This summer at least six predominantly black churches in the South have been damaged or destroyed by fire. These fires, which occurred after the murder of nine Christians at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC, are being investigated for evidence of arson/hate crimes. Whenever a house of worship is lost, not only does the local community suffer, we are all affected because a place of peace, restoration and hope has been taken away from an all too violent world.
The Episcopal Cathedral in St. Louis has established the "Rebuild the Churches Fund" and has invited communities of all faiths to hold special offerings in July as a sign of interfaith solidarity against racism to stand with our sisters and brothers of faith. You will see Christ Church Cranbrook is on the list having committed to this cause. They have set a goal of raising $250,000 and distributing them equally to all black churches affected by arson.You will find answers to frequently asked questions, updates on the progress made to achieve the fund's goal, and a list of participating churches at Rebuild the Churches Fund.
Christ Church Cranbrook will be having a special collection on the weekend of July 25 & 26 to help "Rebuild the Churches." You can make checks payable to Christ Church Cranbrook and please note "Rebuild the Churches Fund" in the memo line. You may also mail your check, donate online at
http://tinyurl.com/southernchurchesfund , or call our parish accountant, Debbie Moore at 248-644-5210, ext. 35 who can process your donation over the phone. Your donations will appear on your quarterly contribution statement.
I believe this initiative needs our full support. Taking a special "offering" for these churches reminds us of what it means to live Eucharistically. That is to say, this gift will remind us, and help us bear witness to the world, that we are all members of the body of Christ and called by God to bear one another's burdens, just as we share one another's joys. Most importantly, this offering will remind us that our gifts are given by God to support the work of the whole church with no strings attached, which is as it should be among Christians everywhere.
Together in Christ we stand, so that everyone knows that whatever hate burns, love rebuilds. This is the ultimate arc of justice God is calling us to follow.
In Christ,
The Rev. Dr. William J. Danaher, Jr.
Rector
