# data[].attributes.headline
Statement from The Department of Ethnic Ministries consists of Asiamerica Ministries, Latino/Hispanic Ministries, Black Ministries and Indigenous Ministries. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Statement from The Department of Ethnic Ministries consists of Asiamerica Ministries, Latino/Hispanic Ministries, Black Ministries and Indigenous Ministries. 

# data[].attributes.body
As the Episcopal Church’s Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries and as director of this department, I am proud to say that I, along with my colleagues, stand with our Asian American and Pacific Islander sisters and brothers at this critical time in our nation, as atrocious episodes of hate, violence, racist and offensive behavior and statements have been directed at them. Such cruel and insensitive actions call to mind the need for God’s people to renounce bigotry in all its forms and expressions, committed against any and all of God’s children. Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community is a community without prejudice or hatred. If we are committed to making this community a reality, we must live into its principles on a daily basis. How? We must speak out. We must take action. We must not stay silent. We must stop this hate and scapegoating against our Asian and Pacific Islanders siblings. When we do our work together in the Ethnic Ministries Department, we do just that – work together as a team. We come from different races, cultural backgrounds and languages. But we have found that we have so much more in common, and we have realized that within our diversity is power. We complement one another – where one of us has weaknesses, the other has strengths. Together, we do much more than any one of us can do alone.The apostle Paul said, “in Christ there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). The church, even in its earliest days, was aware of the importance that its members be as one. So when one of us is under attack, we are all under attack. But how do we respond? Not with hate but with love – love for those who are hurting. Not with violence, especially not gun violence, but with peace – demonstrating peace in the world. Not with vengeance but with justice – working for a safe and just environment for all. I join with you, and ask you to join with me, in standing with our Asian American and Pacific Islander sisters and brothers during this time of need. But not only right now – this is not going away just because we have gathered here today. Please reach out to the Department of Ethnic Ministries and especially the Office of Asiamerica Ministries to share with us what you are doing to stop the Asian Hate or invite us to join you in your efforts. We are all in this together –  We are all in this together.

The Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén, Director of Ethnic Ministries and Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries  on behalf of the Department of Ethnic Ministries; The Rev. Fred Vergara, Missioner for  Asiamerica Ministries;

# data[].attributes.body
Prayers for solidarity with ALL. And in particular holding our AAPI community members in kindness and comfort.  May we all be safe, content, healthy and free.

# data[].attributes.headline
United in Your LoveAlmighty God, who are mother and father to us all,Look upon your planet Earth divided.Help us to know that we are all your children,That all nations belong to one great family,And that all of our religions lead to you.Multiply our prayers in every landUntil the whole Earth becomes your congregation,United in your love.Sustain our vision of a peaceful futureAnd give us strength to work unceasinglyTo make that vision real.- Helen Weaver

# data[].attributes.subject
United in Your LoveAlmighty God, who are mother and father to us all,Look upon your planet Earth divided.Help us to know that we are all your children,That all nations belong to one great family,And that all of our religions lead to you.Multiply our prayers in every landUntil the whole Earth becomes your congregation,United in your love.Sustain our vision of a peaceful futureAnd give us strength to work unceasinglyTo make that vision real.- Helen Weaver

# data[].attributes.body
As a member of the Brotherhood Of St Andrew, representing the Anglican  Episcopal Men’s  Ministry Community, I condemn the racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and violence that we have witnessed across our country, particularly, against our Asian American Pacific Island (AAPI) brothers and sisters.

In my baptismal covenant, I pledge to respect the dignity of every human being.  Each of us has the power to make a positive, constructive difference in the lives of others, and a responsibility to speak up in the face of bigotry and oppression.  I therefore stand united in deploring the “othering” of any of God’s children.

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”  (Gal 3:28)

# data[].attributes.headline
Prayers abound for Asian and Pacific Islander Partners - Fr. Bruce Woodcock +

# data[].attributes.subject
Prayers abound for Asian and Pacific Islander Partners - Fr. Bruce Woodcock +

# data[].attributes.body
For ALL to ground our work on racial justice and solidarity among ALL people - and not just for a few - for once we know the pain of the other we must strive to end this cycle of violence+

# data[].attributes.headline
Stop Asian Hate Statement from Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry (EAM)

# data[].attributes.subject
Stop Asian Hate Statement from Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry (EAM)

# data[].attributes.body
We at EAM are grateful for your support and willingness to stand with us.  But today, we ask our friends and allies to embody your solidarity.  Not all of us in our community are comfortable marching and speaking out.  We fear retaliation.  We are also mindful that racism and bigotry must be owned by the groups that perpetrate this hate and violence.

When Asian have spoken out, responses vary from “Who do you think you are, calling us racist?  “It’s not racism, it’s classism.  You’re not disadvantaged, you have more money, more education…fill in the blanks.”  Even though these responses are admissions, they are also accompanied by a blanket denial.   You, friends and allies, can speak our reality.  We ask your help in becoming the community that Jesus envisioned for God’s people.

Embodying your solidarity might look like this.  It would be you, initiating a conversation with us, letting us know you are concerned.  It would be you, asking about our experiences and concerns; you, asking if you can share these stories. When you see an Asian American leaving the market alone, can you walk with us until you see we are safe?  When your friends utter bigoted remarks, can you interrupt and share our stories?  Friends and allies, you can work to soften hearts and open minds.

We have been through a lot together over the years.  We thank you for your prayers and supporting us in this way.  May God bless our friendship. Together, we will make a difference in this hurting world.

# data[].attributes.headline
"We stand in solidarity with our Asian-American neighbors."  That's what the sign in front of our church says.  You are not alone.  We stand with you.  The people of St. John's Episcopal Church, Marietta, PA

# data[].attributes.subject
"We stand in solidarity with our Asian-American neighbors."  That's what the sign in front of our church says.  You are not alone.  We stand with you.  The people of St. John's Episcopal Church, Marietta, PA

# data[].attributes.headline
May we live in a world in which the dignity of every human being is respected by all.

# data[].attributes.subject
May we live in a world in which the dignity of every human being is respected by all.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Mystical Conversion for Love to Conquer Hate

# data[].attributes.subject
The Mystical Conversion for Love to Conquer Hate

# data[].attributes.body
Thomas Merton on March 18, 1958: “In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all those people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was like waking from a dream of separateness, of spurious self-isolation in a special world, the world of renunciation and supposed holiness… This sense of liberation from an illusory difference was such a relief and such a joy to me that I almost laughed out loud… I have the immense joy of being man, a member of a race in which God Himself became incarnate. As if the sorrows and stupidities of the human condition could overwhelm me, now I realize what we all are. And if only everybody could realize this! But it cannot be explained. There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.” - May we grow in grace to have such a conversion. - Rev’d Canon Walter Brownridge  ( Burlington, VT )

