Racial reconciliation rests at the doorsteps of the church and can only be achieved through the gospel in action. This concept was discussed by a diverse panel of Baptist pastors during a trailblazing moment June 14 on the opening morning of the 2016 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting in St. Louis, Missouri.
Outgoing SBC President Ronnie Floyd convened the panel at 10:52 a.m., historically including National Baptist Convention USA President Jerry Young. The two have collaborated for months to put talk into action and actually achieve racial reconciliation in a racially troubled America.
“Being together here at this significant moment in America where racial disunity is occurring and few are speaking into this discussion, it is our responsibility as the Church of Jesus Christ to resound the power of the gospel and the unconditional love of Christ for all people into this conversation,” Floyd said in introducing the nine-member panel including African-American, Hispanic, Anglo, American Indian and Asian pastors of varying ages.
“It is our responsibility to have this historic conversation today for our present and for our future,” Floyd said of the panel, titled “A National Conversation on Racism in America.”
(BP)
“Somebody needs to pass the Salt and turn on the Light. … The problem in America is … contaminated salt, concealed light, whereby we do not express the love of Christ nor extend His light.”
Jerry Young
president, National Baptist Convention USA
“Only the gospel can change hearts. Only the gospel can eliminate racism.”
Marshall Blalock
pastor, First Baptist Church, Charleston, South Carolina
“What was present (after the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri,) was an infection, a historical, a societal infection that was exposed by an incident. … The infection just didn’t stop at the doorstep of the culture, but that infection was also in the church and needed to be exposed.”
Kenny Petty
pastor, The Gate Church, St. Louis, Missouri
“You cannot educate away racism because you cannot educate away sin. Sin is the problem. Racism is just another sin.”
David Um
Chaplain, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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