Staff Takes Stand Against Racism
Steve Timmermans, executive director (second from right), stands against racism with other CRC staff members.
Josh Leo, Christian Reformed World Missions
Several staff members from the CRC’s office in Grand Rapids, Mich. participated in a chapel service this week in which they took a stand against racism.
As part of the service, people prayed, sang, listened to Scripture and recited the words to “Lament for America,” a litany about racial equality by Shamshadeen Mayers, youth pastor at Madison Ave. CRC in Paterson, N.J.
To start, they read: “Lord, how long shall we have to endure the ugly sins of racism? How many more years will we live in this deeply divided land?”
They also read: “Call us to repent: for not loving our brothers and sisters, who we can see, but claiming to love you, Lord, who we can’t see. Let us weep and wail before your holy altar! Then and only then can we worship you in Spirit and in truth.”
Joining with hundreds of other people across the country this week, CRC staff members were on hand to highlight the YWCA-USA Stand Against Racism Campaign.
Stand Against Racism is a signature campaign of YWCA USA and has the aim “to build community among those who work for racial justice and to raise awareness about the negative impact of institutional and structural racism in our communities,” says the campaign's website.
In 2015, over 750 locations hosted Stand Against Racism events across 44 states. Besides the chapel service at the CRC office, Calvin College also set aside time for events.
During the chapel service, Rev. Esteban Lugo, director of the CRC Ofiice of Race Relations, offered a few words of prayer.
“Lord, too often we don’t love our neighbors as Christ loved us,” he said. “We often go the first mile, but not the second. We forgive, but we dare not forget.
“We are confronted by the fact that we are in eternal revolt against God. Give us the courage to do thy will, to love as you loved.”
The CRC has participated for several years in Stand Against Racism events, said Lugo after the service.
“We as a denomination are committed to this,” he said. “Sometimes we do specific actions or events as publics displays of taking a Stand Against Racism. Today, we held the chapel service.”
Following the service, participants had a chance to sign a paper saying they took a stand against racism.
