March 22, 2021

To the Presbytery of Baltimore:

We, the Dismantling Racism Team of the Baltimore Presbytery, are grieving the shootings last week in Atlanta, Georgia that killed eight innocent people, including six Asian women. We condemn these acts of violence and the increasing anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) racism in the United States. We cannot remain silent and complicit over the verbal harassment, physical assault, shunning, shaming, threats, and other forms of violence that are fueled by white supremacy.

We stand in solidarity against anti-AAPI racism. We are committed to speak out and fight against racism and hatred that target different racial and ethnic groups. We acknowledge the intersectionality of race/ethnicity, gender, and class, that we witness in the Atlanta killing and other violent acts targeting Asian women (see Stop AAPI Hate).

As people of faith, we are reminded by 1 John 3:15-16 (NSRV): “All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. We know love by this, that [Jesus] laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.”

Our identity in Christ demands that we offer a prophetic voice and bear witness to social and racial injustice. Our team has been charged with providing resources and anti-racist professional development opportunities for our presbytery’s staff, cabinet, pastors, and other leaders. We would love to hear your suggestions on how we can better support and serve our Asian American and Pacific Islander brothers and sisters. Contact Susan Krehbiel (Presbytery staff), or Guy Moody (DRT chair).

Yours in Christ,

The Dismantling Racism Team