Roe v. Wade, Voter Suppression, and “We” the Voters

Dr. Bridget Floyd

St. John African Methodist (AME) Church, Huntsville, marked its 137th anniversary on March 20, 2022, at the 10 a.m. worship service. The theme was “A Legacy of Faith and a Bright Future,” with a scriptural emphasis on Matthew 16:18. The service was hybrid in terms of recorded and in-person participants, with the latter adhering to Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. The Mass Choir and musicians were inspirational under the direction of Brother Reggie Pearson, with Brother Phil Lee leading the choir and congregation in singing the opening hymn. Pastor Maurice Wright II preached the sermon for the anniversary service. A nostalgic review began the service with a video presentation of photos of people and events over the years. After which, the Women’s Month tribute to women of St. John continued, highlighting two “phenomenal women.” Ms. Joy Wright highlighted Sister Claire Philadelphia and Attorney Genevia Fontenot. Congratulations to these outstanding ladies. Sister Maeola Peoples gave the welcome and announcements. Pastor Wright introduced Deaconess Sarah “Granny” Bell, “the oldest and longest serving St. John member,” as the worship leader. The Deaconess Board recited the Call to Worship: Deaconesses Earnestine Barnes-Ivery, Eva Smith, Willie M. Heyward, Charlsie Brooks, Gwendolyn Baldwin, and Mary Powers. The Reverend Meriam Garrett gave the invocation after the opening hymn. Scripture readings were as follows: Old Testament, Psalm 100 by Addison and Breanne Bradford; The Epistle, Ephesians 1:15-23, Sister Jana Goggans; The Gospel, Matthew 16:13-18, Sister Mattie Ezell. [Due to technical challenges, the last scriptures were featured the following Sunday.] Pastor Wright preached the third sermon in his series, “What Shall We Do With the Church?” entitled “Do Not Sleep on the Church.” The scripture reference was Acts 20:7-12. He noted the negative impact of “sleeping”/inattention at this point, including social, economic, and political factors. He emphasized that “there are people sleeping on the church,” resulting in a negative impact on the youth and leadership; ministries are not as fulfilling, and the message is “watered down.” He urged soberness and vigilance to avoid the negative impact. The first point made by Pastor Wright was “The Word is for you” in that there is something for every believer present for the sermon… “the Word of God always meets its target.” He encouraged participation in the church, noting that “church is not a spectator sport.” Another point made was that “You can be in the right place but be in the wrong place at the same time.” In the text, the man was in the right place [“the church”] but in the wrong place [sitting in the window on the third level] which would allow for inattention or distractions. He cautioned that this could cause today’s believers to miss their blessing because they could not focus fully on the Word. Pastor Wright emphasized that “there is always light in the church… we must always pay attention to the light,” which allows one “to see as well as be seen.” He noted that in the text, no one cautioned the man about being “on the ledge” and that “the church can be busy… not warn people.” He indicated that in the text, the people “became the church” once they attended to the man who fell from the window. He indicated that Paul directly “ministered”/attended to the man when he fell, not delegating to someone else. Another key factor was that everyone left comforted after the events in the text. Pastor Wright indicated that people should feel better after participating in worship, “leave with joy in your spirit … the power of the Almighty.” He ended by citing Luke 21:36 – the importance of “staying awake” in order to escape events that are going to take place and gave examples of current events/problem situations. The sermon was indeed a sermon upon which to reflect as the St. John family marked 137 years of existence as a church serving the Huntsville community. Sister Mary Allen made the offertory appeal, and the Doxology and Benediction followed. Congregants remained to view a congratulatory video of greetings from regional and national clergy, church officers, members, and friends. They included Bishop Harry L. Seawright of the 9th Episcopal District; Bishop Anne Henning Byfield, 13th Episcopal District; Bishop Adam Richardson, Sr., senior bishop, 10th Episcopal District; Presiding Elder Bruce W. Hunter, South Birmingham-Huntsville Bessemer District; the Reverend Dr. Willie Eugene Marshall, presiding elder, Ozark/Troy District; the Reverend Mark Kelly Tyler, pastor of Mother Bethel AME, Philadelphia, PA; the Reverend Dr. Patrick Clayborn, Bethel AME, Baltimore, MD [former pastor of St. John, Huntsville]; the Reverend Dr. Michael Bell, Allen AME, Washington, D.C.; Brother John Thomas III, editor, The Christian Recorder; Brother Marcus Hill, St. John Steward Board, vice chair; Brother Bill Williams, St. John Trustee Board, vice chair; Brother David Person, a friend of the church; the Honorable Anthony Daniels, Alabama House Minority Leader and St. John member; and Deaconess Sarah Bell –“90 years of service to St. John and longest living member.” St. John is proud of its legacy and looks forward to a bright future. ❏ ❏ ❏

