A Statement from Rev. Dr. Donna Patterson
One year ago today, we watched as people stormed and occupied the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. What we witnessed were white nationalists and other extremists staging an attempted coup in an effort to subvert the will of the people in the 2020 Presidential Election.
We said this last year and we’ll say it again: we value our democracy. We value the right to vote. We value that every vote counts. We believe when the people speak through elections, that decision is sacred.
The events of January 6, 2021, go beyond “the big lie” of a stolen election. They extend to all of the ways that white supremacist ideologies have infected the belief systems of many Americans. On January 6, 2021, we heard Jesus’ name invoked repeatedly, and God’s blessing given to insurrectionists to destroy, maim, and even kill.
This is an affront to God.
At Scarritt Bennett Center, we affirm that all people are created in God’s own image. Therefore, we reiterate our condemnation of the actions on January 6, 2021, the white supremacist ideologies that guided them, and the ideologies and falsehoods that continue to perpetuate the lie of a stolen election and sow division among us.
Now more than ever, we are dedicated to our organization’s four pillars: racial justice, women’s empowerment, spiritual formation, and education of the laity. We will continue our work to teach, lead, host, and collaborate with partners who share our values and mission to dismantle white supremacy. We believe in the power of transformation. No one is free until we are all free.
We understand the urgency of this moment, and we will persevere in our mission to create space where individuals and groups engage each other to achieve a more just world.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. Donna Patterson
Anam Cara Chaplain in Residence
Scarritt Bennett Center