Let Justice Roll: Climate, Race, and Gun Violence

Let Justice Roll: Climate, Race, and Gun Violence

The Rev. Vicki Ix, Managing Editor, ABUNDANT Times

On April 9, 2022, people of faith gathered in downtown Springfield to protest a proposed natural gas pipeline that would run from Longmeadow through a residential neighborhood in the city.

The rally at the Courthouse was sponsored by the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition and 57 local and statewide organizations, including these Episcopal and UCC faith communities:

• All Saints Episcopal Church (Worcester)

• Christ Church Cathedral (Springfield)

• Environmental Justice Team (First Church, Longmeadow)

• Grace Church (Southern Berkshires)

• Grace Episcopal Church (Amherst)

• St. John’s Episcopal Church (Northampton)

• St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (East Longmeadow)

• Social Justice Commission (Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts)

“Local opposition to this toxic pipeline has been fierce,” writes Margaret Bullitt-Jonas in her blog (www.revivingcreation.org). “Arguments against the pipeline include its negative impact on public health, its risk of sparking fires and explosions, its high cost to ratepayers, and its acceleration of climate change—just when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has declared a 'code red' for humanity.”

Since the action, the Springfield City Council unanimously passed a resolution asking the state to halt the Eversource plan. ♦

The Rev. Cristina Rathbone, Grace Church, Great Barrington; The Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas; and The Rev. Thomas P. Synan (Grace Church, Amherst).

Edith Adams Allison of Grace, Amherst holds her sign high.

On June 18th, Episcopal clergy were visible at the Mass Poor Peoples and Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington. The Presiding Bishop called for presence to show our church’s commitment to the core values of the Poor People’s Campaign.

Led by The Rev. William Barber and The Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, the Poor People’s Campaign is calling our nation “to confront the interlocking evils of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the war economy, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism.” (www.poorpeoplescampaign.org) ♦

The Rev. Jason Burns, deacon at St. John's, Northampton, posted a selfie from the assembly.

The Rev. Laura Goodwin’s retirement began with a bus ride to DC. On her Facebook page, Laura posted a photo taken when she bumped into UCC clergy colleagues amid the sea of marchers.

While descendants of enslaved Africans have marked “Freedom Day” for many decades, diocesan offices were closed in observance of Juneteenth for the first time on the Monday following the newly established Federal Holiday. A Sunday in 2022, the bishop encouraged congregations to mark the holiday within the Sunday celebration. The Beloved Community Commission of our diocese curated liturgical resources for celebrating Juneteenth. In an informal Facebook survey, 82% of respondents said that their Episcopal congregation celebrated Juneteenth “and it was great!” ♦

On June 25th Swords to Plowshares Northeast came to Springfield. The Rt. Rev. Jim Curry, retired Bishop of Connecticut, arrived with his portable forge for a demonstration sponsored for several local churches. After Sandy Hook Elementary School, Curry decided to do something. He decided to take the barrels from guns turned in to authorities and turn them into garden tools. This public witness of prayer and action not only reinforces God’s dream for non-violence, it also engages the participants in the physical act.

After Jim explains the process, people line up, put on fire-safe gloves and goggles, and then wait their turn to hammer away. All the powerlessness we feel as our government sputters and stalls, the sorrow that fills our hearts with news of another elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and the anger that courses through our bodies as we long for an end to gun atrocities—all of it can be brought to the anvil. It is a new kind of liturgy for our time. I was changed by what I witnessed and my soul felt deep joy. Swords to Plowshares will be visiting the Berkshires on November 12th. ♦

The Rev. Cristina Rathbone (right) with two members of Grace Church, Great Barrington. They went home with new tools for Gideon’s Garden. Photo: Episcopal WMA