John E. Warren

The current uproar over the leaked draft of the United States Supreme Court’s anticipated decision on abortion rights is another example of the Republican right wing effort to eliminate democracy under cover of the very Constitution, which provides all our democratically protected rights. In addition, we have seen the attack on voting rights by the actions of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate, who refused to support not only the Voting Rights Act but also the John Lewis Act and the legislation coming out of the George Floyd murder. These are the same Republicans who we now know plotted to overthrow the U.S. Government on January 6, 2021, with their efforts to stop the certification of President Joseph Biden as president of the United States. These are the same senators who prevented former President Obama from making a United States Supreme Court nomination. In contrast, these same Republican senators rushed through two conservative nominations who are now a part of the longawaited overthrow of Roe v. Wade.

Judge Patricia Marie Mayberry was born on August 25, 1951, to Samuel Mayberry and Shirley Long Hawkins in St. Louis, Missouri. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Missouri–Columbia. In addition, she earned a Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Houston. Her legal career included serving the United States Air Force as a judge advocate rising to the rank of major, a trial attorney with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, an Administrative Law Judge for the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, and a Labor Law attorney with the United States Air Force at the Los Angeles Air Force Base.

Judge Mayberry served as the first vice president of the Fifth Episcopal District Lay Organization and a member of Price Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, California, where she served as the parliamentarian of the local lay organization, a member of the Women’s Missionary Society, and as the vice-chair of the Steward Board.

Judge Mayberry transitioned on May 2, 2022. She leaves to cherish their memories her mother Shirley Long Hawkins, her brother, the Rev. Dr. Harold R. Mayberry (Mary), her sister Marilyn Mayberry McGee (Fred), her uncle Attorney Matthew Long, Jr. (Diane), a loving first cousin Donna Edwards, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, “adopted” children, and other extended family and friends. ❏ ❏ ❏

