george floyd

A place of great danger

Describing the Israelites’ passage through the wilderness in Exodus and Numbers as a metaphor for challenges the church faces today, Dr. William P. Brownn took 160 people participating in the 2020 Vital Congregations Virtual Gathering on a journey into a place of great danger and extremes — a place where they can encounter God.

PC(USA) highlights the power of protest

As protests against racism continued in Oregon and other parts of the country, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Office of Public Witness held a webinar this week explaining the importance of challenging the status quo and making one’s voice heard through the ballot box.

PC(USA) and other faith groups call for UN human rights inquiry in US

Global Christian leaders, including the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to create a Commission of Inquiry into the death of George Floyd and systemic racism and police brutality in the U.S. and other parts of the world in a statement that did not mince words.

Poor People’s Campaign hails movement to meet this moment

Fourteen months ago, the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis was on a bus winding through Western Kentucky on the Poor People’s Campaign’s Real National Emergency bus tour and envisioning a major march of tens of thousands of people in June 2020.

Global partners express solidarity with US siblings

Presbyterians do mission in partnership and the mutual support has been strong as the U.S. fights pandemics on two fronts, COVID-19 and systemic racism. Below are excerpts of letters, messages, sermons and poems that have been sent to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) They contain messages of love, solidarity and prayer from partners around the world.

National Caucus of Korean Presbyterian Churches grieves with African American siblings

Sparked by the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and most recently Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, protesters around the world have taken to the streets calling for police reform following the deaths of blacks at the hands of police officers. And while there have been some immediate policy changes, including the passing of “Breonna’s Law” banning no-knock warrants in Louisville, Kentucky, Brooks’ death reminds us that the battle for justice and equality for black Americans is far from over.

‘A virtual choir of international peacemakers’

Beth Mueller got a note from a man who saw the virtual choir of international peacemakers video she created for the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and had a question. “He wanted to know how we got all those people from around the world to sing at the same time on Zoom,” Mueller said, laughing.

A poignant photograph illustrates dealing with deep grief

During the Vital Congregations lament worship service Wednesday, nearly 50 participants were asked if they were willing to weep if they saw a sibling in pain — or if they were just content to be a lens.