# data[].attributes.headline
As a 4th generation Chinese and Japanese American I have felt "othered" and treated as a foreigner my entire life. Even though I was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Bay Area, one of the most diverse places in the U.S., marginalization and discrimination against me and my fellow Asian Americans was strong and I internalized "white is right". My Nissei grandfather fought in the 442nd during WWII, the most decorated in U.S. history. This battelion made up of the same Japanese Americans that America imprisoned in camps, was also treated as expendable when they were sent to rescue the "lost batallion" of 200 white men.  In that rescue, the 442 was sent on a suicide mission under full fire and lost 800 Japanese American lives to rescue only 200 white American lives.  This is just one example of how Asian Americans have always been used in whatever way convenient. Whether it's to pit races against each other, cheap labor, or just find a group to blame and scapegoat, this is how Asians have been treated for centuries in America.  I have heard from so many of my Asian American brothers and sisters the same feelings I've always had.  To keep your head down, work hard, don't make waves, don't draw attention to yourself. Always feeling like the racism against us isn't as bad as another groups racism so don't complain.  Always feeling invisible. Always being asked "where are you from," because I'm not white so I couldn't possibly be from "here." I will no longer be silenced. I will stand up for my children so they do not have to grow up internalizing these feelings of never "belonging." Becuase they do belong here and have a right to be treated with equality and respect as real Americans as 100% human, their WHOLE selves loved and celebrated.

# data[].attributes.subject
As a 4th generation Chinese and Japanese American I have felt "othered" and treated as a foreigner my entire life. Even though I was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Bay Area, one of the most diverse places in the U.S., marginalization and discrimination against me and my fellow Asian Americans was strong and I internalized "white is right". My Nissei grandfather fought in the 442nd during WWII, the most decorated in U.S. history. This battelion made up of the same Japanese Americans that America imprisoned in camps, was also treated as expendable when they were sent to rescue the "lost batallion" of 200 white men.  In that rescue, the 442 was sent on a suicide mission under full fire and lost 800 Japanese American lives to rescue only 200 white American lives.  This is just one example of how Asian Americans have always been used in whatever way convenient. Whether it's to pit races against each other, cheap labor, or just find a group to blame and scapegoat, this is how Asians have been treated for centuries in America.  I have heard from so many of my Asian American brothers and sisters the same feelings I've always had.  To keep your head down, work hard, don't make waves, don't draw attention to yourself. Always feeling like the racism against us isn't as bad as another groups racism so don't complain.  Always feeling invisible. Always being asked "where are you from," because I'm not white so I couldn't possibly be from "here." I will no longer be silenced. I will stand up for my children so they do not have to grow up internalizing these feelings of never "belonging." Becuase they do belong here and have a right to be treated with equality and respect as real Americans as 100% human, their WHOLE selves loved and celebrated.

# data[].attributes.body
“Let us live together in peace in a Beloved Community.”  - MLKing, Jr.   Posted by Anna-Marie Booth of San Francisco

# data[].attributes.headline
“We must learn to live together as brothers [sisters,siblings] or we will all perish together as fools.” - MLKing, Jr

# data[].attributes.subject
“We must learn to live together as brothers [sisters,siblings] or we will all perish together as fools.” - MLKing, Jr

# data[].attributes.body
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

# data[].attributes.headline
prayers to my Asian communities all around the world, and for my state of Massachusetts, may we continue to move progressively as God's witnesses, may we continue to show love and be disciples. 

# data[].attributes.subject
prayers to my Asian communities all around the world, and for my state of Massachusetts, may we continue to move progressively as God's witnesses, may we continue to show love and be disciples. 

# data[].attributes.body
Our community of monks and oblates stand in solidarity with Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders for all, for our community members and our families. Peace in Christ.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Right Reverend Craig Loya, Bishop of Minnesota

# data[].attributes.subject
The Right Reverend Craig Loya, Bishop of Minnesota

# data[].attributes.body
Beloved in Christ,

The work of racial justice and healing may very well be the most important work disciples of Jesus are called to in this generation. The recent rise in anti-Asian rhetoric, hatred, and violence is one more reminder of how critical and urgent this work is.

The diocese I serve as bishop is enriched in countless ways by the presence of a large number of Asian Episcopalians, many of whom have been the targets of hateful rhetoric, and any number of the other ways racism manifests in our midst. As the apostle Paul reminds us, when one of us suffers, we all suffer. We are members of the same body, we share an identity and we belong to one another. So all of us stand with our Asian siblings in the ways they have suffered, and we stand with them against the rising hatred.

The vocation of the church is to show the world a preview of God's perfect beloved community, where difference is received as a gift, and all people are embraced as siblings and friends. The Episcopal Church in Minnesota stands with all of you in this critical work, and commits to using our life together to help build a better, more just, and more loving society, for the sake of God's love.

# data[].attributes.headline
Holy Week - Episcopal Diocese of Rochester

# data[].attributes.subject
Holy Week - Episcopal Diocese of Rochester

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.episcopalrochester.org/content/holy-week

Dear friends,

As we approach the holiest of weeks and journey with Christ through suffering and resurrection, let me offer a reflection on solidarity.

If one member suffers, all suffer together... 1 Corinthians 12:26

We are experiencing much hope with the ramped-up vaccinations and more people finding safe ways to crawl out of the actual and metaphoric COVID tunnel. At the same time, we're exhibiting old and “normal” behaviors at the epicenter of induced human suffering. These behaviors reveal some of our self-destructive ways as a country. I see violence thriving in three arenas, when we use the right lenses.

1.    Violence against specific communities through racialized, xenophobic, and other discriminatory lenses,

2.    Violence against anyone through militarized police-shooting and mass shooting-lenses, and

3.    Violence against vulnerable communities through the economic-disparity lenses.

The unholy trinity of chronic violence in our country is not a new diagnosis. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made this connection before his assassination. When Nived and I stood at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis earlier this month, I realized afresh that the bullet that killed King was trying to eliminate God’s dream of beloved community for all of us.

Let me take a quasi-deep dive into racialized violence in this piece. The escalation in frequency of attacks on Asian American-Pacific Islanders during this pandemic has drawn our consciousness to the insidious toxicity of prejudice, scapegoating, and hate against people of Asian descent. Over the past year, we have heard of many overt and covert projections of anger onto members of the Asian American community. As a church, “we suffer/stand with you” if you have been impacted directly or indirectly by acts of anger. You are not alone. We also stand against any member of white, black, or any other community when they act violently against our Asian American siblings.

Why is this important to us? It is important because, ultimately, we are all different parts of the same body. We all belong in the body of Christ, our safe and spiritual home. When we hurt each other don’t we only hurt ourselves? After all, we are one body. We must never forget how we responded as a world when we knew little about this COVID virus last year around this time. Remember, for the most part; we set aside our self-imposed distractions, we followed guidelines to protect each other, discovered a brand-new vaccine type, and even invited competitors to partner in vaccines' mass production. It's pretty simple. We tend to be more equitable in our productivity when we are more unified in our outlook towards each other.

So, what's behind this hate directed toward Asians? Is there more to triggers and tropes like “China Virus” or “Kung-flu?” Let’s examine what's behind these. All people of color share a history in our country where the sickness of white supremacy justified unspeakable violence against native peoples. Native Americans were made dispensable through the “Doctrine of Discovery” in the name of God! White superiority continued the same kind of violence against our African siblings with the added inhumanity through slavery and later on through Jim Crow and incarceration laws. In this iteration, the sickness dehumanized, owned, and dispensed bodies of African-descent people. We have had anti-Hispanic bigotry from our country's founding times. We can see the same continuum of violence directed toward our Asian American-Pacific Islander siblings. Such violence is not new in that the sickness goes back to the Page Act of 1875, with an explicit connection between Misogyny and racism, leading to the anti-miscegenation law preventing a white person from marrying a “negro, mulatto, or Mongolian.” Such legal and normalized discrimination led to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act.

FDR’s move to Japanese Internment Camps built on this foundation of simmering hate towards Asian immigrants. The “model minority” identity future churned out a degree of hatred from other racially discriminated groups. Such inter-racial strife is a move from the old playbook of divide and conquer. The most recent attack on Asian women in Atlanta reveals an ancient connection between terror and misogyny. Overall, it is not accidental that some political leaders insisted on calling COVID-19 the “Chinese Virus.” Strangely, they exposed a trope of this one virus's variant manifesting its destiny seemingly in different structural forms throughout our nation’s history. It is time to name the myth of this ancient lie that white people are superior to anybody. Jesus and the early church contradict this lie very clearly. No, in Christ, there isn't any such categorization but the truth that we are all one, meaning equal, in Christ--Galatians 2:28. We have no room for superiority in the church and hence, in society.

We ask for heightened vigilance in all our communities to unite at this time. We urge all allies to communities of color to join in acts of grace and abundant generosity toward one another during this time of heightened fear in our Asian American-Pacific Islander communities. Racism is a particular sin that has corrupted our knowledge systems, our national identity, our institutions, and our very soul. It’s time to correct this wrong.  Please consider joining this gathering of Episcopal Asians and allies for lament, healing, action and solidarity in response to the rising tide of violence against Asians and Pacific Islanders, tomorrow at 1pm.  The Racial Reconciliation, Healing and Justice committee has also scheduled our next book study and discussion with the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.  I invite you to join us! You can find more information here.

We call upon all the baptized to reach out to each other as traumatized and hurting communities, be they native American, migrant, Black, Latino, White, LGBTQ, and all others, with hospitality and grace. We all experience the trauma of separation, guilt, and shame in ways. Remember, we are children of a loving God. We are also survivors of a global pandemic. We got here because we helped each other. As we affirm our conviction in One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism, let us prove our identity as One Beloved Community. Let us, as One human Family with One heartbeat, raise each other to our full humanity in Christ! Out of many, One. We rise and fall together. Let us, therefore, suffer together and raise each other to our full humanity.

"In Christ, who suffers alongside all who suffer, this Holy Week!"

Prince

# data[].attributes.headline
Response to the Rising Hatred & Violence against Asian American

# data[].attributes.subject
Response to the Rising Hatred & Violence against Asian American

# data[].attributes.body
Click to register https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oGaSqU3fRfml-asi1JYRBA

# data[].attributes.headline
Prayers and Support for our Asian-American Siblings

# data[].attributes.subject
Prayers and Support for our Asian-American Siblings

# data[].attributes.body
Dear Ones,

After the horrific murders in Atlanta this past week and the pervasive discrimination and violence against Asian Americans I want to share several statements and resources with you. Please feel free to share this out in any way you wish.

First, I want to highlight this event, happening tomorrow, Saturday March 27th,

Stop Asian Hate: A National Gathering of Episcopal Asians and Allies

You will find just below the statement from the Circles of Color in our Diocese.

Statement from the Circles of Color, Diocese of Olympia

Next, is a statement from the General Convention Deputies of Color

Statement from General Convention Deputies of Color

Finally, Dr. Kimberley George, a professor and mentor to a few of us in this diocese recommends the following resources in Asian American Studies. I thank her for sending them and I commend them to you.

Key Words in Asian American Studies is a great text for introductions to key terms in the field. (the above is an amazon link—you can also get it through NYU Press). The essays are short, accessible, and written by top scholars in the field.

Everything Lisa Lowe has written is paradigm shifting, but I keep thinking of Immigrant Acts, her 1996 text, today. It’s foundational in Asian American Studies and feminism, and its insights on education are also huge.

Her more recent The Intimacies of Four Continents would be a great next step. This is an incredible book.

Yen Le Espiritu’s body of work on imperialism and militarization is also very, very important for seeing the links between imperialism and racism here in the US. (See Body Counts, her most recent book.)

Anne Anlin Cheng’s The Melancholy of Race is thinking at intersections of Asian American and African American Studies, with an analysis of grief, the psychic life of whiteness, mourning, and education systems.

These books are produced within the North American academy, and have their limitations based on this, but they are also rich in many tools.

Finally, Trinh T. Minh-ha’s absolutely classic 1989 Woman, Native, Other writes back to the orientalism of the white/male gaze while reclaiming so many ways of knowing. I will be teaching this text in my new course on Identity

I hope you might find these helpful.

Blessings,

+Greg

# data[].attributes.headline
A Statement on the Atlanta murders and Anti-Asian Violence by the Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel

# data[].attributes.subject
A Statement on the Atlanta murders and Anti-Asian Violence by the Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel

# data[].attributes.body
Dear Ones,

As many of you know, I am part of Bishops United Against Gun Violence, group of more than 100 Episcopal bishops working to curtail the epidemic of gun violence in the United States, and together we have issued the followed statement regarding Tuesday’s hate crime and horrific act of violence and terrorism which claimed the lives of eight persons of Asian descent.

On Tuesday, another white man who should not have had a gun shot and killed seven women and one man at massage spas in the Atlanta area. Six of his victims, all women, were of Asian descent. The gunman had been a patron of at least two of the spas where the massacre took place; and in the aftermath of the shootings, he confessed, saying that he considered the women at the spas to be a sexual temptation he needed to eliminate because of his Christian faith.