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church San Francisco has announced a $1 million commitment to Freedom West 2.0, a transformative initiative to revitalize Freedom West Homes, a nonprofit, limited equity housing cooperative located in the heart of the Fillmore district in San Francisco, just three blocks from City Hall. The commitment from Bethel AME Church arose from the Freedom West 2.0 Partners Convening held at The Battery in February. That gathering assembled national leaders from industry, philanthropy, and community who came together to review and provide expert input and support for advancing the $2 billion plan to reimagine Freedom West Homes. Freedom West 2.0 will deliver modern market rate quality yet permanently affordable housing for the existing residents while also inviting a new, expanded population of residents who want to enjoy modern amenities at the site. Freedom West Homes, their master development partner, MacFarlane Partners, and Bethel AME have finalized a collaboration agreement which includes Bethel AME making a $1 million impact investment in the Freedom West 2.0 Founders Circle to contribute to predevelopment and entitlement expenses. The agreement also features preferred terms for Bethel to invest $10 million with MacFarlane Partners in the market rate portion of the development. A key feature of the development agreement between Freedom West Homes and MacFarlane Partners includes Freedom West participating in all profits realized by MacFarlane throughout the market rate portion of the $2 billion development. “I am elated to see so many business and community leaders coming out in support of Freedom West 2.0,” said Mattie Scott, president of Freedom West Homes. “We were totally blown away by the bold $10 million commitment made by Pastor Shaw on behalf of Bethel AME Church.” In addition to creating affordable housing units for existing residents, Freedom West 2.0 will also include additional affordable rental units, more than 2,000 feet of open space, retail and entertainment options, a boutique hotel, a health and fitness center, childcare center, and an onsite Community Innovation Center, with access to state-of-the-art, industry-grade technology, equipment, and training needed for 21st Century tech and science driven jobs and entrepreneurship. “President Mattie Scott, the board of directors, and the entire Freedom West shareholder community have done an amazing job getting the vision of Freedom West 2.0 to this critical point,” said the Rev. Robert Shaw, pastor of Bethel AME Church. “We want to do our part by stepping up as both an investor and a codeveloper with MacFarlane Partners to help ensure this bold vision becomes a reality for Freedom West and the broader Fillmore community.” Bethel AME Church originally sponsored Freedom West Homes in the late 1960s in the aftermath of government-sponsored urban renewal, which displaced more than 20,000 residents and closed over 800 businesses. Built as a 382-unit housing co-operative on 10 acres of land just three blocks from City Hall, Freedom West has provided affordable housing for nearly 1,000 racially diverse, low- and moderate-income residents for decades. Now struggling with 40 years of deferred maintenance, it faces an uncertain financial future due to a lack of investment in the community and a non-existent long-term economic sustainability model. “We are honored to have Bethel AME Church join our development and investor team as we work hard to help the Freedom West residents realize promises made to them over 40 years ago,” said Victor B. MacFarlane, founder, chairman, and CEO, MacFarlane Partners. About Freedom West: Freedom West Homes Corporation is a nonprofit housing cooperative containing 382 housing units located in the Fillmore District of San Francisco. In the late 1960s, in a period of civil turmoil, the Rev. J. Austell Hall had the vision to preserve a portion of the Fillmore District neighborhood threatened by the city of San Francisco’s urban renewal. From this vision, he established Freedom West to create a safe, affordable community while protecting cultural diversity and providing a source of social and economic empowerment through cooperative ownership.

MacFarlane Partners is a real estate investment management and development firm headquartered in San Francisco that acquires, develops, and manages properties on behalf of some of the world’s largest pension plans and institutions. Founded in 1987, the firm pioneered the urban investment concept among institutional real estate investment managers in the 1990s and today is a leading investor in and developer of properties that promote smart growth, urban revitalization, and sustainability in urban and high-density suburban areas nationwide. For additional information, please visit the firm’s website at www.macfarlanepartners. com.

About Bethel AME Church: Bethel AME Church is the oldest African American church in San Francisco, having been founded in 1852 in the midst of social, economic, and political change. For over 170 years, through earthquake and fire, through redevelopment and relocation, Bethel AME has continued its civic engagement to make tangible and lasting changes in the Fillmore and greater San Francisco community. Pastors of Bethel have served in the San Francisco city government on various commissions such as Planning, Civil Service, Housing Authority, Police, and the Human Rights Commission. Through sponsorship of affordable housing for seniors and the homeless, food programs for the hungry, activities and scholarships for youth, and support for small businesses, Bethel AME continues to expand its service footprint through the community involvement and leadership of its pastors, members, and affiliations.

Under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Jonathan L. Weaver, pastor of Greater Mt. Nebo African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, members of the ministerial staff joined together to relieve some of the “pain at the pump.” After seven ministerial staff members delivered the “7 Last Words” of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, members of the ministerial staff joined together to provide prayers and gas gift cards at three local gas stations in the Bowie, Maryland community. To help ease the financial stress of filling up their gas tanks, hundreds of people received a spiritual fill-up as clergy prayed for and ministered to their needs. In addition to receiving a gas gift card and praying, invitations were extended to join us for Resurrection Sunday worship service, virtually or in person. A mother with teenage children recently moved to the area and was looking for a church and other ways to connect her teenagers in enriching activities in the community. The Reverend Tomika McFadden, who serves as Youth and Young Adult minister, shared precise ways Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church can support this mother and her family. Several gift card recipients joined Greater Mt. Nebo in worship to celebrate the Risen Savior! Submitted by the Reverend Andre D. Christian, executive minister, and itinerant elder, Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church.

