From Your Associate Executive for Racial Justice

1. The right to be loved, without having to earn it.

2. The right to be protected, without having to deserve it.

3. The right to feel valuable, even if you came into the world with nothing.

4. The right to be listened to without having to be interesting.

5. The right to be read a bedtime story without having to compete with the evening

news or EastEnders.

6. The right to an education without having to dodge bullets at schools.

7. The right to be thought of as adorable (even if you have a face only a mother

could love.)

Children’s Universal Bill of Rights, Michael Jackson, 2001

In 2001, Michael Jackson addressed the Oxford Union in England to advocate for the basic needs every child should be afforded. It was also a time in which a campaign clouded his career due to allegations of child abuse. Regardless of what you may believe about Michael Jackson’s character, he showed in word and deed his love,

compassion, and respect for children. Michael Jackson was publicly vilified while Jeffrey Epstein was given the benefit of the doubt, even posthumously. Even the president of this country gets equated with Christ himself, despite the disputable evidence of his involvement and active participation in child and women abuse. There is a clear message that is rooted in systemic racism: money and wealth grant you access to a

point, whiteness guarantees you second and third chances, the benefit of the doubt, and endless opportunities for vindication, rebranding, repositioning, regrouping, and reimagining.

In 2012, a new adaptation of Victor Hugo’s famous “Les Misérables” depicts a scene in which the character Jean Valjean, played by actor Hugh Jackman, receives grace, compassion, and mercy from a priest after he has just stolen from him. The crime of Jean Valjean from the beginning of the movie was “I just stole a loaf of bread” (Jean Valjean, “Les Misérables,” 2012). The movie directs the audience to develop compassion for this character. It confronts the audience with an ethical conundrum: follow the letter of the law even when that law is oppressive and not seeking order, or cheer for a human being who is on a journey to be humanized and be free.

Kohen Kartier spent only a year Earth-side due to the insensitivity, apathy, and complete disregard for his life and the lives his skin color represents. Shot to death by law enforcement while in the presence of his parents. Kohen’s mother was allegedly accused of stealing diapers from a multibillion-dollar corporation, only to discover that there was a receipt. The allegations of stealing and the lack of even a search for a receipt were used as justification for murder. Even if the receipt wasn’t found. Where was the proof and due diligence before the verdict and execution were effected? If indeed she needed diapers and basic supplies, where are we, the church, and what are we doing as the body of Christ to care and meet the needs of others? Where is our Christ-like compassion towards those in need, towards our neighbor, towards other members of the body of Christ? Did we stop to ask if this family has been affected by the millions of dollars removed from SNAP and other benefits and funds diverted to fund a millionaire?

Each Fourth of July, we expect the fireworks, the BBQs, the different BBQ sauces, the potato salad contests, the discussions of sweet potato pie over pumpkin pie, vegan and vegetarian options for loved ones or strangers entering our sacred spaces. Churches will gather and feel good about a country that was founded under God, a Christian nation. As this country celebrates 250 years of existence as a nation and empire, not every citizen finds themselves in a position to celebrate. Our celebration of pride, valor, and resiliency is also a daily reminder of oppression, pain, violence, and systemic dehumanization.

The world is not chaotic now; we have systematically become more sophisticated at creating, relishing, enjoying, and rewarding chaos. We have progressively become anesthetized and desensitized to the horror stories we hear. I can understand to an extent the need to go numb. As a society and as the Church, we must find our way back to compassion. Many of our churches have several posters sending messages of love, welcome, hospitality, and inclusion. I have learned that words meant to communicate affection, care, and safety do not automatically mean care, affection, respect, kindness, compassion, courage, and mercy. These words have morphed into cheap transactional interactions and dynamics we are required to engage in to keep a shred of our collective human experience.

Children, minors, and women who are victims of any kind of abuse suffer it at the hands of people who convincingly utter words like “I love you,” “I care about you,” “you are my friend,” “you can count on me,” and “God loves you.” These “words of care” leave the longest and deepest scars, wounds, and long-lasting effects in the human body. They remain invisible. Our silence cultivates the perfect environment for the viruses of dehumanization to flourish. Matthew 19:13-15 says: “13 Then children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.”

Siblings in Christ. Church, God has shown us the blueprint to restore and repair our human relationships and our relationships to God’s creation. During this month of July, I invite us to reflect, to ask God to show us clear and concrete ways to be the hands and feet of Christ truly in this world. Yes, we live in a world that relishes sophisticated chaos and uses the bible to justify its oppressive structures. Yet, God still calls us, women, men, gender non-conforming, children, infants, youth, young adults, everyone to the work of acknowledging harm, repairing relationships, and restoring humanity.

May the children’s bill of rights advocated by Michael Jackson, the embodied testimony of the priest in Les Misérables, the lost life of the innocent baby Kohen, and the words of Jesus Christ, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs” animate and propel us to seek the wellbeing of God’s entire creation. With God’s help…

Let us pray:

Pry Me Off Dead Center – from Guerillas of Grace: Prayers for the Battle by Ted Loder

pp. 102-103

God we are weary. God we are still. Hear our prayers. Grant us courage. Help us

embrace grace and embody compassion. May you be the source of all our celebrations.

May your love consume us to do likewise to your entire creation. In Jesus name, Amen.

Summer blessings! 

Ruth-Aimée (Root-Eh-méh)

Ruth-Aimée Belonni-Rosario

Associate Executive for Racial Justice

248-752-3697 (cell)

ruthaimee@synodofthecovenant.org