It is hard to know what to decry first in the toxic stew of racism, misogyny, religious violence, and gun culture. Most basic, perhaps, is the fact that the alleged killer bought his weapon just hours before the attacks began. The sale was entirely legal, showing yet again that standards for gun purchasing and ownership across our nation are far too lenient. Day after day, innocent people pay the price.

In addition to the need to enact sane gun legislation, we must eradicate from our culture the racist, misogynist ideas that lead white men to perceive Asian women as sexual objects. Such demeaning stereotypes that turned deadly in Atlanta on Tuesday are rooted in this country’s centuries-long history of anti-Asian laws and policies. In the past year, these old hatreds have been revived by mendacious politicians and misguided people who have attempted to exact retribution from Asians and Asian Americans for the origin and spread of the COVID-19 virus. Women have borne the brunt of these lies: Stop AAPI Hate reports that in the last year, Asian women have reported hate incidents 2.3 times more often than Asian men.

As Christian leaders and bishops, we are particularly disturbed that the alleged shooter’s Christian faith is reported to have fueled his desire to murder the women in massage spas whom he believed were sexual temptations. It grieves us that the Christian faith we profess can be twisted and deformed in ways that give rise to violence, particularly to gun violence, by white Christian men against women and people of color. Christian churches, regardless of theology or denomination, must explicitly reject the idea that God wants Christian men to dominate or kill other human beings. Such is not the way of Jesus. Such is not the way of love.

We extend our profound sympathies to the families of the victims of this shooting, and we are praying for everyone who has been touched by this brutality. As we have repeatedly emphasized, we pray not to avoid taking action, but to prepare for it. Please join with us in reaching out to the Asian American people in your congregations and communities. Join us too in helping to raise awareness of the ways in which men in this country objectify women, particularly Asian women, and leave them vulnerable to trafficking and gender-based violence. And join us in advocating with your United States Senators to pass these essential pieces of legislation now before them that can help prevent gun violence and save lives:

HR 1620, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021
HR8 Comprehensive Background Checks Bill
HR1446 Charleston Loophole Bill

Blessings,
+Greg

# data[].attributes.headline
Statement on Anti-Asian Violence
The Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group of the Association of Theological Schools

# data[].attributes.subject
Statement on Anti-Asian Violence
The Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group of the Association of Theological Schools

# data[].attributes.body
March 24, 2021
We, the Asian Descent Presidents and Deans, of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) condemn and denounce every form of attack against Asians and Asian Americans in the strongest possible terms. As a minoritized group, Asian Americans have been historically subject to harassment, discrimination, violence, and mass incarceration. The recent targeted violent and brutal attacks on the members of our community are abhorrent manifestations of perennial racism against the Americans of Asian descent in our country. The targeted violence unto killing of the most vulnerable—women and the elderly—is especially deplorable. It is a direct assault on our community that honors and values family deeply. We reject white supremacy and xenophobia and urge an end to the scapegoating of Asian and Asian Americans for the pandemic.
The Asian and Asian American community is an ethnically and culturally diverse group that has made valuable contributions to our society—particularly so during this pandemic. We claim our rightful place in our country and demand to be treated equally and with dignity. We ask all of us to respect and protect the life of every member of our community.
We call upon all members of ATS to speak against anti-Asian racism in our institution and nation. We ask you to join in our fight for justice and the equal rights of people of Asian descent, as each and every one of us is called to bear witness to God’s justice and mercy for all people.
The members and friends of the Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group at the Association of Theological Schools listed below do hereby stand in solidarity as the signatories of the Statement:
Dr. Susan Abraham, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Pacific School of Religion | Vice-Chair, ATS Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group
Dr. Deborah H. C. Gin, Director of Research and Faculty Development, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Rev. Dr. David S. Han, Dean of the Faculty and Vice-President for Academics, Pentecostal Theological Seminary | Chair, ATS Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group
Rev. Dr. Jin K. Hwang, The School of Divinity, Georgia Central University
Dr. Hyunwan Kim, Academic Dean of the Graduate School, Grace Mission University

Dr. Uriah Y. Kim, President, Graduate Theological Union
Rev. Dr. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, President, Claremont School of Theology
Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Iliff School of Theology
Rev. Dr. James Seung-Hyun Lee, President, International Theological Seminary | Steering Committee Member, Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group
Rev. Dr. John Y. Lee, Academic Dean, John Leland Center for Theological Studies
Dr. Sanghoon Lee, President, America Evangelical University Graduate School of Theology
Dr. Sang Meyng Lee, President, Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America
Dr. Katheryn Leung, President, China Evangelical Seminary North America
Rev. Dr. Kuo-Liang Lin, President, Logos Evangelical Seminary
Dr. Amir Hussain, Chair of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University
Rev. Dr. Wonsuk Ma, Dean of the College of Theology and Ministry, Oral Roberts University
Rev. Dr. Deborah Flemister Mullen, Columbia Theological Seminary | Past Co-Convener of the ATS African American Presidents and Deans Group
Rev. Dr. Damayanthi Niles, Interim Academic Dean, Eden Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Alvin Padilla, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Director of Advanced Degrees,
Western Theological Seminary
Dr. Rollin A. Ramsaran, Academic Dean, Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan
Dr. Lester Edwin J. Ruiz, Director of Accreditation and Global Engagement, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Rev. Dr. J. Jayakiran Sebastian, Dean of the Seminary, United Lutheran Seminary Rev. Seon Mook Shin, Vice President, World Mission University School of Theology
Dr. Chloe Sun, Academic Dean, Logos Evangelical Seminary | Steering Committee Member, Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group

Rev. Christopher M. The, PhD Cand., Director of Commission Information Services, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Dr. Felix Theonugraha, President, Western Theological Seminary
Dr. Mai-Anh Le Tran, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, Garrett-
Evangelical Theological Seminary
Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, President, Pacific School of Religion | Convener of the ATS LatinX Presidents and Deans
Dr. Frank Yamada, Executive Director, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Dr. Mary H. Young, Director of Leadership Education, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Dr. Amos Yong, Dean of the School of Theology and the School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary

# data[].attributes.headline
Statement from Bishop Provenzano on Anti-Asian Violence

# data[].attributes.subject
Statement from Bishop Provenzano on Anti-Asian Violence

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Statement from Bishop Provenzano on Anti-Asian Violence

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In the wake of the killing of George Floyd and other events of the past year, hundreds of parishioners across our diocese have responded with discerning hearts and minds, doing a deep dive into how racism has been woven into the fabric of our nation.

This has included participation in our church-wide Sacred Ground curriculum, among many other vehicles of learning and action. We are yearning - for the health of all of our souls, and with God's help - to pull and unravel the threads of that fabric, dismantle this sin, and build up God's kingdom here on earth.

