Day 10 – Rev. B. De Neice Welch

Rev. B. De Neice Welch, Ph.D., Senior Pastor, Bidwell Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA; Chaplain, Western Psychiatric Hospital; Former Chair, Gamaliel Women’s Leadership Development Program, Ntosake

 

The Wellspring of Justice

The expectation of injustice is so normal that we find it difficult to hope for anything different.  The greatest lesson on justice I have ever received came from the janitor at a local Islamic Center.  While waiting for a meeting, the gentleman taught me that justice is not a destination, but an environment; an atmosphere; an expectation.  Justice is not the righting of one committed wrong, but the anticipation of the beloved community that wrong will be made right; that love will replace fear, and the wellspring of justice waters our faith always.  

 

Questions for Reflection

Can justice be more than a transactional individual correction of an individual wrong?  

How can justice be a driving force in our faith?

 

Sacred Texts 

Isaiah 61:8-9 – The entire chapter of Isaiah 61 is a vision of a just community; but the focus is on verses 8-9:

“For I, the Lord, love justice;
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
    and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants will be known among the nations
    and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
    that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

The Common Prayer on Our Journey

Source of all being, Sacred mystery, you are the wellspring of justice. Weaver of the warp and weft of history, weave our lives into the fabric of your will. Guide us towards the Beloved Community. Forgive us when we have failed to give shape to the Beloved Community in our communities and in our lives.

All around us the ugly onslaughts of white nationalism, hate crimes, and systemic racism devastate your people, divide us, and threaten our democracy. All around us the wicked strut, and in high places are those who encourage the basest of attitudes and actions. Grant us wisdom and courage to confront these evils with the power of love and truth. Free us from timidity and equivocation. Help us to be bold in thought and action. May our lives and our faith communities model the change we hope to see in the world.

As we approach the November elections, keep us mindful that the right to vote is a sacred trust won by beatings, by imprisonments, by blood, by the relentless struggles of many who came before us. Help us to honor that legacy. May we vote our conscience and encourage others to do the same.

Heal our nation. Heal our hearts. Heal our nation. Amen.

Gamaliel National Religious Leaders’ Caucus invites you to 40 Days of Reflection on Our Journey to the Polls

Few national elections have had similar consequences as the November Election in 2020. Our nation stands in crisis and at a significant crossroad. The Gamaliel Network, an interfaith coalition of persons of faith who stand and act together for justice and equality, pledges to undergird the 40 days leading up to the election with prayer and reflection.

We urge you to use the Common Prayer below every day. On each day, we have asked a faith leader, from different traditions, to offer a reflection on the Common Prayer at this Moment of American Crossroads. We urge you to begin this prayer preparation with a day of fasting on Sept. 24,(or a similar expression of spiritual preparation), and then to engage in prayer at a time of your choosing each day, to prepare yourself, your friends and neighbors, and our nation, for this election.

The Gamaliel Religious Leaders Table has written a “Theological Statement on Hate Crimes and White Nationalism.” a faith statement on “White Nationalism.” The link to this statement is: https://gamaliel.org/our-work/religious-leaders-caucus/gnrlc-a-faithful-response-to-hate-crimes-and-white-nationalism/
Each reflection will include the leader’s personal reflection, questions for contemplation, and a suggested scriptural text from their tradition.

The Gamaliel National Religious Leaders’ Steering Committee

40 Days of Prayer and Reflection Ends with Time of Post-Election Prayer, Processing – and Planning

November 6, 2020 | Comments Off on 40 Days of Prayer and Reflection Ends with Time of Post-Election Prayer, Processing – and Planning

Election Day – Rev. Dr. John C. Welch

November 3, 2020 | Comments Off on Election Day – Rev. Dr. John C. Welch

Day 40 – Rabbi Doug Alpert

November 2, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 40 – Rabbi Doug Alpert

Day 39 – David Liners

November 1, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 39 – David Liners

Day 38 – Rev. Marian Boyle-Rohloff

October 31, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 38 – Rev. Marian Boyle-Rohloff

Day 37 – Rev. H. J. Coleman, Jr.

