The Parish of Calvary-St. George’s in the City of New York is blessed with two historic churches just blocks from Union Square and a congregation whose rock and foundation is the Holy Gospel. We boldly confess that our only basis for righteousness before God is the unmerited love, mercy, and grace freely given in the person and work of Jesus Christ. However, this gift does not leave us complacent or indifferent to the events around us. On the contrary and in the words of our own Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Michael Curry, “Love does not look like the silence and complicity of too many of us, who wish more for tranquility than more justice.”
As the Rector and Wardens of the Parish of Calvary-St. George’s in the City of New York, we are consumed by the deep and overwhelming pain felt by members of our congregation, this community, and our nation. We recognize that no amount of #hashtags, social media posts, and parish letters can soothe the grief that many of you, especially our brothers and sisters of color, feel at this time. We are sickened by the brutal murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers and the never ending string of souls who have been killed by those sworn to protect us, including: Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra Bland, Paul Castaway, Melissa Ventura, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and Philando Castile. The events of the last week have once again revealed the gaping flaws of our justice system, in which so many of us have taken comfort and for granted. And that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.
As a nation we have so clearly missed the beatific vision found in the seventh chapter of St. John’s Revelation where the apostle sees a great multitude of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue standing in unity around the throne of Jesus crying aloud, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" The Bible is clear – God longs for all people to experience justice, liberation, and the ability to live in both safety and freedom.
Our call as a Parish is to listen to each other and forgive each other in the name of Jesus, trusting that He is leading us into all truth and righteousness. As your Rector and Wardens, we want everyone to know that we are fully committed to listening and learning from the experience of others and prayerfully standing in solidarity with the Black community. We recognize that as a church “our battle is not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities of the spiritual forces of evil”(Ephesians 6:12).
Therefore, while not skirting our own sinfulness but resting completely in the Gospel, please know that we will follow where the Holy Spirit leads, certain in the knowledge that His path will help us grow, heal, and finally end these senseless killings.
Peace,
The Reverend Jacob Andrew Smith, Rector
Matthew Scott Peeler, WardenNona Ellis, Warden
From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all want of charity,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension; and by the Coming of the Holy Ghost,
Good Lord, deliver us.
(The Great Litany, BCP)
Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God? I renounce them.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself. I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? I will, with God’s help.
(Holy Baptism, BCP)
