He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 (NRSV)
Today I've joined ministry colleagues and other faith leaders in Washington, D.C. to march with ministers branching from an array of denominations to seek justice for all God’s people.
Our reason for marching is partly due to our current and constant struggle as a nation to achieve equality for all people across our nation. Recent actions by our government have instilled fear and a loss of hope as decisions have seemingly turned back progress made to ensure the rights of all voters, police and community relations, the end of racial profiling, and the welcoming of immigrants.
To be clear, President Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, or the current administration are not the sole reasons we march today.
The Ministers March for Justice is about the future we hope to shape for generations to come.
As my friend reminded me when we were children watching with hopeful eyes as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with resounding confidence, delivered the I Have a Dream speech; We march in the name of civility, dignity, and love.
We march so that the vision of a beloved community where the ‘common good’ and respect for all God's children and creation is not sacrificed on the altar of idolatrous nationalism and fear pandering.
We march in the names of those who stood in the face of injustice and endured extensive slander, abuse, degradation, oppression, and mustered the strength to stand taller and remained devout in their prayers and resilient in their hope for a brighter future.
As a United Methodist, I march because I believe we need to “work toward societies in which each person’s value is recognized, maintained, and strengthened,” as mentioned in our Social Principles.
I march because together, we are more.
Be encouraged
Bishop Julius C. Trimble