St. John’s is a community that has aspired to be a place of sanctuary and service for more than 205 years. While we have not always lived up to the ideals that we profess, we know that it is right that we are periodically called to return to our principles and asked to recommit to our shared covenant of faith.

And so, in light of the horrific deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many others at the hands of the state, we ask ourselves and our congregation to renew our pledge to fight for racial justice.

We challenge ourselves and our congregation to confront and dismantle the cultural, political, and economic systems that enable oppression.

We challenge ourselves and our congregation to look within to identify and root out our own prejudices.

We challenge ourselves and our congregation to examine our ways of being and doing to identify all ways, big and small, that make our spiritual home less welcoming to the black community.

We challenge ourselves and our congregation to strengthen our partnerships with black community organizations and offer to them generously of our time and resources.

We challenge ourselves and our congregation to champion the inherent worth and dignity of every person and ensure justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.

We challenge ourselves and our congregation to search our hearts and commit anew to creating a world in which black lives matter.

Yours in Faith;

Matthew Cowperthwait, President

Edie Holder, Vice-President

David Roth, Immediate Past President

Monica Pellman, Secretary

Linda Heath, Finance Director

Melissa Rowland, Program Director

Lorrie Hayes, Member at Large

Rev. Mitra Jafarzadeh, Minister

June 04, 2020