The Reverend Dr. Reginald Blount (G-ETS 2005), an esteemed colleague and longstanding faculty member of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, has been named director of the Center for the Church and the Black Experience (CBE), effective July 1, 2022. A leading center of Garrett-Evangelical, CBE was founded in 1970 and has empowered and trained generations of black leaders for the church and society. Blount, who served as interim director for CBE in the mid-2000s, is the 11th director of CBE, following Mr. Taurean J. Webb, who has accepted an appointment at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Instituted in 1970 as one of the primary emphases of the seminary, CBE has been a beacon of hope and inspiration for black students, pastors, churches, and communities for nearly five decades. It has been instrumental in fusing black people and black religious life into the entire seminary community. As director, Blount seeks to address the unique challenges facing black students—across the diaspora—while educating and inspiring all persons who live, work, and study at the seminary.

“We find ourselves at a defining moment where we need institutes like the Center for the Church and the Black Experience to nurture theologically rooted leaders called to discern the signs of the times, cast vision, and collaboratively and strategically address issues related to the wellbeing and thriving of the church and society,” Blount said. “There is also much to learn when the black experience is centered in this formative work. I am grateful for the opportunity to embrace the 50+ year legacy of CBE and build on the leadership and gifts offered by previous directors in nurturing the next generation of ‘leaders of leaders.’”

A citadel of teaching, research, action, and reflection on black life and Black Church life, CBE is committed to training seminarians and pastors to be pastoral, priestly, and prophetic “leaders of leaders.” In addition, CBE offers the seminary and the broader community opportunities for understanding the Christian faith via interracial and cross-cultural perspectives. It also seeks to facilitate a greater understanding of religious leadership dynamics, organizational change, and public outreach and witness of black churches in relation to the broader religious and social context. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Blount serves as the director of the “Holy Yearning, Holy Listening, Holy Partnerships” project, established in 2017 at Garrett-Evangelical. This project was formed out of the Lilly Endowment’s Young Adult Initiative, which aims to help congregations develop and strengthen congregational ministries that build relationships with young adults, nurture their religious lives, and foster their engagement with religious communities.

An ordained elder and pastor of Arnett Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Morgan Park neighborhood of Chicago, Blount has been a leader in the formation of Freedom Schools both in Evanston and Morgan Park. Blount and his faculty colleague, the Rev. Dr. Virginia Lee, cofounded the Garrett-Evanston Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Program in 2016. In addition, they served as editors for the book, Let Your Light Shine: Mobilizing for Justice with Children and Youth (Friendship Press Inc., 2019).

He has contributed numerous articles and chapters throughout his career. Of particular note, Blount served as a contributor to the CEB Student Bible (Common English Bible) along with his daughter Deborah Ayanna, which was published in 2015. In addition, he wrote discussions for the books of Joel and James, which includes questions, activities, and “Reading Differently” exercises for youth groups and small groups.

Blount received his Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Tuskegee University (1984) and his Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University (1995). He earned his doctor of philosophy from the GarrettEvangelical/Northwestern University joint program in religious and theological studies, focusing on the areas of Christian education and youth ministry (2005).

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a graduate school of theology related to The United Methodist Church, was founded in 1853. Located on the campus of Northwestern University, the seminary serves students from various denominations and cultural backgrounds, fostering an atmosphere of ecumenical interaction. Garrett-Evangelical creates bold leaders through master of divinity, master of arts, master of theological studies, doctor of philosophy, and doctor of ministry degrees. Its 4,500 living alumni serve church and society around the world. ❏ ❏ ❏

“I am so grateful that Dr. Reggie Blount is willing to step into this leadership role at this critical moment in Garrett’s institutional life,” said President Javier A. Viera. “Dr. Blount is a visionary and spiritually grounded person of faith. He is a highly respected member of our community, a strategic thinker who leverages his many professional connections for the good of Garrett, and who has the stature in so many community, ecclesial, philanthropic, non-profit, and guild spaces to ensure that the CBE remains a high profile and innovative center. I know that the center will thrive, and the seminary will continue to benefit greatly from his leadership, and I look forward to the close partnership we will have in advancing the mission and work of the Center for the Church and the Black Experience.” professor of Formation, Leadership, and Culture. His research and writings have centered on adolescent and young adult identity formation, African American identity formation, and Christian education and strategic leadership in the Black Church. In addition, he speaks and teaches nationally and internationally, helping faith communities envision new and creative ways to minister to, with, and on behalf of young people, engage in transformative Christian education, and foster congregational and community renewal.