October 30, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 37 – Rev. H. J. Coleman, Jr.

Day 36 – Rev. Cynthia Owen Jarrold

October 29, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 36 – Rev. Cynthia Owen Jarrold

Day 35 – Rev. David Bigsby

October 28, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 35 – Rev. David Bigsby

Day 34 – Sr. Carol Johannes

October 27, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 34 – Sr. Carol Johannes

Day 33 – Rev. David Carl Olson

October 26, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 33 – Rev. David Carl Olson

Day 32 – Dr. Stephen D. Jones

October 25, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 32 – Dr. Stephen D. Jones

Day 31 – Rev. Dr. Ray Pickett

October 24, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 31 – Rev. Dr. Ray Pickett

Day 30 – Reirin Gumbel

October 23, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 30 – Reirin Gumbel

Day 29 – Rev. Charles Baugh

October 22, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 29 – Rev. Charles Baugh

Day 28 – Janan Najeeb

October 21, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 28 – Janan Najeeb

Day 27 – Anahkwet (Guy Reiter)

October 20, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 27 – Anahkwet (Guy Reiter)

Day 26 – Ben Ramirez

October 19, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 26 – Ben Ramirez

Day 25 – Rev. Tex Sample

October 18, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 25 – Rev. Tex Sample

Day 24 – Rev. Dr. Heather Entrekin

October 17, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 24 – Rev. Dr. Heather Entrekin

Day 23 – Rev. Cherisna Jean-Marie

October 16, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 23 – Rev. Cherisna Jean-Marie

Day 22 – Imam Christopher Caras

October 15, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 22 – Imam Christopher Caras

Day 21 – Associate Elder Dorla Coleman Bonner

October 14, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 21 – Associate Elder Dorla Coleman Bonner

Day 20 – Rev. David Gerth

October 13, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 20 – Rev. David Gerth

Day 19 – Sister Cheryl Liske

October 12, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 19 – Sister Cheryl Liske

Day 18 – Rev. Canon Peg Chemberlin

October 11, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 18 – Rev. Canon Peg Chemberlin

Day 16 – Bishop J. Drew Sheard

October 9, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 16 – Bishop J. Drew Sheard

Day 15 – Mary Gonzales

October 8, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 15 – Mary Gonzales

Day 14 – Pardeep Kaleka

October 7, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 14 – Pardeep Kaleka

Day 13 – Rev. Charles H. Coleman, Sr.

October 6, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 13 – Rev. Charles H. Coleman, Sr.

Day 12 – Pastor Mary Martha Kannass

October 5, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 12 – Pastor Mary Martha Kannass

Day 11 – Fr. Frederick Thelen

October 4, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 11 – Fr. Frederick Thelen

Day 10 – Rev. B. De Neice Welch

October 3, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 10 – Rev. B. De Neice Welch

Day 9 – Rev. Dennis Jacobsen

October 2, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 9 – Rev. Dennis Jacobsen

Day 8 – Sr. Anneliese Sinnott

October 1, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 8 – Sr. Anneliese Sinnott

Day 7 – Rev. Dr. Vincent Kolb

September 30, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 7 – Rev. Dr. Vincent Kolb

Day 6 – Dr. Stacy L. Spencer

September 29, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 6 – Dr. Stacy L. Spencer

Day 5 – Rev. Marilyn Miller

September 28, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 5 – Rev. Marilyn Miller

Day 4 – Fr. Rudolph (Rudy) Juarez

September 27, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 4 – Fr. Rudolph (Rudy) Juarez

Day 3 – Rev. Susan Engh

September 26, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 3 – Rev. Susan Engh

Day 2 – Rabbi David B. Cohen

September 25, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 2 – Rabbi David B. Cohen