2 Jun 2020, 10:10SEC President, Pastor Emmanuel OseiSEC Headquarters
Statement by SEC President on justice and racial equality
In the early hours of Friday, 13th March 2020, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old African American emergency medical technician, was fatally shot by police officers. According to a subsequent lawsuit, they stormed her home while she slept, searching for a suspect who was already in custody. Similarly, Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed 25-year-old African American, was gunned down by a white father-son duo while jogging in his neighbourhood on Sunday, 23rd February.
It wasn’t until 5th May, nearly three months later, that leaked video footage of the events leading to his untimely death prompted the charging of three men with his murder. On Monday, 25th May, the world witnessed the asphyxiation of George Floyd, a wrongly accused African American man. The graphic video of his final eight minutes and 46 seconds beneath the knee of a white police officer was widely shared, showing his pleas for mercy and cries for his deceased mother, all of which were ignored.
Tragically, these are not isolated incidents. The global pandemic of racism continues to wreak havoc in the lives of those of African origin. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the United States, grieving with them. We denounce the marginalisation, mistreatment, discrimination, and acts of violence inflicted upon individuals because of the colour of their skin.
While we do not condone the subsequent rioting and looting seen across America, we acknowledge the anger, hurt, excruciating pain, and feelings of helplessness experienced by these often unheard communities. On behalf of the South England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, I offer my sincere condolences to the family of George Floyd.
Peaceful protests have also taken place in the United Kingdom, standing in solidarity and addressing the racism and inequality present in our own nation. Since 1990, over 1,500 deaths have occurred in police custody, with more than 500 of those victims being from Black or ethnic minority backgrounds, despite such groups making up only 14% of the population.
Names such as Sarah Reed, Mark Duggan, Sheku Bayoh, Christopher Alder, Jimmy Mubenga, and Cynthia Jarrett serve as reminders of the injustice still present. As a church, we must be a voice for positive change, social justice, and reformation. It is time to break the silence. We must focus more on impacting our communities than on simply maintaining appearances as good Seventh-day Adventists.
How can we expect to make disciples and build communities if, in moments of need, we hide behind walls of silence and political correctness? Friends, let us commit to following Jesus’s example by calling out injustice, speaking up for the marginalised, and demonstrating Christ’s love to those whom society has overlooked.
We pray that God will heal our divisions and teach us to be more like Him. Will you join me as we pray together?
O God, our Father in heaven, forgive our foolish ways. Forgive us, O God, for the times we were silent when we should have spoken. We pray especially for the family of George Floyd as they mourn the loss of this gentle giant.
We remember all those affected by his death and the systemic racism visible even on our shores. Lord, we pray for Your intervention. As a church, where we have the ability to speak and act, please grant us the boldness and courage to do what is right.
We also pray for our church, recognising that we are not free from racism and prejudice. These are the results of sin, and we ask, O God, that You cleanse us from our sins, reform us, and make us more like Jesus.
Heavenly Father, we look forward to a time when justice and peace shall reign on this earth. Please bless us as we humbly pray, in Jesus’s name. Amen.
In the early hours of Friday, 13th March 2020, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old African American emergency medical technician, was fatally shot by police officers. According to a subsequent lawsuit, they stormed her home while she slept, searching for a suspect who was already in custody. Similarly, Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed 25-year-old African American, was gunned down by a white father-son duo while jogging in his neighbourhood on Sunday, 23rd February.
It wasn’t until 5th May, nearly three months later, that leaked video footage of the events leading to his untimely death prompted the charging of three men with his murder. On Monday, 25th May, the world witnessed the asphyxiation of George Floyd, a wrongly accused African American man. The graphic video of his final eight minutes and 46 seconds beneath the knee of a white police officer was widely shared, showing his pleas for mercy and cries for his deceased mother, all of which were ignored.
Tragically, these are not isolated incidents. The global pandemic of racism continues to wreak havoc in the lives of those of African origin. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the United States, grieving with them. We denounce the marginalisation, mistreatment, discrimination, and acts of violence inflicted upon individuals because of the colour of their skin.
While we do not condone the subsequent rioting and looting seen across America, we acknowledge the anger, hurt, excruciating pain, and feelings of helplessness experienced by these often unheard communities. On behalf of the South England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, I offer my sincere condolences to the family of George Floyd.
Peaceful protests have also taken place in the United Kingdom, standing in solidarity and addressing the racism and inequality present in our own nation. Since 1990, over 1,500 deaths have occurred in police custody, with more than 500 of those victims being from Black or ethnic minority backgrounds, despite such groups making up only 14% of the population.
Names such as Sarah Reed, Mark Duggan, Sheku Bayoh, Christopher Alder, Jimmy Mubenga, and Cynthia Jarrett serve as reminders of the injustice still present. As a church, we must be a voice for positive change, social justice, and reformation. It is time to break the silence. We must focus more on impacting our communities than on simply maintaining appearances as good Seventh-day Adventists.
How can we expect to make disciples and build communities if, in moments of need, we hide behind walls of silence and political correctness? Friends, let us commit to following Jesus’s example by calling out injustice, speaking up for the marginalised, and demonstrating Christ’s love to those whom society has overlooked.
We pray that God will heal our divisions and teach us to be more like Him. Will you join me as we pray together?
O God, our Father in heaven, forgive our foolish ways. Forgive us, O God, for the times we were silent when we should have spoken. We pray especially for the family of George Floyd as they mourn the loss of this gentle giant.
We remember all those affected by his death and the systemic racism visible even on our shores. Lord, we pray for Your intervention. As a church, where we have the ability to speak and act, please grant us the boldness and courage to do what is right.
We also pray for our church, recognising that we are not free from racism and prejudice. These are the results of sin, and we ask, O God, that You cleanse us from our sins, reform us, and make us more like Jesus.
Heavenly Father, we look forward to a time when justice and peace shall reign on this earth. Please bless us as we humbly pray, in Jesus’s name. Amen.