Rev. Melinda Contreras-Byrd, Ph.D., Contributing Writer

Over the years, the Lord has led me to minister in various settings and with various people. I have worked with bilingual preschoolers, intellectually gifted children, suicidal and violent teens, special education students, and adult populations struggling with addictions, homelessness, and a myriad of psychological differences and challenges.

Over the past ten or more years, I have become involved in ministering to those who minister. After years of searching the literature on pastoral self-care, I realized there was no research on black and Latinx pastors! So, in 2013, funded by the Louisville Institute, I undertook a study to define and address the needs of black and Latinx pastors. As a result, in 2020, I published a book, Saving the Lives of Black and Latinx Pastors – A Self-Care Study. My journey as a Christian psychologist has taught me some important truths I want to share with you today. Your response to these issues may very well “…save the life of a black or Latinx pastor”!

African Methodist Episcopal Church pastors carry a distinction among black clergy. We require master’s level credentials for eligibility for ordination as an itinerant elder. If you compare the salaries of persons with a master’s degree to average clergy salaries–you will be disheartened by the disparity. A pastor’s salary is significantly less than others with master’s degrees. When you include “being black” as a factor for comparison consideration–the picture is even more dismal. Many of our pastors take a second job so that they can continue to pastor. They pay bills and purchase gifts for their congregants and leadership out of their pockets. Let pastors know they are appreciated—beyond a set “Pastor Appreciation Sunday.”

The call to ministry typically begins early in the lives of pastors. Even as children, we stand out as being “a little weird.” We are not part of the in-crowd. Peers ostracize us for being “religious.” Pastors live on the margins, uninvited to social gatherings, soon becoming outsiders-except in the church. Once they become pastors, they spend most of their time engaged with their members. They know their members’ names and often the names of all of their extended family. They go to the hospital and take tearful calls late at night from the hospice, home, or hospital. But they are blessed to be the ones who baptize, bury, and marry. And when they answered their call to ministry, they agreed to a sacrificial life wherein they would lose close contact with friends; but are paradoxically prohibited from forming close friendships with those with whom they spent most of their time. They work hard, forming nonreciprocal relationships.

Everyone sighs at the end of the week and silently repeats the mantra, “Thank God it’s Friday.” But for pastors’ Saturdays are not free days. Instead, having been unable to do so during a busy work week, most formalize the bulletin and select the music, scriptures, and service participants while struggling with God over a meaningful word to preach. If the pastor is married and/ or has children, this raises likely guilt-producing and stressful family conflicts between balancing important church and family functions.

What might we do to support a pastor’s well-being? First, realize that there are stewards and class leaders to assist the pastor in meeting the congregational needs too numerous for one person alone. Second, avoid criticizing your pastor for not being at every important event or visiting every person who is sick and shut-in.

You may not know that a majority of clergy leave the pastorate each year, convinced that they have not made a difference and are not doing a good enough job! So, as laity (and I encourage pastors to do this also for themselves) acknowledge pastors’ successes, pray for them in their failures, and give them the gift of guilt-free time to relax and de-stress.

In my study, I asked, “Should pastors be role models in all things?” Do you think most believed this to be true or false?

I asked, “Do you take at least one week-long vacation each year?” Did most say yes or no?

What percentage do you think said they experienced loneliness or attended retreats?

The answers are in my book. Encourage self-care in your pastor, and buy her or him these books on the self-care of pastors.

