Watkins challenges Obama, elected leaders to uphold 'ethical center'

From DisciplesWorld:

By Verity A. Jones, DisciplesWorld editor and publisher

WASHINGTON, D.C. (1/21/09) — Sharon E. Watkins, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), urged newly inaugurated President Barack Obama to “hold the ground” of his ethical center and the nation’s deepest values, in her sermon at the inaugural prayer service today.

President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with their spouses, listened from the front row of the National Cathedral where the service was held. After acknowledging the grandeur of the inaugural festivities, including “dancing ‘till dawn” at 10 inaugural balls the previous night, Watkins said, “Beyond this moment of high hopes, we need you to stay focused on our shared hopes, so that we can continue to hope, too.”

Watkins called Obama and all the Congressional and administration leaders present to lead the nation down paths that pursue justice and liberty for all, including America’s global neighbors.

At a time when national security is heightened and international threats loom large, Watkins said, “Someone has to stand watch and be ready to defend, and Mr. President — Tag! You’re it!”

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"Harmonies of Liberty"

As many of you know, the Rev. Sharon Watkins the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) gave the sermon at today’s Prayer Service at the National Cathedral. A transcript of her sermon, “The Harmonies of Liberty” is available by going to www.disciples. org.

Pastoral Letter about the War in Iraq from General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins

July 25, 2008
Dear Church,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Resolution 0728 adopted at the Fort Worth General Assembly asked that I write a pastoral letter to the congregations about the pain to the nation and to the church related to the war in Iraq. As we surpass the 4000th American death in that war, as at least one of those deaths is a Disciples young man from one of our churches in the Northeast Region, as we pass the unnumbered tens of thousands of Iraqi deaths, I write out of deep sorrow. The families and congregations of those who have died are living with a depth of loss that is unimaginable for those who have not traveled that road. And yet, there is also a depth of pride for the courage displayed by men and women who serve their country through military duty.

As General Minster and President, I have the privilege of participating in conversations with a broad range of persons and partners in mission. Recently I convened a table of persons to reflect on issues raised by the war in Iraq. There were military chaplains present, as well as retired military officers now involved in the church. There were peace and justice activists, representatives of Global Ministries, and two Iraqi refugees – a doctor and a chemist. There were local congregations represented, including a congregation that has been outspoken in its opposition to the General Assembly resolution on Iraq. Personal stories were shared, tears shed, anger expressed and connections made among individuals who ordinarily expect to find themselves on opposite sides of a cavern of divergent opinion. The meeting ended with a strong sense of hope growing out of the oneness in Christ that flows deeper than human opinion.

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Reconcilation Camp: A Letter from Sharon Watkins

Reconciliation Camp

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As I write this letter, I am on a plane traveling from Reconciliation Camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to Sessions ’08 on the Oklahoma prairie. The young mom sitting beside me has a baby boy asleep in her arms. I am thinking of my strapping 6 foot son, now 22, whom I used to carry like that – and it doesn’t seem so very long ago.

Raising up children is just about the most important thing we do. In the church, we don’t raise our children alone.

Reconciliation Camp took place at Craig Springs, Virginia. The campers and the staff were African-American and European-American. Twenty-five middle schoolers, four counselors, a nurse, a chaplain, a crafts person and director Rev. Terrye Williams. When Terrye envisioned this camp, she saw young people (just coming to the “age of accountability” as we used to say) learning about the gift of diversity and challenging the unfairness of stereotypes. She hoped they would learn about working together, sharing many gifts, being one church. Terrye’s vision became a reality and on the morning of their last full day, I had the privilege of joining these young members of our church and participating with them as their keynoter.

When I arrived, it was clear that the message of the week was sinking in.

“What headlines would go with the story of this camp?” I asked.

“A Week of Unity,” “We are One at Craig Springs,” “35 Working as One,” “News Flash: We are One People,” they told me.

At worship the night before they’d presented a skit where they divided into groups, each one claiming that God loved their group the most. Then “God” arrived on the scene, and solved the riddle: God loved them all the same. Another skit: quarrels breaking out one after the other, but each one stopped by a prophetic figure “in the name of peace!” Simple skits, fervent prayers, energetic songs.

Raising our children is just about the most important thing we do, and parents don’t do it alone. We share the job with the surrogate parents, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas of the church.

At Reconciliation Camp I reminded the children of the saying attributed to St. Francis: “Preach the gospel always. When necessary: use words.” I reminded them that our lives are a sermon, that our mission statement as Disciples of Christ is “to BE and to share the good news of Jesus Christ.” I urged them, according to the theme of the day, to reflect on the words from James, “Be doers of the word, not hearers only,” and encouraged them to think of how they could be doers of all they were learning at camp once they got back home.

My time with the campers reminded me that there is hope for the church as we look for opportunities in our congregations, in our schools, and in our neighborhoods to live as Jesus lived.

Reconciliation Camp is one way that creative people in one region are working to fulfill our church-wide priority to be a pro-reconciliation/anti-racism church. Because their work links with our most important responsibility of raising our children well, this camp gives me hope for our future. If we can raise our children to see beyond stereotypes, to value the variations in culture as a gift, and to thrive in a world of diversity, then I see the reign of God drawing near.

Before long we’ll be observing our Reconciliation Offering. This year for the first time it is intentionally linked with World Communion Sunday, on Oct. 5. We’ll remember that as Disciples, we are a movement for wholeness, reaching across barriers of race and culture, to be one people at the table of God. We’ll remember that as part of the one church, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us. And we’ll pray for a day when all our lives will preach a sermon that says, “God loves all God’s children just the same!”

Sharon E. Watkins
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)