As your bishop, called to guard the faith, order, and witness of the Church, I offer this word to the North Carolina Conference and to all who look to The United Methodist Church for moral clarity and spiritual courage in troubled times.
When the cries of our neighbors grow louder and the wounds of our communities deepen, the witness of the Church is imperative. We are a people shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ, guided by Scripture, accountable to our Social Principles, and bound together in a connection that refuses to look away when any of God’s children suffer.
I commend the following message from Bishop Tracy S. Malone, President, The United Methodist Church Council of Bishops. It is a statement birthed from prayer, pastoral concern, and our shared theological commitments. It reflects our Wesleyan conviction that personal holiness and social holiness are inseparable, and that love of God is always expressed through love of neighbor — especially the neighbor who is afraid, displaced, harmed, or pushed to the margins. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, may it stir our compassion, steady our courage, and guide our faithful action to Love Boldly, Serve Joyfully, and Lead Courageously.
Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton