Guest Editorial Dr. Michael Sanders

GUEST EDITORIAL

Rev. Dr. J. Michael Sanders President, General Baptist Convention of New Jersey and senior pastor at Fountain Baptist Church, Summit, NJ

General Baptist Convention of NJ President Responds to Recent U.S. Supreme Court Rulings

The prophet Zechariah says, “These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates.” The recent rulings of state and federal supreme courts have done all but create peace for the citizens of this country. Once again, Black and Brown Americans end up disproportionally negatively affected by these decisions. I am compelled to speak up and speak truth and I encourage you to do the same.

The Right to Choose

The landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade will have devastating effects on women’s health and reproductive rights, particularly people of color. This ineffable decision takes away fundamental rights to privacy and hinders the choices available to all women. While we understand people have differences in their thoughts about abortions, one thing we should all desire is that the social determinants of health be made available for all. “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 John 1:2

History teaches us these types of rulings are never done in a vacuum. The by-product of this type of ruling is the slow and deliberate dismantling of precedence in our legal system. Other rights not codified are more vulnerable than ever, including the right of Black and Brown Americans to vote or the acknowledgment that Black Americans are more than three-fifths human. We must remain prayerful and vigilant in our actions to vote for politicians who have our best interest in policy and then hold them accountable.

Miranda Rights

The 6-3 Supreme Court decision to not hold law enforcement accountable or even respect the civil rights of one who is detained by reading them their Miranda rights is a violation. The Constitution’s Fifth Amendment at the very least slowed arresting officers’ process and procedures down enough to invoke thinking before acting. This decision is reprehensible as it decreases accountability of law enforcement and increases the number of legal arrests even of those wrongly arrested.

Gun Rights

Furthermore, the 6-3 Supreme Court decision to expand gun rights presents a conundrum. While individuals have a right to bear arms, we are still faced with the challenges that come along with the choices regarding when to use said weapon(s) and when to allow the authorities to handle cases that may call for the use of firearms. A major concern in this new privilege is that innocent lives are in danger when untrained citizens decide to use their concealed weapon. The answer to gun violence is never more guns. While this ruling concerned only the New York State law directly, we do know that many times as goes New York, soon goes New Jersey. It is our prayer that we will not experience the days of vigilantes and poor choices in our communities. As a convention we condemn this ruling for the concealed carry of weapons by untrained citizens.

Many thoughts, philosophies, ideologies, experiences, and opinions govern one’s views on these topics. However, as God’s children, we can all agree that these rulings will have a negative impact on people of color. It is imperative we not only pray, but act in prayer. The half-brother of Jesus said, “faith without works is dead.” We must vote; we must hold our politicians accountable; those with the ability must run for office; we must band together as a convention, let our voices be heard, and our thoughts known so that we become a consideration in the minds of those in power.

"A major concern in this new privilege is that innocent lives are in danger when untrained citizens decide to use their concealed weapon."

GREAT TO PROGRESS

The clergy organizations, churches, community businesses and institutions listed below have committed to the purchase of at least 50 magazines per month at $1.50 each or they support this publication through the purchase of advertising. Find out more by calling 973-233-9200.

R COLL ALL Abundant Life Fellowship COGIC, Newark, NJ Supt. Edward Bohannon, Jr., Pastor Abyssinian B.C., Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, Pastor Abyssinian B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Barry R. Miller, Pastor Aenon Baptist Church, Vauxhall, NJ Rev Alphonso Williams, Sr., Pastor Agape Baptist Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Craig R. Jackson, Pastor Antioch Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY Rev. Robert M. Waterman, Pastor Archdiocese of New York Brother Tyrone Davis, Office of Black Ministry Baptist Ministers Conference of Greater NY & Vicinity Rev. Dr. Charles A. Curtis, President BCT Partners, Newark, NJ Dr. Randal Pinkett, CEO Berean B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Arlee Griffin Jr., Pastor Bethany B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Adolphus C. Lacey, Sr. Pastor Bethany B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Timothy E. Jones, Pastor Bethlehem Missionary B.C., Roselle, NJ Rev. Jeffrey Bryan, Pastor Beulah Bible Cathedral Church, Newark, NJ Gerald Lydell Dickson, Senior Pastor Calvary Baptist Church, Garfield, NJ Rev. Calvin McKinney, Pastor Calvary Baptist Church, Morristown, NJ Rev. Jerry M. Carter, Jr., Pastor Canaan B. C. of Christ, Harlem, NY Rev. Thomas D. Johnson, Pastor Canaan B.C., Paterson, NJ Rev. Barry L. Graham, Pastor Cathedral International., Perth Amboy,NJ Bishop Donald Hilliard, Pastor Charity Baptist Church, Bronx, NY Rev. Reginald Williams, Pastor Christian Love B.C., Irvington, NJ Rev. Brandon Keith Washington, Pastor Clear View Baptist Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Curtis W. Belle, Jr., Pastor Community B.C., Englewood, NJ Rev. Dr. Lester Taylor, Pastor Community Church of God, Plainfield, NJ Rev. Antonio Porter, Pastor Concord B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Gary V. Simpson, Pastor Convent Avenue Baptist Church, New York,NY Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Willams, Pastor Cross and Crown Christian Church, Orange, NJ Rev. Lula A. Baker, Pastor Ebenezer B.C. of Englewood, NJ Rev. Preston E. Thompson, Jr., Pastor Elizabeth, NJ Councilwoman-At-Large Patricia Perkins-Auguste Empire Missionary Baptist Convention Rev. Dr. Carl T. Washington, Jr., Pastor Evergreen Baptist Church, Palmyra, NJ Rev. Dr. Guy Campbell, Jr., Pastor Fellowship Missionary B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. Elton T. Byrd Pastor/Founder First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, Somerset NJ Rev. Dante' R. Quick, PhD, Pastor First Baptist Church, East Elmhurst, NY Rev. Patrick Henry Young, Pastor First Baptist Church of Kenilworth, NJ Rev. Nathaniel Bullock Jr., Pastor First Baptist Church of Teaneck, NJ Rev. Dr. Marilyn Monroe Harris, Pastor First Baptist of Jericho, Deptford, NJ Rev. Derek V. Gaitling, Pastor First Corinthian Baptist Church, NY Rev. Michael A. Walrond, Jr., Senior Pastor First Park Baptist Church, Plainfield, NJ Rev. Rufus McClendon, Jr., Pastor First Baptist Church, South Orange, NJ Rev. Dr. Terry Richardson, Pastor General Baptist Convention, NJ Rev. Dr. J. Michael Sanders, President Good Neighbor B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. George A. Blackwell, III, Pastor Grace B. C., Mt. Vernon, NY Rev. Dr. Franklyn W. Richardson, Pastor Greater Zion Hill B.C., Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Frank J. Blackshear, Pastor Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) Malcolm A. Punter, Ed.D., President & CEO Imani Baptist Church, East Orange, NJ Rev. William Derek Lee, Senior Pastor It Is Well Living Ministries, Clark, NJ Rev. Kahlil Carmichael, Pastor Macedonia Baptist Church, Lakewood, NJ Dr. Edward D. Harper, Pastor

MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

Mariners’ Temple B.C., New York, NY Rev. Dr. Henrietta Carter, Pastor Memorial, B.C., New York, NY Rev. Dr. Renee Washington Gardner, Senior Pastor Messiah Baptist Church, Bridgeport, CT Rev. Dr. James B. Logan, Pastor Messiah Baptist Church, East Orange, NJ Rev. Dana Owens, Pastor Metropolitan B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. David Jefferson, Pastor Mother A.M.E. Zion Church Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Malcolm J. Byrd, Pastor Mt. Neboh Baptist Church, Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Johnnie Green Jr., Pastor Mt. Pisgah B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, Pastor Mount Olive Baptist Church, Hackensack, NJ Rev. Gregory J. Jackson, Pastor Mt. Olivet B.C, Newark, NJ Rev. André W. Milteer, Pastor Mt. Zion AME Church, Trenton, NJ Rev. J. Stanley Justice, Pastor Mt. Zion B.C., Westwood, NJ Rev. Bernard Glee, Pastor New Beginnings Agape Christian Center, Freehold, NJ Rev. Dr. Andre McGuire, Pastor New Garden State Jurisdiction COGIC NJ Bishop William Cahoon New Hope Baptist Church, Metuchen, NJ Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Owens, Pastor New Hope Baptist Church of East Orange, East Orange, NJ Rev. Dr. Vernard E. Hinton, Pastor New Hope Baptist Church of Hackensack, Hackensack, NJ Rev. Dr. Drew Kyndall Ross, Senior Pastor New Life Cathedral, Mt. Holly, NJ Rev. Eric Wallace, Pastor New Reid Temple COGIC East Orange, NJ Bishop William Cahoon North Selton AME Church, Piscataway, NJ Rev. Dr. Eric and Myra Billips, Pastors Paradise B. C., Newark, NJ Rev. Jethro James, Pastor Park Ave Christian Disciples of Christ, East Orange, NJ Rev. Harriet Wallace, Pastor

GREAT ROLLCALL to PROGRESS

The clergy organizations, churches, community businesses and institutions listed below have committed to the purchase of at least 50 magazines per month at $1.50 each or they support this publication through the purchase of advertising. Find out more by calling 973-233-9200.

