People participating in the The CommUNITY Collective, #StopAsian event, standing in solidarity against hate crimes, in Columbus, OH on March 20, 2021. Photo by Paul Becker licensed under CC BY 2.0)

People participating in the The CommUNITY Collective, #StopAsian event, standing in solidarity against hate crimes, in Columbus, OH on March 20, 2021. Photo by Paul Becker licensed under CC BY 2.0

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Dear Siblings in Christ,

This is a message to everyone, and it is a message in particular to all those who are Asian or of Asian descent.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) stands in solidarity with our Asian siblings and stands against anti-Asian hate.

In the midst of the rising number of hate crimes and in the wake of the shooting deaths of eight people in Atlanta, six of whom were women of Asian descent, we can only imagine the pain, grief, fear and the mix of feelings that many in the various Asian communities are undoubtedly feeling. We grieve the loss of eight lives to violence. We pray for the families and communities impacted by the loss. We lament the division and hatred that continue to fuel words and acts of scapegoating and violence toward our Asian siblings. We also lament the harm done to those who are among the most vulnerable in society by the inability to see the full personhood of others.  

To our Asian siblings, we see you among us, and our spirits and our prayers are with you. Our expression of the Body of Christ is richer for your presence.

Just as the PC(USA) stands against every other form of hate and stands for God’s love and justice shown to us by Jesus Christ, we also stand against hatred toward those of Asian descent. It is antithetical to the vision of God’s beloved kin-dom. It is antithetical to the PC(USA) foundations of diversity and inclusion, in which all children of God are beloved and welcomed to belong to God and to one another.

This anti-Asian sentiment, although on the rise in the past year or so, is not new.[1] Therefore, all Presbyterians are urged to not tire or grow weary in standing against hate and violence, and to keep standing for Christ’s love and justice.

Prayer:

O God of mercy and grace,

Hear our prayers for the safekeeping of those Asian siblings among us. Comfort those who are grieving. Strengthen those who are afraid. Guide those who are lost. Encourage those who are overwhelmed. You have been our hope in ages past. You continue to be our hope. Transform us that we may continue to work toward the vision of your reign that Christ Jesus came to show us. In Christ’s name, Amen.

 

[1] According to the nonprofit organization Stop AAPI Hate, between 2019 and 2020, there was a 150% increase in hate crimes against Asians, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders.