Social Justice

gracestlukes.org/social-justice

Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action & Hope

“Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.”

Micah 6:8

MICAH (Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope) is a coalition of community and faith-based organizations joining together to give a more powerful voice for issues of justice in our city. MICAH focuses on three equity pillars: Education, Economic and Race and Class Equity in the Justice System.

The Economic Task Force is focused on holding MATA (Memphis Area Transit Authority) accountable for improving our transit system by finding longterm sources of funding which could be directed to improve the bus routes and schedules to underserved communities.

The Education Task Force is actively working with other community organizations calling for transparency and integrity to the MSCS (Memphis Shelby County Schools) Superintendent Search process. They have asked the Board to adopt and implement the Community Super Search Plan described at Bit.ly/communitysupersearchplan.

Race and Class Equity (R.A.C.E) in the justice system has a call to action to hold our city leaders and officials accountable to make systemic changes to policies to avoid future harm and death during individuals’ encounters with law enforcement. There is a sign up on the micahmemphis.org website with calling information if you would like to join this action.

MICAH held an Organizing 101 training Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. for a foundational training that introduces the basics of community organizing using the faith-based organizing methodology of the Gamaliel Network. This was ideal for anyone passionate about social justice and equity and looking for ways to make a meaningful difference in their community.

Please join us on the second Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. (September–May) in the lounge to discuss issues and ways to make a difference in our community. If you’d like to learn more about MICAH, visit their website at micahmemphis.org or contact Barb Frazer, Murray McKay or Laura Gettys+ via REALM (onrealm.org/gracestlukes).

Sacred Ground

For the past two falls, GSL has offered “Sacred Ground,” a film and readings-based dialogue series on race and faith from the National Church. Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, the National Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice for our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. Three small groups walked through 11 weeks of America’s history of race and racism while weaving in threads of family story, class, and political and regional identity.

Here is a preview video to learn a bit more: Sacred Ground—The Episcopal Church (episcopalchurch. org/sacred-ground).

Please take a moment to read Price Peacock’s and Nikki Wright’s reflections on their individual experiences with Sacred Ground. They are included on the next page.

Then, if you’re interested, please contact the Rev. Laura F. Gettys, Jennie VanDeveer, Nicki Soule, or Sally Barron on Realm (onrealm.org/gracestlukes) or through the church office (901-272-7425). The deadline for sharing your interest is August 14.

Sacred Ground: Lessons in History, Shame, and Inspiration

by Nikki Wright

Sacred Ground deals with racism’s terrible legacy and offers Christ-centered actions to heal its wounds.

I believed I was “woke.” I believed I didn’t see color. I was trying. That was enough, right?

The class laid bare the ugly truth of white America’s oppression of so many. I dreaded the homework and soon realized I was anything but woke. I was ashamed to be part of a group who had perpetrated this, century after century. I also became angry at previous generations for leaving us all with the disastrous consequences. This wasn’t my fault. How could I be expected to fix it? The problem was too big.

Then I examined my behavior. I didn’t know what I didn’t know, and once I did know, I was appalled at my attitudes, some buried so deep I was unaware of them. Again, I was ashamed, this time at myself. I began to despair. What was the point? It seemed hopeless.

The class then turned to grief, reckoning, and repentance. If we grieve for what has been lost, repent collectively and individually, and are forgiven, we can all heal, oppressor and oppressed, and move forward. The last class dealt with specific ways to get involved. We had come full circle. We were enlightened, saddened, repentant, and now inspired to make a difference.

I urge everyone to take this class. It will change you.

The Gift of Sacred Ground

by Price Peacock

Writing this reflection piece on what I gained from participating in Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s Sacred Ground dialogue series is uncomfortable. It’s uncomfortable because I must be open and honest—just like the series invited me to do—with you. I signed up to participate in the Sacred Ground series in September of 2022 because I am fed up with racial inequality—and the consequences of racial inequality—in the United States. I am fed up with knowing that at times, I play into the system that makes me fed up.

After thirty-four years of life, I am no longer willing to accept that this is society at its best. It isn’t good enough, fair enough, or loving enough, to everyone. I’m not naïve. I know that the U.S. didn’t get here by accident. It’s by design, and the original design wasn’t meant to benefit everyone. To help create a more equitable and inclusive society, I needed to look back and pay attention to more of the story. I needed to listen to more people that had been hurt along the way. I needed to reflect more on how my own upbringing informs my views and actions. Sacred Ground gave me the space and resources to do just that.

Over the course of four months, six other dialogue participants, three facilitators, and I met every other week for two hours to reflect on questions and learnings from the course materials, including the two core books, Waking Up White by Debby Irving, and Jesus and the Disinherited by Dr. Howard Thurman, provided by The Episcopal Church. It was a beautifully messy experience full of stumbling through thoughts and revelations, silence, sadness, and joy. To go through it with others, several of whom I had met for the first time, was priceless.

Today, I am more confident in my understanding of how we got here as a society, and I’m more focused on what I can realistically do to create positive change. What a gift.