Kirk Byron Jones, Rest in the Storm. Judson Press, 2001. G. Lloyd Rediger, The Clergy Killers. Westminster John Knox, 1997. Melinda Contreras-Byrd, Saving the Lives of Black and Latinx Pastors: A Self-Care Study. Africa World Press Red Sea Press, 2020. Paul David Trip, A Dangerous Calling. Reprint, Crossway, 2015. ❏ ❏ ❏

even bishops have been stressed if they used this opportunity to bring people together instead of retreating to isolated silos? How much stronger would we be denominationally if we did not push for individual pastoral or church achievement and instead collaboratively tended to the growing needs of those shutdown, shut-in, and lockedup? How much better would we be had we pooled our resources and created systems that promoted partnerships and togetherness? Picture where we would be now if other pastors had accepted the invitation to join or if other leaders had the same foresight. Imagine the great community of learners and families of faith that would have been born had we put “I” aside for “we.” 2020-2022 was undoubtedly a time of great despair, and there was not one person who

...From The Missed p4 was not affected. But, it was also a time of great opportunity, and we missed it, mourning the loss of our open doors and underused buildings. I can only pray that as we return to “business as usual,” we ask God to recover what we overlooked - collaboration, collectivism, and community - and grant us another chance to come together as one denomination. ❏ ❏ ❏

By Kiratiana E. Freelon, Correspondent

Mônica Francisco and Mãe Seci Caxi do not see eye to eye about God. Ms. Francisco, a Rio de Janeiro state congresswoman, practiced Catholicism until she joined an evangelical church at 18. She is among the 65 million Brazilians – approximately one-third of the population – who consider themselves evangelicals. Ms. Caxi was born into a family of Candomblé – a minority Brazilian religion of African origin that has historically been discriminated against, including by evangelicals. In polarized Brazil, religious groups have often clashed with one another. But in an unlikely partnership, two women of different faiths find common ground to preserve their African heritage.

When Ms. Caxi needed help saving a space sacred to the adherents of Candomblé, she turned to the evangelical politician, who is also a pastor. United by their African heritage, the two have become unlikely allies against deep-seated religious intolerance in Brazil and for recognition of their shared culture. “We must fight religious intolerance so that we can preserve our ancestry. We must preserve our oral traditions and African mythology as a religious practice because this reaffirms our Afro-Brazilian identity and its roots,” Ms. Francisco says. “Our past includes an enslaved family, who probably worshipped African gods, who had to use syncretism,” she adds. “Although I am a Christian, a pastor, and have embraced the evangelical faith, it is impossible not to recognize this presence in our ancestors.”

An abandoned structure outside Rio de Janeiro that a local mayor wanted to raze brought Ms. Francisco and Ms. Caxi together. Called the Terreiro da Goméia, it is sacred land in Afro-Brazilian worship and a national symbol of Afro-Brazilian culture. It was established by the late Joãozinho da Goméia, a pai-de-santo, or high priest, who was also known as the king of Candomblé because he brought the religion out of obscurity. Gay and mixed race, he was often harassed and once imprisoned as he fought against entrenched attitudes and prejudices.

Before his death 50 years ago, the site attracted journalists, artists, and high-ranking politicians who sat high on balconies to watch its elaborate festivals and ceremonies. “He welcomed nonbelievers just as much as he welcomed believers,” says Ms. Caxi, who was chosen to be a Candomblé priest when she was a baby. She established the Goméia Commission in 2003 to preserve the memory of Mr. Goméia and calls his lifework “a true social project.”

His message of justice resonated with Ms. Francisco too. She grew up in Rio de Janeiro’s Borel favela, a majority-black hill settlement where most residents live in precarious housing and have limited access to public services. So when a massive landslide in Rio killed dozens in her community in 1988 when she was a teen, she spent sleepless days and nights helping families. She calls this moment the birth of her activism. From then on, she fought for housing rights in favelas.

