By Rev. Shalom Agrarap
“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” — Flannery O’Connor
A Black clergy person shared a video with me following this weekend’s historic and horrific events in Minneapolis and this was the challenge to a white audience:
“Some of y’all are not activated, you’re just scared. That fear made you loud in a way justice never could. So yes, come fight, because we need y’all, but don’t come like you just discovered fire, don’t come leading movements that you ignored until the cost was personal.” (Hope Giselle-Godsey)
Last week, our bishop preached on Rev. Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” at the University of Puget Sound. He used the opportunity to remind us (clergy, church folks, and students of no faith) that this letter calling for solidarity was not written to enemies. It was written to colleagues. Two of whom were Methodist bishops. Bishop Cedrick recalled to mind that Rev. Dr. King “was not offering historical commentary, but an ethical confrontation.” Rev. Dr. King tried to make the cost personal for them.
We were reminded that the future does not belong to the polite, but to the brave. It does not belong to those who wait, but those who act.
“The future does not belong to institutions that manage injustice, it belongs to communities that confront it. So when justice disrupts order, and when truth disturbs comfort, will we be the ones telling it to wait? Or will we finally be the ones who answer the Letter with our own voices, our own [white, Black, and Brown] bodies, our own resources gathered, with those fighting not only for their own survival, but for those who are always and already set aside and forgotten?” (Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, 1/22/26)
There is fear in our streets. There is discomfort in our bodies. There is sorrow in our hearts. Names like Philando Castile and Keith Porter may be less familiar than Renee Good and Alex Pretti but that is an opportunity to pause and hold the complicity of our silence over the generations. Will we fight alongside “those who are always and already set aside and forgotten?” Revelation 3:20 says, “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me.” We pray this knock of Christ at the margins is an opportunity for metanoia in our homes, our churches, and our neighborhoods.
Rev. Shalom Agtarap serves on the superintendency team for the SeaTac District in The Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church. She is also pastor of First United Methodist Church in Tacoma, Washington.
What Can You Do?
Here are a few suggestions of actions you can take or organizations to support for justice and immigration rights.
Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network
- The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) began in 2016 as a rapid response effort in the face of growing threats to immigrant families across the state. Today, WAISN is home to the only statewide hotline dedicated to serving all Washingtonians regardless of immigration status.
- ACTION: Download and save the Deportation Defense Hotline Flyer – Available in English and Spanish on the WAISN website.
- Learn more at https://waisn.org/
5 Calls app
- 5 Calls makes it easy to contact your elected officials to make a political impact.
- ACTION: Through the app select an issue that is important to you and follow the prompts to connect to your elected officials. The app also provides scripts to use as speaking points.
- Learn more at https://5calls.org/
Faith Action Network
- Faith Action Network (FAN) is a statewide, multifaith partnership striving for just, compassionate, and sustainable communities through courageous advocacy and public action.
- ACTION: They often provide trainings. Sign up for their updates so that you can find out when the next training will be.
- Learn more at https://fanwa.org/
