On Good Friday, April 7, 2023, the United Methodist Strengthening the Black Church in the 21st Century (SBC21) and the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) issued a joint statement condemning the actions of the Tennesee House of Representatives. Members of the Tennessee House voted on Thursday, April 6, to expel two elected lawmakers following their participation in a protest against gun violence after the recent shooting at Covenant School in Nashville
From the statement: “Democracy has been distorted to remove Reps. Jones and Pearson who are dedicated to truth-telling, justice-oriented practices, empowering the voice of the people, and creating grassroots movements for transformation…The fact that our Black leaders are deemed disruptive while Rep. Gloria Johnson–a white leader–is not highlights how racism is at work in the Tennessee legislature and how our judicial and legislative systems are built on white supremacy.”
In the North Carolina Conference, the SBC21 Committee and the Board of Church and Society join with GCORR and United Methodist SBC21 and fully endorse this statement. We ask that you join us in continuing to denounce and work against the sin of racism in our communities, our country, and our world.