In the biblical readings for Palm Sunday is the account of Jesus’ procession down the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem. As Jesus rides into the religious center of his faith community people along the processional route shout and cheer. Powerful leaders tell Jesus to silence the crowd, but Jesus responds that even the stones would cry out if the people were silenced.
There is shouting of all manner in Minneapolis and other cities across America in response to the brutal killing of George Floyd. The shouts are coming from deep places of trauma, anger, grief, terror and horror. It is shouting that cannot be silenced, it is so deep that rocks, and trees, and buildings, and rivers are crying out with the people. Like other moments of trauma and clarity, this single atrocity exposes the many and systemic atrocities that have preceded it, causing our collective soul to erupt
uncontrollably.
Many churches and religious bodies are speaking out about the brutal killing of George Floyd and racial injustice in our social institutions. The Wisconsin Council of Churches gives witnesses to the collective voice of the many manifestations of the body of Christ in Wisconsin.
In this moment, the WCC has gathered statements of church bodies revealing their anguish and calls for justice for George Floyd and the African American community. God’s heart has been broken again and all who seek God’s heart in this world are giving voice to this brokenness.
- African Methodist Episcopal Church
– Message from the Fourth Episcopal District - American Baptist Church
– Acts of Racial Injustice – A Letter from American Baptist Churches Interim General Secretary - Church of the Brethren
– The Murder of George Floyd: A Time For Piercing Candor…Letting The Victims Instruct - Church of God in Christ
– Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr.’s Statement on the Murder of George Floyd - The Episcopal Church
– Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac, “Justice, Wild Justice and the Plague of Racism,” by Bishop Matthew Gunter.
Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee , Sermon by Bishop Steven Miller – Text & Video (sermon begins at 19:15) - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
– I Never Thought I’d See a Lynching – Bishop Jim Arends, LaCrosse Area Synod ELCA
– ELCA reaffirms commitment to combat racism and white supremacy
– Appleton Conference Prayer Vigil – Prayer Vigil for George Floyd & Our Broken World - Greek Orthodox Church, Diocese of Chicago
– Statement from His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael Regarding the Death of George Floyd and Its Aftermath
–Archbishop Elpidophoros Issues Statement on George Floyd - Life Center Madison
– Statement on Racial Injustice, Adam Clausen, Senior Leader - National Council of Churches
–Statement of the National Council of Churches on Protests Across the Country - Presbyterian Church (USA)
– Stated Clerk remembers recent victims of racial violence - Roman Catholic
– Statement of the Catholic Bishops of Wisconsin on Unjust Killings and Recent Protests
– Statement of the President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops - United Church of Christ, Wisconsin Conference
– Statement by Conference Minister, Franz Rigert
– Reflection – June 1 - United Methodist Church, Wisconsin Conference
– Lamentation and Bitter Weeping, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
– Time for Revolutionary Change, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung
We will continue to update statements as they are issued by member denominations. If you see one we are missing, please let us know at wcoc@wichurches.org
