissioners reposted a racist and homophobic meme about former President Barack Obama which stated, “A Black racist queer was president for 8 years, and not one crazy racist redneck Republican ever took a shot at him.” In response, members of Steve’s community came together and revived an historic county justice organization, Concerned Citizens for Better Government, and selected three speakers—Black, Lumbee, and white—to present its concerns to the County Commissioners. Read Steve’s statement (pictured below) at a Commission meeting a few weeks ago addressing civility and accountability in local politics:

        Commissioners and citizens of Robeson County:

You all swore an oath to uphold the North Carolina Constitution, which begins with these words: “We hold it to be self-evident that all persons are created equal.” It further declares that government exists “solely for the good of the whole,” and that the people have the right “to instruct their representatives.”  We are here to do so. 
Recently, the chairman of this commission publicly referred to President Barack Obama as a “Black racist queer,” while invoking violent imagery connected to race and political identity.  Though he removed the post and apparently scrubbed much of his Facebook page, those words were degrading, racist, and unworthy of public leadership.
But the issue before us tonight is bigger than one social media post.  The issue is whether Robeson County will accept leadership that traffics in humiliation, racial contempt, and division while asking the rest of this community to remain silent.  Words matter because words shape communities. Public speech forms public culture. When leaders speak with contempt, they give others permission to do the same.

And as a Christian, I hear the command of Jesus clearly: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”   Public leadership rooted in racial degradation violates that command.  I do not wish ill for Commissioner Edge.  Yet, words matter and the harm must end.  Leadership without accountability becomes permission.  Therefore, I call upon this commission to remove him from the chairmanship immediately.  Because leadership is not an entitlement. It is a public trust.  And when that trust is broken through racist, homophobic, and degrading public speech, this body has both the authority and the moral obligation to act. 
You swore an oath to do so.  My question to you is who are you going to be?   What are you going to tell the world about who we are? Thank you.

While this statement upset the chairman about whom it spoke, it articulates beautifully the spirit of the Juneteenth celebration coming up this Friday!

A 40-minute documentary called “Beyond Borders” looks at experiences of new immigrants through powerful dances around the cityscape (see the 90 second trailer here).
   This project was followed by a powerful short entitled “A Prayer of Transformation,” in which Cynthia choreographs colleagues in a dance of resistance to ICE (again shot around the city; narrated and produced by Mauricio). She writes that this piece:

is my attempt to hold onto my power (and help others do the same) by not giving it away through the hatred of those who are terrifying our neighbors. I have been learning about what hatred, fear, judgement, and other negative emotions do to one’s immune system and how they physically trap us in a fight or flight response that leaves no room for creation. I often see dance that cares about social justice making very dark work about despair; I don’t find this motivating, only debilitating. One of my goals was to see if I could match how the conversion song “It’s Okay to Change Your Mind” feels with thousands of people singing it, but using only 13 dancers’ passionate physicality and intention. Many dancers feel like their voices are completely invalid in the face of all the painful news they’re consuming. So I wanted to spark something in other choreographers to build their own uplifting work for the movement and stop feeling like it’s only good for the purpose of escape.

   More brilliant work from BCM artist/activist friends, which you can join this summer:

Come to one of the most inspiring places on the planet to hone your singing and your songwriting craft while also holding space for that craft to work on you. In the process you will help launch a brand-new Ghost Ranch class! All songwriting levels and experience are welcome, and playing an instrument, while helpful, is not required, as those who are primarily lyricists or singers are also very welcome. Los Angeles-based singer songwriter (and Ghost Ranch) veteran, Tim Gibbs Zehnder, is partnering with Listening Room Songwriting Retreats leader, Brett Perkins, to guide students through fundamentals and provide individual coaching and inspiration for all types and styles. Come ready to write, collaborate and cultivate a supportive environment for the creative process to flourish. For registration information click HERE

This event will feature gifted teachers and cultural organizers among our wider community: Tevyn East, Chris Grataski, Jonathan McRay, and others. We’ll weave skill-shares, song circles, embodiment practices, faith narratives, and community ritual. There will be time for learning and for rest, reflection, informal connection, and swimming in the Broad River.  Meals will weave abundant connections, integrating foraged ingredients with locally grown, storied food. Together we will experiment in creating a new/old bioregional culture attuning to the land, our bodies, the collective, and sacred presence.  Sign up early to get early bird discounts. Work-trade opportunities, partial scholarships, and payment plans are available to make each event accessible. This event will nourish your spirit, grow your skills, and widen your community.  Learn more at https://dreamingstone.org/wilder-way/.

We are so thankful for our network of faithful companions on this Way!  –CM