Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Bill Lyons marched and spoke against anti-Semitism Sunday night in Tucson with Rev. Susan Valiquette and Rev. Drew Terry. His remarks are below.
The Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ unites to condemn the anti-Semitic hate crimes committed against Congregation Chaverim and Chabad on River. These heinous acts, like the ones that came before them, were motivated by bigotry and racism fueled by hate. We call on all Christians, all people of faith, all people of conscience to speak and act in ways that make clear: hateful, bigoted, and racist actions are not welcome and have no place in our community.
As a representative of the Church, I cannot call out the anti-Semitic terrorizing behavior of other people without being honest about Christian history. The Church for millennia—in teachings and actions both explicit AND implicit—has perpetuated White supremacy and has incited anti-Semitic bias and violence, when in truth, White supremacy and antisemitism are incompatible with the teachings of Jesus. My Jewish neighbors, I am sorry for those sins. They cause you and your community unspeakable pain and suffering. It is not enough to march and stand in solidarity with you tonight. I commit the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ to taking abundant, intentional care in dismantling anti-Semitic bias and misguided understandings of scripture, to having difficult conversations, and to building relationships with you, our neighbors, so that our shared community can become a safe place to live and work and worship for you and your children and your children’s children.
While the authorities are investigating whether these violent actions are connected as to their perpetrators, everyone here sees the pattern in them. We pray for and support our local leaders and members of law enforcement in their work to hold accountable the criminals who vandalized your houses of prayer and study and violently disrespected your spirits and humanity.
Scripture teaches me that when one part of the body of God’s people suffers, the whole body of God’s people suffers with it.1 Targeting one community of faith is violence against every communities of faith. Rabbi Aaron, Rabbi Ceitlin, Rabbi Bigelman, members of Chabad on River and Congregation Chavarim, we see you. We are here for you. We hurt for you and with you. We share your fear. You are not alone.
Scripture also teaches me that I can live my best possible life only when you, my neighbors, are living your best possible lives. Therefor God invites us to love our neighbors as ourselves. The peace, safety, and unity in which we all want to live will come to our community only when all of us together refuse to live anything less. May God’s healing, God’s justice, God’s peace, and God’s unconditional love prevail and be with each of you.
