The Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns expresses deep concern and holy outrage at the verdict given in the aftermath of the killing of Michael Brown. We lament that justice was denied for Michael Brown, his family, and the citizens of the U.S., especially people of color. A justice system that fails to indict a white officer standing trial for killing an unarmed 18-year-old black youth perpetuates the sin of racism in a society that fails to affirm that black lives matter.
We pray for courage for the church, that we might not only confess our complicity in a system that makes such a verdict possible, but that we might be a prophetic witness through a loud and clear voice to the world of the just love and peace of Jesus Christ.
We pray for the family and friends of Michael Brown, who suffer not only the failure of our justice system, but also the loss of their beloved.
We pray for all victims of systemic racial injustice, recognizing God’s mandate to us to raise our voices and to work against such injustice.
And also, we pray for a world where God’s peace and love reign and for the grace, wisdom and strength from God to do the work of making it so.