When Ms. Francisco converted and began serving in various roles in the evangelical church, her activism expanded: fighting against police violence against poor black men and for economic and political rights for women. Eventually, she started a church in Borel. Then, when her friend Marielle Franco, an activist and politician, was assassinated in 2018, Ms. Francisco ran for political office, easily winning a seat for the left-wing Socialism and Liberty Party. When asked how her faith and desire for justice interconnect today, Ms. Francisco points to Matthew 5:6 in the Bible: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Candomblé is considered one of the strongest vestiges of African heritage in a country where 50% of its 212 million people are Afrodescendants. It is estimated that only 1.5% of Brazilians practice Candomblé, but the religion’s symbolism and imagery can be found in festivals, holidays, and carnivals. Still, society has not always been open to Candomblé – and at times, downright hostile. In recent years Candomblé practitioners have come under increasing attacks from adherents of evangelical Christianity, who helped lift right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro to office. In 2019, local media tallied 201 Candomblé religious facilities destroyed or ransacked nationwide, the majority in Rio de Janeiro. For example, the Terreiro da Goméia in the town of Duque de Caxias came under threat by Mayor Washington Reis, who announced he wanted to build a daycare on the sacred site. He called such temples “corners of witchcraft” just this year. But attitudes are shifting. “African spirituality has always been satanized by Christian movements,” says Lêmba Dyala, coordinator of the Goméia Commission and also a high priest. “But today, we can report [abuses], move freely, and fight without being criminalized.” In fact, the Goméia Commission fought for the temple’s remains by pushing to have the site turned into a historic landmark. In 2019, its members initiated a heritage process through Rio de Janeiro’s State Institute of Cultural Heritage (INEPAC). However, in the middle of the pandemic, with the INEPAC process delayed, Mayor Reis reiterated the city’s plans to turn the site into a nursery. So on July 21, 2020, Ms. Francisco and two other state congresspeople proposed a bill to make the land where Mr. Goméia’s Candomblé terreiro once stood a state heritage site. The site is not just fundamental to the religious practices of Candomblé but to “the struggle and resistance of the black population and for the dissemination of African and Afro-Brazilian culture in the country, ensuring the right to identity and memory,” it reads. Amid this bill and mounting media attention and demonstrations, Mayor Reis backed down a week later. But Ms. Francisco did not stop there. She also proposed

another bill to make March 27, Mr. Goméia’s birthday, the State Day of Awareness Against Religious Racism, and Joãozinho da Goméia Day. (Evangelical politicians attempted unsuccessfully to amend the bill with a proposal to remove Mr. Goméia’s name.) “Putting his name on the day not only represents a the fight against religious racism , but also against racism, against e homophobia, against prejudice,” t says Ms. Francisco. “It’s defending s territories that are occupied and . built by black people.”l a In April of this year, both bills S l were passed, paving the way for the complete landmark status of the terreiro in September by INEPAC. It is only the second Candomblé site to receive such status in Rio de Janeiro. “I believe that Terreiro da Goméia has a cultural and symbolic relevance on a national level,” says Leon Araújo, director of the Department of Intangible Heritage at INEPAC.

sp Two women sa of opposing faiths unite to protect sacred m D Candomblé space th an January 4, 2022 “B [a f h h

While the Goméia Commission plans how to use the landmarked site to pay homage to Mr. Goméia properly, Ms. Francisco continues her political work against religious racism through a state committee investigating all religious intolerance. “This was an episode; tomorrow comes another, and we will fight it again,” Ms. Francisco says. “With my militancy, I couldn’t be far from this fight. I would be there whether or not I was a politician. Coming from where I come from and with my journey, I have a responsibility to do everything I can.”

Byron Washington, Columnist

Have you ever heard somebody say you have 1,440 minutes in a day, and we can use those minutes wisely or waste them? The statement is partially accurate but is also misleading. The saying motivates us to consider our time and how we use it. However, none of us can actively use all 24 hours (1,440 minutes) daily. At best, we can utilize 17 or 18 hours, assuming we do not have other responsibilities and remember we must sleep. In addition, some actions and activities are not flexible, so our time may be even more constrained.

