Dear Friends,

            For some of you, this will be “one of those” letters to the District leadership. I hope you will try to “hang in there” and read this in its entirety.  It is written at a time of what I believe it is a seminal moment in our nation’s history.  Please feel free to contact me with any issues or concerns you may have… indeed especially if you have concerns. I  want to encourage you as a leader, whether clergy or lay, to help raise some conversations about the issue of race as Sen. Barack Obama did in such a powerful way recently.

            Those who were able to attend my Installation Service as your Superintendent in the Fall of 2004 may recall that I gave prayerful thoughts to two career choices: as a lawyer or a pastor. I shared that I chose the ministry because I believed (and still hope) that while the law can address grievances, the Church is in a position to be pro-active, to help shape values and the debate on who we are. I believe the issue of racism, prejudice and privilege are more that matters of being “politically correct”… often said with more than a little derision as I listened to some people discuss at this last fall’s Church Conference. They speak to how we understand one way God has woven diversity into Creation. Beliefs about one’s status… and that of others… are signposts of our equality in the heart of God… or our failure as a people to trust this is so. Anyone who has paid even a modicum of attention to our national debate will recognize that there is an enorm-ous amount of anxiety and stress present in our churches, and the culture-at-large. Part of this is economic, to be sure, but there are other expressions as well.

              What I am encouraging you to do, as a leader on the Ann Arbor District, is to read the text of Sen. Obama’s speech of March 18th (to accress see below) and reflect on it theologically. How might we as United Methodist Christians be a meaningful part of this discussion? How might we as people of faith be agents of God’s transformation for our nation? How can we, individually and collectively, be agents of Christ’s will for Shalom? Perhaps you will want to address it in a sermon. If so, I hope that you will also allow some time for dialogue with others… so that as people of a community of faith we embody dialogue… and not make it a monologue. Perhaps you would want to lead a class on this speech… in the larger societal and church’s context. You may choose to have one of your congregation’s ministry areas reflect and provide a forum for conversation and understanding. Remember that to be authentically diverse, we do well to provide for, and encourage the sharing of, divergent points of view.

            Sen. Obama is an articulate observer in our nation’s history. His perspective is likely to be different from many, simply because of his own life experience. This invitation is offered not to impose my own view, but I see his eloquent speech as a way we can all participate in this called-for national dialogue as followers of Christ and as part of this nation’s unfinished dreams.  You may believe he is way off base. You may sense he is “spot on”. Some may think he didn’t go far enough! What I am inviting, even encouraging, you to do is to provide some leadership around one of the issues of our day. To take a risk to listen… learn…share…grow. It is an enterprise I believe is worthy of our time as leaders in our congregations, communities and nation. I hope you’ll let me know how it went in your church. Maybe consider inviting another congregation or two to join your conversation. Again, my intent is not to add to any divisions (differences need not result in divisions), but to encourage a thoughtful, faithful, respectful conversation as people of faith, as those who are on a common journey with others, including those who are different from us in a whole variety of ways. May the blessings of Christ be with you and those whom you serve as you explore, reflect, listen and seek to grow in faithfulness. I believe it will bless God’s will for Shalom if we do this well.

Shalom,

Tom Macaulay

*To print a copy of the speech, go to www.NYTimes.com, and search for "Obama Speech on Race" within NYT Archives since 1982.