From the Rector…
I got a call from the mayor’s office last week while I was vacationing at the beach. At first, I let it go to voice mail, but then the mayor’s assistant called me from her personal phone, and I figured I better take the call. I have had the good fortune to be one of a small group of clergy who meet regularly with the mayor during his tenure. That has afforded me an opportunity to actively pray for the mayor and his initiatives as well as stay in touch with the city’s progress and challenges. I wasn’t sure why the mayor’s assistant was calling but I feel a responsibility to serve in whatever way I can when it comes to the city of Montgomery and if she felt it important enough to call, I wanted to respond.
As most of you know, there has been an uptick in violence in Montgomery—at least it feels that way. I don’t think Montgomery is alone, there seems to be a surge of gun violence across America. In reality, gun violence has been a significant challenge for some time, but when innocent bystanders become victims who are powerless in protecting themselves or even those they love, we become more aware of the realities and damage that gun violence can cause.
Steve and I have referred to the “Cloverdale Fireworks” for years—the all-to-regular gunshots we hear in the neighborhood (though we are pretty sure they are not being fired in our neighborhood)—that have been a part of the reality of living in Old Cloverdale since 2013. These gunshots don’t seem to be aimed at anyone in particular, but they alert us to a sense of unease experienced by our neighbors be they the ones firing the guns or hearing them. I don’t know if shooting guns in the air is more popular now than it was in the past, but there is certainly increased awareness as more and more people verbalize their frustrations.
When the mayor’s assistant called, I didn’t know the purpose, but it was no surprise to hear her talk about gun violence and the mayor’s desire to host a town hall meeting in which he might answer questions from the concerned citizens of Montgomery. What was surprising was when she asked me to moderate. I have no experience moderating a town hall meeting, much less any other event. I explained this to the mayor’s staff and suggested they might find someone better suited to the job. They assured me that I was the person they wanted in part because I am non-partisan and not particularly politically inclined and therefore seemed like a neutral party to the discussion. I hope that I am a presence of peace and reconciliation and that by being a part of this town hall, I can be part of the solution and serve Montgomery in some way that helps us lay less blame upon each other and stop pointing fingers so that we might get to the business of holding up one another and finding the path forward together.
The success of Montgomery is, in many ways, dependent upon the success of our mayor. The mayor alone cannot resolve violence in our city, neither can the police department—even if it were fully staffed—nor the City Council, the District Attorney, or the court system. This problem is deeper than a law enforcement matter. It is a systemic issue rooted in economic issues, education, racial disparity, social welfare, politics, and the list goes on and on. There is no simple fix but there is hope. That hope begins with each of us and our willingness to do more than complain. We will have to step out in courageous ways. Maybe it is moderating a town hall when you’ve never done such a thing and feel a little like Moses facing Pharoah or maybe it is as simple as praying for our community and sharing the good things about Montgomery instead of getting lost in negativity. Prepare your hearts and your heads to be the good news that Jesus calls us to speak to the world—when we do so, we will be prepared to answer the call to share that good news and be the presence of peace that leads us to a solution and the furtherance of the kingdom.
Light and Life,
Candice+
P.S. Please pray for me as I moderate this town hall this evening. Pray for my presence to be one of peace and reconciliation in the city. And feel free to click on the link below to sign up and attend the meeting or watch on-line on WSFA.