UMJC Declares Solidarity with Black Churches

On July 2, 2015, the UMJC Executive Committee released the following statement:

As Jewish followers of Jesus, or Yeshua, the Messiah, we express our concern and solidarity toward the African-American Christian community during these recent difficult times. In the aftermath of the unthinkable loss of nine members of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston on June 17, six black churches have been destroyed by fire in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida.

These fires may have different sources, but the loss of a spiritual home remains traumatic, and is only intensified by the recent and still-raw loss of life at Emanuel. Moreover, if even one of these six churches was destroyed out of hatred, that is a blow to our entire community and an outrage against the values of human dignity and respect that should guide us all.

We express our solidarity in the spirit of the historic relationship between the Jewish and African-American communities that flourished in the Civil Rights era and must be renewed in each generation. In addition, as members of the body of Messiah, we are proud to stand with our African-American brothers and sisters in prayer and concern, and are prepared to act upon this solidarity as appropriate. The courage, vision, and grace in Messiah Yeshua with which they have met these challenges are a compelling testimony to the reality of their faith and the power of God’s love.

“And you became imitators of . . . the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:6).