Pilgrim B. C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. Glenn Wilson, Pastor Ruth Fellowship Ministries, Plainfield, NJ Abundant Life Fellowship COGIC, Clear View Baptist Church, Rev. Tracey Brown, Pastor Newark, NJ Newark, NJ Shiloh AME Zion Church, Englewood, NJ Supt. Edward Bohannon, Jr., Pastor Rev. Curtis W. Belle, Jr., Pastor Rev. John D. Givens, Pastor Abyssinian B.C., Harlem, NY Community B.C., Englewood, NJ Shiloh B.C., New Rochelle, NY Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, Pastor Rev. Dr. Lester Taylor, Pastor Rev. Dr. DeQuincy M. Hentz, Pastor Abyssinian B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Barry R. Miller, Pastor Community Church of God, Plainfield, NJ Shiloh B.C., Plainfield, NJ Rev. Dr. Danielle L. Brown, Pastor Aenon Baptist Church, Vauxhall, NJ Rev Alphonso Williams, Sr., Pastor Agape Baptist Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Craig R. Jackson, Pastor Antioch Baptist Church, Rev. Antonio Porter, Pastor Concord B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Gary V. Simpson, Pastor Convent Avenue Baptist Church, New York, NY Shiloh B.C., Trenton, NJ Rev. Darell Armstrong, Pastor St. Anthony Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Walter L. DeLoatch, Sr., Pastor Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Willams, Pastor St. James AME Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Robert M. Waterman, Pastor Cross and Crown Christian Church, Rev. Ronald L. Slaughter, Pastor Archdiocese of New York Orange, NJ St. John Baptist Church, Camden, NJ Brother Tyrone Davis, Rev. Lula A. Baker, Pastor Rev. Dr. Silas M. Townsend, Pastor Office of Black Ministry Ebenezer B.C. of Englewood, NJ St. John B.C., Scotch Plains, NJ Baptist Ministers Conference Rev. Preston E. Thompson, Jr., Pastor Rev. Shawn T. Wallace, Pastor of Greater NY & Vicinity Rev. Geraldine L. Harris, President Ebenezer B.C., Orange, NJ Rev. H. William Rutherford III, Pastor St. Luke Baptist Church of Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Johnnie McCann, Pastor BCT Partners, Newark, NJ Dr. Randal Pinkett, CEO Berean B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Arlee Griffin Jr., Pastor Bethany B.C., Brooklyn, NY Elizabeth, NJ Councilwoman-At-Large Patricia Perkins-Auguste Empire Missionary Baptist Convention St Luke B.C., Paterson, NJ Rev. Kenneth D.R. Clayton, Pastor St. Mark Missionary B.C., Jamaica, NY Rev. Owen E. Williams, Pastor Rev. Timothy L. Adkins-Jones PhD., Pastor Rev. Dr. Carl T. Washington, Jr., Pastor St. Matthew AME Church, Orange, NJ Bethany B.C., Newark, NJ Evergreen Baptist Church, Rev. Melvin E. Wilson, Pastor Rev. Timothy E. Jones, Pastor Palmyra, NJ St. Paul Baptist Church, Montclair, NJ Bethlehem Missionary B.C., Rev. Dr. Guy Campbell, Jr., Pastor Rev. Dr. Bernadette Glover, Pastor Roselle, NJ Fellowship Missionary B.C., St. Paul Baptist Church, Red Bank, NJ Rev. Jeffrey Bryan, Pastor Newark, NJ Rev. Alexander Brown, Pastor Beulah Bible Cathedral Church, Newark, NJ Gerald Lydell Dickson, Senior Pastor Calvary Baptist Church, Garfield, NJ Rev. Calvin McKinney, Pastor Calvary Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Elton T. Byrd Pastor/Founder First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, Somerset NJ Rev. Danté R. Quick, PhD, Pastor First Baptist Church, East Elmhurst, NY Rev. Patrick Henry Young, Pastor St. Paul Community B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. David K. Brawley, Pastor Tabernacle B.C., Burlington, NJ Rev. Dr. Cory L. Jones, Pastor The New Hope B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Joe Carter, Senior Pastor Morristown, NJ First Baptist Church Union Baptist Temple,, Bridgeton, NJ Rev. Jerry M. Carter, Jr., Pastor of Kenilworth, NJ Rev. Albert L. Morgan, Pastor Canaan B. C. of Christ, Harlem, NY Rev. Nathaniel Bullock Jr., Pastor United Fellowship B.C., Asbury Park, NJ Rev. Thomas D. Johnson, Pastor First Baptist Church of Teaneck, NJ Rev. James H. Brown, Sr., Pastor Canaan B.C., Paterson, NJ Rev. Dr. Marilyn Monroe Harris, Pastor Walker Memorial B.C. Bronx, NY Rev. Barry L. Graham, Pastor First Baptist of Jericho, Deptford, NJ Rev. Dr. J. Albert Bush Sr., Pastor Cathedral International, Perth Amboy, NJ Bishop Donald Hilliard, Pastor Charity Baptist Church, Bronx, NY Rev. Reginald Williams, Pastor Rev. Derek V. Gaitling, Pastor First Corinthian Baptist Church, NY Rev. Michael A. Walrond, Jr., Senior Pastor