This examination includes acknowledging historical anti-Blackness, our mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples, and our scapegoating and cruelty toward recent immigrants. I am proud of our church family as we strive to walk in the way of Christ's all-inclusive love.

But one aspect of our history that often goes unnamed is the deep-seated anti-Asian sentiments that have been unveiled (again), with often deadly consequences. A survey of police departments in 16 major U.S. cities revealed that from 2019 to 2020, there was a 149% increase in anti-Asian violence.

Just last week in NYC, there were several more reports, some recorded on security cameras, of Asian Americans being kicked, punched and stabbed in unprovoked attacks. One Chinese restaurant owner spoke out, worried for both the physical and mental health of his workers, realizing that they can barely make it to and from their jobs without incident. In Sacramento, California, last Friday, a high-school teacher made a slant-eyed gesture during a Zoom class.

But it's not just big cities. Hundreds of attacks have been reported in areas across the nation. In March of last year, a 34-year-old father grocery shopping in Midland, Texas was slashed on his face, his 3-year-old stabbed in the back, and his 6-year-old stabbed in the face. When the perpetrator was asked his motives, he confessed to trying to kill the family, saying that he thought they "brought the virus here and were trying to spread it." He also told the authorities that "all Asians must be from China," reflecting the pervasive ignorance about the vast diversity of the largest continent on earth.

Unfortunately, these sinful acts, willful ignorance and/or lies have been actively fueled by our former president, and this rhetoric continues to be fomented by members of Congress, other political figures still in power, and the hate groups who support them. A quarter of anti-Asian attacks included a perpetrator using language out of the former president's playbook: phrases like "Wuhan virus," "China virus," "kung-flu" and "go back to your country."

An alarming number of these brutal attacks have been on defenseless elders, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for decades. Most attacks go unreported, so we know this is the tip of the iceberg. As a result of this spike in assaults, many Asian Americans report being fearful of leaving their home or sending their kids back to school.

While much of the rise in violence has been amplified and normalized by the white supremacist doctrine that pervaded the prior administration - on full display on Jan. 6, 2021 - the false narrative of "the yellow peril" has been with us for a long time and did not begin with COVID-19. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, to Japanese Incarceration in the 1940s, this is yet another long-standing thread in the fabric of our complex American story.

Sadly, white supremacy has, with great success, pitted minority communities against each other to feed its own insatiable hunger for power. For a deeper historical and social perspective, I commend to you a recent article by Michelle Kim, founder and CEO of Awaken, for a clear and thoughtful analysis of anti-Asian bias: "On Anti-Asian Hate Crimes: Who Is Our Real Enemy?".

As followers of Jesus - especially in our immensely diverse corner of God's vineyard - it is our responsibility to recognize and interrupt the forces that divide the children of God. Our Scripture and teachings command that we welcome the stranger and see the image of God in the face of every human being.

For the safety of our communities, and in the hope that God's love be embedded in every aspect of our common life, I ask that we all fervently use our eyes to see the face of God in everyone.

As Christians, we are called to love and serve, and to pray for "deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation" for all people. [BCP 385] We will stand up, speak out, and defend our neighbors of Asian descent, especially in times when they are scapegoated for the failings of our society.

The Right Reverend Lawrence C. Provenzano
Bishop of Long Island

Click below for translations of Bishop Provenzano's statement:
--> Korean --> Chinese Simplified Recommended References:
[LA Times] Anti-Asian hate crimes and harassment rise to historic levels during COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-03-05/anti-asian-crimes-harassment

[ABC New York] Asian man recalls unprovoked attack at Manhattan subway station: https://abc7ny.com/asian-attack-assault-unprovoked-hate-crime/10385810/

[NBC New York] CEO of NYC Chinese Restaurant Franchise Opens Up About Attacks on Workers: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/ceo-of-nyc-chinese-restaurant-franchise-opens-up-about-attacks-on-workers/2915432/

[NBC News] Asian Americans have often needed to 'prove' racism. Then social media video came along: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/asian-americans-have-often-needed-prove-racism-then-social-media-n1258896

[PBS] Asian Americans (five-hour film series): https://www.pbs.org/show/asian-americans/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island: Statement from Bishop Provenzano on Anti-Asian Violence

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As followers of Jesus - especially in our immensely diverse corner of God's vineyard - it is our responsibility to recognize and interrupt the forces that divide the children of God. Our Scripture and teachings command that we welcome the stranger and see the image of God in the face of every human being.

# data[].attributes.headline
Special Message from the Bishop: Anti-Asian Rhetoric by The Right Reverend Robert L. Fitzpatrick, Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i

# data[].attributes.subject
Special Message from the Bishop: Anti-Asian Rhetoric by The Right Reverend Robert L. Fitzpatrick, Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i

# data[].attributes.body
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Special-Message-from-the-Bishop--Anti-Asian-Rhetoric.html?soid=1101479076646&aid=5l_lpWEdARQ

My dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

The continental United States has recently experienced a surge in anti-Asian rhetoric, bullying in schools, racist incidents, scapegoating and hate crimes impacting Asian and Asian American people. It has been reported that: "Anti-Asian hate crime in 16 of America’s largest cities increased 149% in 2020 according to an analysis of official preliminary police data by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, with the first spike occurring in March and April amidst a rise in COVID cases and negative stereotyping of Asians relating to the pandemic." While we often feel a disconnect from the harsh reality of the North American States, the inappropriate Anti-Asian remarks by the Police Chief on Kauaʻi brings the crisis home to the Islands.

We must be clear that the besetting sins of the United States are racism and nationalism. From the expansion of Europeans into Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania in the fifteenth century, there has been an enduring race-based bias woven into the fabric of the United States from its founding and that reality is even present in our Island home. I am convinced that the tap roots of racism in the United States are Euro-centric imperialism and expansionism (articulated in the Doctrine of Discovery  and shown in Hawaiian history), colonialism (focused on land ownership and control of natural resources), and race based slavery. It is manifest – sadly, all too often unconsciously – in notions that skin pigmentation and the language a person speaks define levels of humanity, and that the “foreigner” is immediately suspect and a threat. It is human sin. It is, however, a personal sin as well as a corporate sin. It is my sin.

