Response to Burned Churches

While we are not part of this particular organization of churches, this e-mail offers some real and helpful suggestions.

Living and working together as the Body of Christ July 2, 2015 Some Helpful Ways to Respond MEMBER BODIES African Methodist Episcopal Church Alliance of Baptists    Baptist Educational & Missionary Convention     Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)     Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Cooperative Baptist Fellowship  Episcopal Church in SC Episcopal Diocese of Upper SC   Evangelical Lutheran Church in America     Charleston Atlantic Presbytery  of the  Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (PCUSA) Presbytery of New Harmony (PCUSA) Foothills Presbytery (PCUSA) Providence Presbytery (PCUSA)  Trinity Presbytery (PCUSA)    Protestant Episcopal Church in Diocese of SC Religious Society of Friends   Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston   United Church of Christ United Methodist Church DONATE TODAY TO KEEP YOUR COUNCIL VIABLE AND VISIBLE Mail a check payable to SCCAC  to PO Box 3248, Columbia, SC 29230. Thank you. CLICK HERE to DONATE On-Line Regarding the Burned Churches in SC Friends, Thank you for your many inquiries as to ways we might respond to the Black churches which have burned in the past couple of weeks in the South.  In South Carolina, as of yesterday at about 3:30 PM, according to Tom Berry, the Public Information Officer of SLED, investigations are still underway at both sites, Glover Grove Baptist Church in Warrenville and Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Greeleyville. According to Berry the official report will be available in about a week.  Mean while here are some helpful ways of responding: 1. Pray for the church and its leaders. Send words of comfort and support.  If in your area, offer the use of your space during the rebuilding process.  2. Regardless the cause of the fire, the churches will rebuild. If you want to help with the cost, volunteer time and building skills, or assist in some other way, contact the congregation directly; or contact me and I will help you connect (bkneece@sccouncil.net). 3. Many of our Black congregations are concerned about security; and people have expressed desire to support security details. If there is a Black congregation in your neighborhood or community and you want to offer this assistance, there are two vital contacts to be made before you show up to provide security. First: Contact the pastor or a key church leader. Ask if they are concerned about security and, if so, would they welcome assistance. Please do not go on site to provide security unless you are invited to do so by the congregation. Second: Contact your local Law Enforcement agency and make them aware of your intention to be on site providing security. Again, please do not go on a site for this reason without the knowledge of Law Enforcement. And, finally, congregations of any Race or Culture or Religion may suffer pain and loss due to lightening strikes, faulty wiring, vandalism, and any host of troubles. I encourage you to be a part of the healing and protection of any and all places of worship in your community. One of my favorite quotes is from Ram Dass. It sums up how we should relate to each other. Ram said: "We're all just walking each other home." Let's be sure to get each other home safely. The Reverend Brenda Lynn Kneece Executive Minister South Carolina Christian Action Council, Inc bkneece@sccouncil.net