Valpo Churches Stand Together Against Racism

Sunday, May 23, folks from more than a dozen area churches and faith communities gathered to stand against racism.

“We affirm that racism is sin. As communities of faith we stand together against it.”

When the group of clergy and church members gathered at the Porter County Courthouse Square on Sunday afternoon, May 23, they signed their names to a banner bearing that commitment.

The banners … yes, they ran out of room on the first banner … are now on tour around a series of churches in the Valparaiso area.

As Pastor John Albers (Faith Memorial Lutheran) stood before the gathering of several hundred, he reminded the group, “We’re securing our names to a promise — a promise that we’ll stand together. We’re making it clear today in the faith community that we stand against the sin of racism.”

While recent racially-charged incidents in Valparaiso include only a very few people in the community, the clergy wanted to make it clear where they stood and that they stood together on this particular issue.

On Sunday afternoon, May 23, the group of clergy and churches participating grew in number and diversity. The banners will now tour 15 different churches by the end of 2010.

At each stop members of the congregation and community will be invited to sign the banners. Smaller banners will be added as needed.

Ideas for another event in the fall will be discussed at meetings this summer.

TOUR SCHEDULE

• May 30/Jun 6 Faith Memorial Lutheran
  
• Jun 13-20 First Christian
  
• Jun 27/Jul 4 Trinity Lutheran
  
• Jul 11-18 Union Community
  
• Jul 25/Aug 1 Bethel All Nations
  
• Aug 8-15 Immanuel Lutheran
  
• Aug 22-29 St. Andrew’s Episcopal
  
• Sep 5-12 Liberty Bible
  
• Sep 19-26 Valparaiso Mennonite
  
• Oct 3-10 Grace New Testament
  
• Oct 17-24 Living Hope Community
  
• Oct 31/Nov 7 Christ Lutheran
  
• Nov 14-21 Valparaiso Methodist
  
• Nov 28/Dec 5 Faith Evangelical Bible
  
• Dec 12-19 St. Iakovos Greek Orthodox
  

Photos
1. The Rev. Dr. Gregory Jones, Pastor of Union Community Church, United Church of Christ, was one of the many organizers of the banner-signing event.
2. Porter County Sheriff, David Lain, affixes his signature to the banner.
3. Cub Scouts, Nick Ross and Lucas Pysh, assisted with the banner-signing.
4. Members of First Christian Church (Sue Dolezal, Sally Oestreich, and Ilene Chelf) wore red shirts (the liturgical color of the day in many churches) in celebration of Pentecost Day.