As Episcopalians – no, as responsible adults, we must be clear that there is no room for racism and such hate in our society. We must reject the political and public rhetoric of hate that is meant to inflame passions and demonize other human beings. It also means we must put away ordinary “jokes” and side comments that actually dehumanize another person. Even in Hawaiʻi, these are no longer acceptable. Our words shape our actions and reinforce our beliefs. My words matter. This is not about “political correctness,” but about basic morality and humanity. As Jesus taught us in the “Great Commandment”: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matt. 22:37-40)

While we must walk in solidarity with victims of the racist attacks, and reject hate and violence in thought, word and deed, we must also examine ourselves and our own deep-seated understanding and fears of other people. We must again ask ourselves this question from the Baptismal Covenant (BCP page 305): “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” This question is for each of us and must be answered every day. It means that we are each called to monitor our own thoughts, speech and actions, and to challenge hurtful comments and actions from our own friends and family members – as well as public officials and those in authority.

The current anti-Asian rhetoric and violence speaks to the reality that our 245-year journey as citizens of the United States in becoming a truly just society has only begun. As Christians, we are reminded of our higher responsibility to live into Jesus’ teaching in the “Beatitudes” (Matt. 5:3-16) and “The Judgment of the Nations” (Matt. 25:31-46). It is up to us – to you and me.

Yours faithfully in Christ Jesus,

+Bob

The Right Reverend Robert L. Fitzpatrick, Bishop

The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i

The Episcopal Church in Micronesia

# data[].attributes.headline
On Anti-Asian Violence
 
A Message to the
Clergy and People of the Diocese of New York
from the Rt. Rev. Allen K. Shin, Bishop Suffragan
with a supporting message from
the Rt. Rev. Andrew ML Dietsche, Bishop of New York, and the Rt. Rev. Mary D. Glasspool, Bishop Assistant.

# data[].attributes.subject
On Anti-Asian Violence
 
A Message to the
Clergy and People of the Diocese of New York
from the Rt. Rev. Allen K. Shin, Bishop Suffragan
with a supporting message from
the Rt. Rev. Andrew ML Dietsche, Bishop of New York, and the Rt. Rev. Mary D. Glasspool, Bishop Assistant.

# data[].attributes.body
March 18, 2021

My Brothers and Sisters,

The pandemic this past year has brought many challenges in our lives both personally and collectively. One thing it has brought to light is the virus of white supremacy and racism which has infected the soul of America for centuries. It has played out in racial inequalities with a devastating effect on the lives of the people of color in marginalized and underprivileged communities, in terms of COVID infections and deaths, of economic hardship, and even of the vaccine rollouts. The killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and many other African Americans have revealed the insidious nature of the racist structures and systems and of white supremacy in our society.

During the pandemic we have also seen a dramatic surge of hate crimes against Asians across the country, particularly against the elderly and women. An 86-year-old man from Thailand died after being shoved to the ground in San Francisco. A Filipino man was slashed with a box cutter on the subway in New York City. Just a couple of weeks ago, a 56-year-old Malaysian man was pushed to the ground and punched in the face on a subway station. Most recently, eight Asians were murdered by a gunman in Atlanta, six of whom were women. While the overall crime rate has declined from 2019 to 2020, hate crimes against Asians have increased 150%. Since March last year 3,800 anti-Asian hate crimes have been reported, with 68% of the victims being women.

Violence against Asians is not new. We have seen this before in this country. The “Yellow Peril” sentiment of the nineteenth century fueled many violent incidents against Chinese communities. The Chinese massacre of 1871 resulted in the Chinatown of Los Angeles being ransacked and 20 Chinese men being lynched and hanged. Those who attended the 2019 Diocesan convention saw the play, Red Altar, which told the story of the massacre of the Chinese fishing village in Monterey Bay. The village was burned down, and the Chinese people were lynched or driven out. When the bubonic plague broke out in 1900, the Chinatown in Honolulu was burned down by a mob, and the Chinatown in San Francisco was quarantined off so that no Chinese were allowed to leave but were left to die while the white residents were allowed to leave. The US government also played a role with the enactment of anti-Asian policies such as the Chinese Exclusionary Act of 1882, the Asiatic Barred Zone Act of 1917, and the Japanese Internment of 1942.

As an Asian-American bishop, I am mindful of bringing too much attention to Asian concerns and issues lest people see me as a bishop only for Asians. But I can no longer remain silent. I feel compelled to speak up against the rising anti-Asian hate crimes in our communities. It has been conveyed to me that the members of the Church of Our Savior in Chinatown, many of whom are elderly, are feeling anxious and living in fear. I cannot express how deeply it hurts and saddens me. In the fall 2020 edition of the Episcopal New Yorker, I shared a personal experience of being harassed and called “China virus” by a biker as my wife and I were taking walks in the nearby park. I have been called by racist epithets and told to "go home" many times before. But, never have I felt so fearful for my life as I have felt this past year.

Despite the fear and anxiety, however, one thing I have learned in this pandemic is to be grateful for life and not take it for granted. I have learned the joy of being alive through simple things. Easter this year feels so much more meaningful because of that. I have learned the power of gratitude, compassion, and justice. So I ask for your prayers of solidarity and of compassion and justice for the Asian brothers and sisters in your communities. I ask you to reach out to them with a word of encouragement and comfort. I ask you to stand up against all forms of racial violence and hatred in our society as I and many other Asians stand with African American brothers and sisters in their continued struggle against the systemic racism and the culture of white supremacy just as the Asian leaders marched alongside the African American leaders in the Civil Rights movement. Racial justice and healing will be the unavoidable focus of the Church’s mission in the post COVID time. I refuse to let fear take over my life and hatred destroy my faith in the goodness of humanity. At the heart of the Christian faith is the life-giving power of the crucified Christ. Love is the way of the Cross, and love will win over all hatred. Won’t you join me and stand up against the racist and xenophobic violence that is destroying our common life and humanity?

# data[].attributes.headline
A Statement from the Deputies of Color of the General Convention

# data[].attributes.subject
A Statement from the Deputies of Color of the General Convention

# data[].attributes.body
March 23, 2021

The Deputies of Color of the General Convention (Asian Caucus, Black Caucus, Indigenous Caucus, and Latinx Caucus) express deep concern and sadness for the increased racial violence against the Asian and Pacific Islander population.  The murders in Georgia on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 reflect the American reality of a society deeply ingrained with racism, white supremacy, and sexism.

We mourn the lives lost and stand with the victims and families.  We are hurt that members of our Asian community wake every morning fearing acts of violence and have become the scapegoats for this pandemic.  We lament the complicity of silence and we express our gratitude for many who stand in solidarity with the Asians and Pacific Islanders during this troubling time.

It is becoming far too common for people acting through social media or in their day-to-day encounters to encourage such hatred. What is happening and the normalization of violence in any form are not acceptable and need to stop.  The destructive power of words has caused lives to be lost.  For too many years, ignorance and hate have been weaponized against people of color.  This hatred and ignorance are another virus amongst us.

