“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:37-39 (NRSV)
Perhaps no two verses in the Bible are more powerful than Christ’s two mandates. And for centuries Christians have cherished and tried to abide by those commandments.
Working in the spirit of Christ’s commandments is Bishop Greg Brewer, who recently directed the Rev. Canon Dr. Justin Holcomb and Rev. Christopher Brathwaite to organize a clergy day to speak out against and fight racism in ourselves, others, and society. Holcomb and Brathwaite responded by creating an Anti-Racism-themed Clergy Day to be held at the Canterbury Retreat & Conference Center in Oviedo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 22.
The one-day event is only for clergy in the Diocese of Central Florida and is mandatory for all parochial clergy (rectors, vicars, and priests-in-charge), however, Brewer is hoping that all clergy from the diocese will attend.
“I would like to see a good turnout of open-minded clergy in attendance,” said Brathwaite, the interim rector at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lake Mary, “and the start of a great ongoing conversation.”
Brathwaite, who came to Florida from the U.S. Virgin Islands a decade ago, said there is a real need for anti-racism discussion in today’s societal climate.
“If we listen to the uncharitable chatter in the racial climate as it pertains to people from different ethnic groups, I believe the Church needs to move from its passive role about racial healing to a more dynamic, if not, more aggressive stance on racial awareness,” he said.
Helping participants to understand that better will be speaker Dr. Catherine Meeks, who will lead a clergy day entitled, “Finding the Face of God in Everyone: Dismantling Inner and Outer Oppressors Who Hinder the Creation of Beloved Community.” Currently serving in the Diocese of Atlanta, Meeks is the retired Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Socio-Cultural Studies from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. She also is a writer and community activist.
“I have long held the view that someone who has studied what we mean by the words ‘Becoming Beloved Community’ can be a third-party influence for our clergy who may not think of racial healing or ‘Becoming Beloved Community’ as the priority it should hold in our ministry,” Brathwaite said. “Dr. Catherine Meeks is one person who can draw our attention and focus to that realization.”
Clergy need only to pay for their lunch ($25) at the clergy day. Those who find the lunch fee a challenge should contact Brewer for assistance. Clergy who cannot attend because of schedule conflicts or other reasons are asked to notify Brewer in advance.
“I would like to see our fellow clergy participating and responding to the racial situation by seeking better understanding of what it means to be others,” Brathwaite said.
Register and purchase lunch online at: https://clear-give.com/egive3/index.cfm?page=eventDetail&ID=322001051&eventSessionID=12948&LocID=322001&refresh=true or by calling Canterbury Guest Services at 407-365-5571.