Here is the reality - stop focusing on time management and focus on priority management. Time will happen regardless of what you or I do. If you stop reading this article and close your eyes, time will continue to move. The issue we have is not time; it is the management of the priorities in our life. If you are familiar with the game Tetris, you can equate each piece to a priority we have in our life. We have to manage the pieces (our priorities) and have them fit together efficiently within the time available. The words of Johan Wolfgang von Goethe ring true, “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” Likewise, John reminds us that, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4).

In my training on priority management, I instruct people to identify the area they want to prioritize. I begin by having participants write down the daily activities they handle at work and then identify how much time they have in the day to do those tasks. For example, if the person works from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., they have 9 hours for their work priorities. Then, I have the participants allocate time to complete each activity. Finally, we will work through a series of other steps to better understand how their time at work is spent and discover ways to reorganize or prioritize their responsibilities to maximize their time.

Understanding what we prioritize, how much time we have, and what we spend our time on is helpful in the long run for better priority management. However, guessing and not having a process of outlining your priorities will continue to frustrate the individual and leave them feeling overwhelmed. I understand some issues arise and other variables that I cover in my training, but the basis is that we manage priorities more than time. See what your priorities or responsibilities are and begin to identify how much time you truly have available. We can use this process for work, church, or personal growth. Of course, there are some things we cannot change; however, an individual can augment their life to get maximum utility out of the allotted time. For more information on priority management, visit my podcast, The Leadership Ledge, available on all streaming platforms. ❏ ❏ ❏

Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., Columnist

27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Religious freedom has been the driving force for our government. In fact, our founding fathers modeled the laws established by elected officials and appointed judges after the morality established by God in the Holy Bible. Up until the 20th century, few in America would even consider challenging such laws. However, we find ourselves at a period in history when it appears that as we press to maximize our freedoms, we seem intent on challenging even God. We exist in a country founded by men whose God led them to draft a constitution affirming that God is no respecter of persons, but we have become no respecter of God. Consequently, our affirmations now challenge biblical morality on every front. Religious symbols and scripture have to be removed from public places. The sanctity of marriage is challenged daily. State social workers have the authority to remove children from a home where parents exercise corporal punishment (spanking). Our communal retreat from the sanctity of God begs the question: What is a Christian to do?

The answer is simple. For those of us who are “the called according to God’s purpose,” we are mandated to preserve the Word of God at any cost. But how far will we go to defend our cause for Christ? Our text reminds us, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” Peter and John have taken a stand for the Lord. Despite warnings of imprisonment and even death, they have preached the unadulterated Word of God in city after city. Now they find themselves standing before the Jewish high court for the first time. It is one thing to challenge the political authorities, but it is treacherous to challenge the religious hierarchy. As Christians, we need to realize that we can sometimes do the right thing and end up guilty before the law yet innocent before God. Many of us have lived through a time where bold men and women worked to further the mission of God, infuriating man. Willing to stand against racial prejudice, oppression, and segregation that was the law of the land, Martin Luther King, Jr., went to prison, though he remained innocent before God. Likewise, principals and teachers establish God’s order in their schools and classrooms despite the federal separation of church and state. It is never a light thing to break the laws of our nation; however, there are times when, like the Apostles in Jerusalem, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” It is then we exhibit our respect for God, and it is the only way to preserve God’s Word for our future generations. The Bible warns us, declaring, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18). A “jot” is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Jesus used this example to emphasize the importance of preserving even the seemingly most insignificant words of the Bible. The “tittle” is a small hook or horn that distinguishes one Hebrew letter from another. The rabbis attached great importance to these marks since altering them could change the entire meaning of a word or phrase. In the same way, Jesus warned that the Word of God would not, could not, and must not be altered.

Peter and John’s ministry did not fail Christ. Will we? Will we ignore the condemnation of sin when our government endorses it? Will we shy away from the challenge of facing off against the political enemies of God? Christ is seated at the throne of God, and he is waiting for the church to take its stand. We must be bold. Now is no time for lukewarm Christianity! It is time to reach our boiling point and stand for the Lord. It is time to get back to doing things God’s way. When terrorism strikes, tearing at the very fiber of our faith, the church of Jesus ...continued on p32