We call on all people across The Church to use their voice and power to stop these acts of hatred and racial violence immediately.  We call on all leaders to set an example in their words, their deeds, and all forms of communication to oppose such hatred instead of encouraging it.  We cannot see members of our community as “others” but as people we are in communion with.

President Biden in his recent address on Asian discrimination stated, “this has to change, because our silence is complicity. We have to speak out. We have to act."  We echo the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends”.  We appreciate and affirm Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s message calling for the followers of Jesus of Nazareth to “stand up, speak up, and show up when hatred or bigotry is directed at any child of God.”  Today, we stand in solidarity with our Asian siblings, and we are committed to reach out to them, offering kindness and love, so that we can become The Beloved Community.  Acts of racial hatred need to end NOW.

Submitted by the Deputies of Color Steering Committee for the 80th General Convention:

Asian Caucus

Ryan Kusumoto, co-chair                                          Diocese of Hawaii

Alan Murray, co-chair                                                Diocese of Oregon

Canon Barbara Okamoto Bach, secretary                Diocese of New Jersey

Warren Wong                                                            Diocese of California

Black Caucus

The Hon. Rose Sconiers, chair                                  Diocese of Western New York

Louis Glosson, vice chair                                          Diocese of San Diego

Krisita Jackson, secretary                                          Diocese Central Florida

Dianne Audrick Smith                                                Diocese of Ohio

Joe McDaniel, Jr.                                                      Diocese of Central Gulf Coast

Indigenous Caucus

The Rev. Br. Simeon Powell, CG co-chair                Diocese of Northern California

Minnie Steele, co-chair                                              Diocese of Minnesota

The Rev. Michael Sells, secretary                              Navajoland Area Mission

The Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton                              Diocese of Olympia

Latinx Caucus

Wendy Cañas, co-chair                                              Diocese of New York

The Rev. Nancy Frausto, co-chair                            Diocese of Los Angeles

The Rev. Jose Rodriguez, secretary                          Diocese of Central Florida

The Rev. Daniel Vélez-Rivera                                    Diocese of Virginia

# data[].attributes.headline
Chicago Faith Leaders Lament Atlanta Shootings, Violence Against Asian Americans

# data[].attributes.subject
Chicago Faith Leaders Lament Atlanta Shootings, Violence Against Asian Americans

# data[].attributes.body
Bishop-elect Paula E. Clark and other faith leaders released the following statement in the wake of the March 16 shootings in Atlanta.
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. (Isaiah 1:17, NIV)

On behalf of the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church, we condemn the shootings in metropolitan Atlanta on March 16 that left eight people dead and one injured. We recognize that these shootings were not a random attack. Six of the eight people killed were Asian American women.

These shootings are the product of a culture of violence, misogyny, and hatred against Asian American people—particularly Asian women and senior citizens—that has intensified over the last year. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a significant increase in anti-Asian rhetoric, hate crimes and acts of violence against our Asian American siblings. According to a recent report, Asian Americans have experienced a 150% increase in hate crimes in major cities over the last year, and “Asian American women reported harassment incidents 2.3 times more often than their male counterparts.”

We acknowledge that this most recent event is another chapter in a long history of violence and hate directed at Asian American people, and we grieve the pain, fear and anger it has engendered. As we lift our hearts in prayer to God for the families, friends and neighbors of all whose lives were touched by Tuesday evening’s shootings, we are reminded that God’s response to our prayer is often a call to action for our communities.

Heeding God’s call today, we recommit to standing up and speaking out against violence, hate, gender and sexual bias, economic discrimination, and racism of all types. We commit to establishing and deepening our relationships and partnerships with our Asian American siblings in Christ. In the wake of this most recent tragedy, we commit to listening more deeply to the particular challenges facing our Asian American siblings so that together we can work to combat the forces of evil and hate that provoke unspeakable acts of violence like the one we now mourn.

The Rev. Paula E. Clark, Bishop-elect, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

The Rt. Rev. Yehiel Curry, Bishop, Metropolitan Chicago Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Bishop John L. Hopkins, Interim Bishop, Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church

This statement is endorsed by the Union of Black Episcopalians, the Very Rev. Kim L. Coleman, National President.

애틀랜타 총격 사건, 아시아계 미국인에 대한 폭력에 대한 시카고지역 교회 지도자의 애도와 성명

선행을 배우며 정의를 구하며 학대받는 자를 도와주며 (이사야 1:17, NIV 성경)

우리는 미국성공회 시카고 교구,  메트로폴리탄 시카고 대의원회의, 미국 복음주의 루터교회, 연합감리교회 북부  일리노이 지부를 대표하여, 3월 16일 애틀랜타 메트로폴리탄 지역에서 8명의 목숨을 앗아가고 1명에 부상을 입힌 총격 사건을 규탄합니다. 이 총격 사건은 무작위 공격이 아니었으며, 8명의 사망자 중 6명이 아시아계 미국인 여성들이었습니다.

이 사건은 지난 한 해 동안 더욱 심화된 폭력과 여성 혐오와 더불어 아시아계 미국인, 특히 아시아계 여성과 노인을 향한 증오의 문화가 낳은 비극입니다. 코로나19 확산 사태로 반 아시아계 정서가 만연하면서 아시아계 미국인 자매들을 향한 증오 범죄와 폭력 행위가 크게 증가했습니다. 최근 한 보고서에 따르면, 작년 한 해 동안 주요 도시에서 아시아계 미국인에 대한 증오 범죄는 150% 증가했으며, ‘아시아계 미국인 여성의 피해는 같은 아시아계 미국인 남성보다 2.3배 더 많아 졌습니다.

최근에 발생한 이 사건은 아시아계 미국인을 향한 기나긴 폭력과 증오의 역사를 다시 한번 재현했으며, 그로 인하여 우리는 고통과 두려움, 분노와 비탄에 잠겨 있습니다. 지난 화요일 저녁에 목숨을 잃은 모든 희생자들의 가족과 친구들, 이웃들을 위해 온 마음으로 기도드리는 가운데, 우리는 기도를 통해 바로 지역 사회를 위한 행동에 적극적으로 나서라는 하느님의 응답에 따르고자 합니다.

오늘 우리는 하나님의 부르심에 따라 폭력과 증오, 성차별과 경제적 차별에 저항하고 나아가 모든 유형의 인종차별에 저항하기 위해 함께 연대할 것을 새롭게 다짐합니다. 또한 그리스도 안에서 아시아계 미국인 자매들과 연대하고 협력 관계를 더욱 공고히 하기 위한 노력을 기울이겠습니다. 이 비극적 사건을 계기로, 우리는 아시아계 미국인 자매들이 직면한 문제에 더욱 귀 기울이고, 이번 사건과 같이 말로 표현할 수 없는 잔인한 폭력 행위를 유발하는 악과 증오의 세력을 물리치기 위해 함께 협력하겠습니다.