First Park Baptist Church, Plainfield, NJ Welcome Baptist Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. Elijah C. Williams, Pastor World Gospel Music Assoc., Newark, NJ Dr. Albert Lewis, Founder Christian Love B.C., Irvington, NJ Rev. Rufus McClendon, Jr., Pastor Rev. Brandon Keith Washington, Pastor First Baptist Church, South Orange, NJ Rev. Dr. Terry Richardson, Pastor General Baptist Convention, NJ Rev. Dr. J. Michael Sanders, President Good Neighbor B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. George A. Blackwell, III, Pastor Grace B. C., Mt. Vernon, NY Rev. Dr. Franklyn W. Richardson, Pastor Greater Mount Zion A.M.E., Trenton, NJ Rev. Dr. Charles F. Bayer, Pastor Greater Zion Hill B.C., Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Frank J. Blackshear, Pastor Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) Malcolm A. Punter, Ed.D., President & CEO Imani Baptist Church, East Orange, NJ Rev. William Derek Lee, Senior Pastor It Is Well Living Ministries, Clark, NJ Rev. Kahlil Carmichael, Pastor Macedonia Baptist Church, Lakewood, NJ Dr. Edward D. Harper, Pastor Mariners’ Temple B.C., New York, NY Rev. Dr. Henrietta Carter, Pastor Memorial, B.C., New York, NY Rev. Dr. Renee Washington Gardner, Senior Pastor Messiah Baptist Church, Bridgeport, CT Rev. Dr. James B. Logan, Pastor Messiah Baptist Church, East Orange, NJ Rev. Dana Owens, Pastor Metropolitan B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. David Jefferson, Pastor Mother A.M.E. Zion Church, Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Malcolm J. Byrd, Pastor Mt. Neboh Baptist Church, Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Johnnie Green Jr., Pastor Mt. Pisgah B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, Pastor Mount Olive Baptist Church, Hackensack, NJ Rev. Gregory J. Jackson, Pastor Mt. Olivet B.C, Newark, NJ Rev. André W. Milteer, Pastor Mt. Zion AME Church, Trenton, NJ Rev. J. Stanley Justice, Pastor Mt. Zion B.C., Westwood, NJ Rev. Bernard Glee, Pastor New Beginnings Agape Christian Center, Freehold, NJ Rev. Dr. Andre McGuire, Pastor New Garden State Jurisdiction COGIC NJ Bishop William Cahoon New Hope Baptist Church, Metuchen, NJ Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Owens, Pastor New Hope Baptist Church of East Orange, East Orange, NJ Rev. Dr. Vernard E. Hinton, Pastor New Hope Baptist Church of Hackensack, Hackensack, NJ Rev. Dr. Drew Kyndall Ross, Senior Pastor New Life Cathedral, Mt. Holly, NJ Rev. Eric Wallace, Pastor New Reid Temple COGIC, East Orange, NJ Bishop William Cahoon North Stelton AME Church, Piscataway, NJ Rev. Dr. Eric and Myra Billips, Pastors Paradise B. C., Newark, NJ Rev. Jethro James, Pastor Park Ave Christian Disciples of Christ, East Orange, NJ Rev. Harriet Wallace, Pastor Pilgrim B. C., Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. Glenn Wilson, Pastor Ruth Fellowship Ministries, Plainfield, NJ Rev. Tracey Brown, Pastor Shiloh AME Zion Church, Englewood, NJ Rev. John D. Givens, Pastor Shiloh B.C., New Rochelle, NY Rev. Dr. DeQuincy M. Hentz, Pastor Shiloh B.C., Plainfield, NJ Rev. Dr. Danielle L. Brown, Pastor Shiloh B.C., Trenton, NJ Rev. Darell Armstrong, Pastor St. Anthony Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY Rev Dr. Walter L. DeLoatch, Sr., Pastor St. James AME Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Ronald L. Slaughter, Pastor St. John Baptist Church, Camden, NJ Rev. Dr. Silas M. Townsend, Pastor St. John B.C., Scotch Plains, NJ Rev. Shawn T. Wallace, Pastor St. Luke Baptist Church of Harlem, NY Rev. Dr. Johnnie McCann, Pastor St Luke B.C., Paterson, NJ Rev. Kenneth D.R. Clayton, Pastor St. Mark Missionary B.C., Jamaica, NY Rev. Owen E. Williams, Pastor St. Matthew AME Church, Orange, NJ Rev. Melvin E. Wilson, Pastor St. Paul Baptist Church, Montclair, NJ Rev. Dr. Bernadette Glover, Pastor St. Paul Baptist Church, Red Bank, NJ Rev. Alexander Brown, Pastor St. Paul Community B.C., Brooklyn, NY Rev. David K. Brawley, Pastor Tabernacle B.C., Burlington, NJ Rev. Dr. Cory L. Jones, Pastor The New Hope B.C., Newark, NJ Rev. Joe Carter, Senior Pastor Union Baptist, Bridgeton, NJ Rev. Albert L. Morgan, Pastor United Fellowship B.C., Asbury Park, NJ Rev. James H. Brown, Sr., Pastor Walker Memorial B.C. Bronx, NY Rev. Dr. J. Albert Bush Sr., Pastor Welcome Baptist Church, Newark, NJ Rev. Dr. Elijah C. Williams, Pastor World Gospel Music Assoc., Newark, NJ Dr. Albert Lewis, Founder