June 13, 2024

“There Is No Beauty But the Beauty of Action” Moroccan Proverb

Good people of the Central Atlantic Conference, thank you. Serving as Associate Conference Minister for Justice & Witness Ministries for the past nine years has been a challenge and joy. The experience is one I will never forget and I am thankful for how it has shaped my leadership and personhood. I am better for having the opportunity to serve and be in relationship with you, and I hope you share the same sentiments.

We have created beauty together. Beauty that I believe will last beyond our relationship. 

The beauty of our actions, to make the whole greater than the sum of the parts, is visionary, strategic, profound and powerful. This beauty has manifested itself in many forms. It can be seen in the ways we now honor, embrace and live out the principle of covenant. Being a united and uniting church beyond name but in our ministry and mission.

We have created beauty together. Do you see it?

The beauty of our actions, to address the isms that hold us back as the local church and prevent us from being the Beloved Community, is courageous, resilient, affirming and loving. This beauty has shined a light on what is possible and is calling us to no longer let fear, comfort, bad theology and privilege shape our future any more. God’s radical and reviving love through Jesus Christ is the answer and what we need to experience more and more.

We have created beauty together. They are more than dreams or words.

The beauty of our actions has built the foundations of your next chapter of ministry and mission together. This beauty is a justice movement continuing to be shaped by our love for God, our love for God’s people, and our passion to fight injustice. An active commitment to reimagining the local church and leveraging the church facilities for wider use beyond your own. This beauty is the stronger and deeper relationships amongst leaders from local church to local church. And an appreciation for why we live this faith and serve the church. It is this beauty, I believe, that can and will have a transformative impact in the lives of many across this region of our country. And can lead to a reshaping of the local church. 

We have created beauty together. No longer settling for the easy and convenient ways of being church. We have taken risks. We have stretched ourselves. We have taken necessary steps to move forward and face the present realities before us. I am thankful to have been a part of shaping this beauty with you and telling the story of God’s love in the world.

Although our relationship is changing, it will not end. I look forward to bumping into you from time to time. I am still living in the area. I am still an authorized UCC minister. And in some instances, we may actually create more beauty together in my new role as Director of Leadership Development & Organizing with the Children’s Defense Fund. 

God has called me once again to use my leadership and passion focused on building and organizing a new justice movement. This time I am working with a historic civil rights organization focused on building community so young people grow up with dignity, hope, and joy. I’ll be working with students, parents, and faith communities across the country. This work is not new to me since I have spent a significant portion of my ministry working at the national level and with diverse communities and peoples across the country. Still, I welcome your prayers as I begin this new journey. 

Thank you for your support and actions that created this beauty we made together. My prayer for you is that you will continue to create beauty not for your own benefit, but for the benefit of others. And that you create beauty together in the spirit of Christ and love.

See you soon. And always let justice,