Paula E. Clark 사제, 피선 주교, 미국 성공회 시카고 교구

Yehiel Curry 주교, 메트로폴리탄 시카고 대의원회, 미국 복음주의 루터교회

존 L. 홉킨스 임시 주교, 연합감리교회 북부 일리노이 지부

흑인 에피스코팔 연합과 Kim L. Coleman 주교 및 회장이 본 성명문을 지지합니다.

# data[].attributes.headline
Statement on Anti-Asian Violence From the Asian Descent Presidents and Deans of the Association of Theological Schools

# data[].attributes.subject
Statement on Anti-Asian Violence From the Asian Descent Presidents and Deans of the Association of Theological Schools

# data[].attributes.body
March 24, 2021

We, the Asian Descent Presidents and Deans, of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) condemn and denounce every form of attack against Asians and Asian Americans in the strongest possible terms. As a minoritized group, Asian Americans have been historically subject to harassment, discrimination, violence, and mass incarceration. The recent targeted violent and brutal attacks on the members of our community are abhorrent manifestations of perennial racism against the Americans of Asian descent in our country. The targeted violence unto killing of the most vulnerable—women and the elderly—is especially deplorable. It is a direct assault on our community that honors and values family deeply. We reject white supremacy and xenophobia and urge an end to the scapegoating of Asian and Asian Americans for the pandemic.

The Asian and Asian American community is an ethnically and culturally diverse group that has made valuable contributions to our society—particularly so during this pandemic. We claim our rightful place in our country and demand to be treated equally and with dignity. We ask all of us to respect and protect the life of every member of our community.

We call upon all members of ATS to speak against anti-Asian racism in our institution and nation. We ask you to join in our fight for justice and the equal rights of people of Asian descent, as each and every one of us is called to bear witness to God’s justice and mercy for all people.

The members and friends of the Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group at the Association of Theological Schools listed below do hereby stand in solidarity as the signatories of the Statement:

Dr. Susan Abraham, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Pacific School of Religion | Vice-Chair, ATS Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group
Dr. Deborah H. C. Gin, Director of Research and Faculty Development, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Rev. Dr. David S. Han, Dean of the Faculty and Vice-President for Academics, Pentecostal Theological Seminary | Chair, ATS Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group
Rev. Dr. Jin K. Hwang, The School of Divinity, Georgia Central University
Dr. Hyunwan Kim, Academic Dean of the Graduate School, Grace Mission University
Dr. Uriah Y. Kim, President, Graduate Theological Union
Rev. Dr. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, President, Claremont School of Theology
Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Iliff School of Theology
Rev. Dr. James Seung-Hyun Lee, President, International Theological Seminary | Steering Committee Member, Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group
Rev. Dr. John Y. Lee, Academic Dean, John Leland Center for Theological Studies
Dr. Sanghoon Lee, President, America Evangelical University Graduate School of Theology
Dr. Sang Meyng Lee, President, Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America
Dr. Katheryn Leung, President, China Evangelical Seminary North America
Rev. Dr. Kuo-Liang Lin, President, Logos Evangelical Seminary
Dr. Amir Hussain, Chair of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University
Rev. Dr. Wonsuk Ma, Dean of the College of Theology and Ministry, Oral Roberts University
Rev. Dr. Deborah Flemister Mullen, Columbia Theological Seminary | Past Co-Convener of the ATS African American Presidents and Deans Group
Rev. Dr. Damayanthi Niles, Interim Academic Dean, Eden Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Alvin Padilla, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Director of Advanced Degrees, Western Theological Seminary
Dr. Rollin A. Ramsaran, Academic Dean, Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan
Dr. Lester Edwin J. Ruiz, Director of Accreditation and Global Engagement, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Rev. Dr. J. Jayakiran Sebastian, Dean of the Seminary, United Lutheran Seminary
Rev. Seon Mook Shin, Vice President, World Mission University School of Theology
Dr. Chloe Sun, Academic Dean, Logos Evangelical Seminary | Steering Committee Member, Asian Descent Presidents and Deans Affinity Group
Rev. Christopher M. The, PhD Cand., Director of Commission Information Services, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Dr. Felix Theonugraha, President, Western Theological Seminary
Dr. Mai-Anh Le Tran, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, President, Pacific School of Religion | Convener of the ATS LatinX Presidents and Deans
Dr. Frank Yamada, Executive Director, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Dr. Mary H. Young, Director of Leadership Education, The Association of Theological Schools | The Commission on Accrediting
Dr. Amos Yong, Dean of the School of Theology and the School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary

# data[].attributes.headline
Communal Prayer for the End of Asian Hate Crimes and Peace​​

# data[].attributes.subject
Communal Prayer for the End of Asian Hate Crimes and Peace​​

# data[].attributes.body
Communal Prayer for the End of Asian Hate Crimes and Peace​​
(the first draft written by The Rev. Indon Paul Joo
And revised by the Taskforce of Sanctuary Movement Networks of Korean Church in Chicagoland
English translation by the Rev. Jiman Lee)

†​Creator, Giver, and Sustainer of all living things, we thank you for your mercy and providential salvation, and in desperation, we lift up our prayers for all ethnicities and nations to live in peace.
◉​Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
†​God of Light, you grant freedom and liberation as you “shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death” (Luke 1:79). But Lord, we are prideful. We hate and discriminate against the other, brutally taking the lives of our own neighbors.
◉​Lord, we confess our sins. Have mercy on us.
†​This past week, the lives of eight of our neighbors were taken by a mass shooting driven by racism. Six of these were our Asian sisters. Have mercy on the fallen souls, and comfort the families who have lost their loved ones.
◉​Lord of eternal rest, we commit their souls into your hands.
†​As enmity and hate crimes against Asians have risen across our nation, Korean-Americans and all Asian Americans, particularly Asian women are living in fear and anxiety.
◉​Everlasting Defender, protect us under your watchful eye.
†​God of Liberation and Peace, you tear down walls to bring us together. Open our eyes to see that every individual is created in the image of God so that we may cherish our differences and allow the beauty of your diverse creation to flourish.
◉​Unifying Holy Spirit, be our guide.
†​God, champion and defender of the weak, break us out of our submission and silence. Raise us up to become workers of human rights, liberty, and peace in this world.
◉​Spirit of God, come, breathe out new life upon us to make us co-laborers of peace and reconciliation.
†​God, let your peace resonate with love and reconciliation through the paths taken by every individual of every race and every nation - from the Pacific to the Atlantic, from the Rockies to the Florida Keys.
◉​Lord of the new heavens and new earth, lead us step by step towards your kingdom.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, our Prince of Peace. Amen.