Silence Is Not Golden

by Edith Guffey
Conference Minister

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to write about the recent events in our nation’s capital.  Over the last four years, I’ve pretty much said everything that I could possibly say, and even so, last Wednesday still happened. What difference does it make what I say? What difference does it make what any of us says? But that gets us in deep trouble, doesn’t it? Maybe you are a pastor or a lay leader who feels that you have tried hard to be engaged in the important issues of justice in your community. Maybe you have preached and led Bible studies, or book groups, or marched, protested, written letters, made calls, given money, voted, spoken up, and done all that you can. And then you watch what happened in DC and you are angry and filled with disgust and despair. I get it. I’m with you.

I too have tried hard to be considerate and conscious of the diversity of perspectives within the Conference. I have tried to make space for where anyone might be, and to send a message that I am willing to meet you wherever you are: because that is how we can move forward, together. I have tried to take risks by sharing some very personal stories, not to garner sympathy but because I thought that a personal connection might make the reality of racism more real for some. I have tried to keep my anger at a minimum, remaining hopeful, because anger is frightening to some. I didn’t  want to turn anyone off from joining what is one of the most important conversations of our time.   But now, I am tempted to say, I am done with all of that.

And yet, friends, we can’t give up because of what we saw on Wednesday. Even though I have just about had it and I have lost patience with all of this, I have not lost hope.  Now, losing patience may not be a bad thing. Because I am now prepared to say, unapologetically: do not tell me that Wednesday was a surprise. Do not tell me that this is not who we are. Look at our history: this is exactly who we are.

Do not tell me the church should not be engaged in the conversations about what happened at the Capitol on Wednesday. Do not tell me that that’s in Washington and has nothing to do with us here in Kansas or Oklahoma. For God’s sake,  DO NOT tell me that this is about big cities and have nothing to do with our small rural churches and small towns, because this is exactly who this is as about. Did you see who was at the Capitol? Those were, primarily, white people. White men, in fact. Primarily Trump supporters. And we know where these voters live.  They are here, among us, in our schools, on our police forces and Sheriff’s departments, in all segments of our communities, in our small towns and rural communities, as well as parts of our urban areas. And we MUST NOT become silent co-conspirators by acting as if what happened didn’t happen, or refusing to talk about it, or refusing to name the ugly underlying issues that are driving it.  

Let’s not fool ourselves. The unnamed, root issues of the mob that stormed the Capitol are fear and racism, and a desire to keep this country as some want it to be: a country where some have control; at the great expense of the many. Wednesday was about white people’s desperate attempt to hang on to power at all costs, even if it means destroying the country and our democracy. That’s what white supremacy does.

This quote is from the leader of a group in Kansas that took a busload of like-minded people to Washington for the event last Wednesday:

“We are all hardworking Americans, loyal to our country and patriotic,” Burdue told the passengers on the bus as they left Kansas. “Many, probably most, are Christians. And prayer warriors…. “It’s mind-blowing to me that they were allowed to come in without any restrictions whatsoever. And I believe that was a setup to get people in, to blame patriots for doing something wrong. I know there was violence. It’s very likely that Antifa or BLM or others were involved in that. That was not the heart of the people there. We just want our country back.” (Kansas Reflector)

Ask yourself, who do they want to take the country back from? Remember Charlottesville? Remember the policies that have driven this administration and their hateful rhetoric? I’ve got news for those folks: WE are Christians, too! WE are also prayer warriors! Remember the words of Jesus? Love your neighbor as yourself. Whatsoever you did for one of the least of these, my sisters and brothers, you did for me.

Remember who and whose you are. If you are an ally, a follower of Jesus, we need your voice, your heart, your action, now, more than ever. Especially now in Kansas and Oklahoma. Don’t become co-conspirators. Do not keep silent. This is a moment that demands your voice, and mine.

May we not choose silence anymore.