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Working Draft with Scripture References – 2/24/21

Who Are We? We Care Bowie (an affiliate of Light of the World Foundation) is a Christian non-profit operating in the Bowie area, encouraging churches to work together to better love their neighbors using the “prayer-care-share” model. As part of its care mission, We Care Bowie formed a network of care providers including churches, other non-profit organizations, city and county government, schools, and local businesses. The We Care Bowie website provides more information about their goals and initiatives, including a brochure describing the various programs and ministries that help people in need of food, clothing, counseling, etc. in the Bowie area. 

Why Does the Working Group Exist? When racial tensions increased in our nation with the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, some local pastors and the leadership team of We Care Bowie renewed conversations about race relations. The dialog began in mid-June with the first Zoom meeting in mid-July 2020. We formed a 10-member working group involving five Bowie pastors and the five-member leadership team of We Care Bowie (see membership below). The working group first read and discussed the Book The Color of Compromise written by Jemar Tisby and then read and discussed the book Beyond Racial Gridlock by George Yancey. A set of PowerPoint slides was developed and used to review Beyond Racial Gridlock. The discussions led to the possible desired Christian approaches for addressing racial issues and the development of the Affirmation and Action Statements below. By 1) discussing the statements and some of the background leading to their development with other church pastors and their members, our civic leaders, and our citizens, and 2) by taking these actions, we believe we can build trust, improve race relations, and enjoy racial harmony in our community. 

AFFIRMATIONS: 

  1. We AFFIRM that all persons are created equal by God. We are part of one race, the human race, which is composed of persons of diverse culture, ethnicity, skin color, age, and gender (Genesis 1:26a, Acts 17:26a, Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 3:28). 
  2. We AFFIRM that we all have inherited a sinful nature with selfish motives (Romans 5:12, Jeremiah 17:9, James 4: 1-2).
  3. We AFFIRM God has commanded us to love one another, to love our neighbors, and to love our enemies. We are to love those who look like us as well as those who do not (John 15:12, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 6:27-28). 
  4. We AFFIRM that if we view ourselves as superior that is SIN and if that superior view is because of skin color that is racism.  White Supremacy and all other forms of race-prejudice are rooted in the sin of racism … and RACISM is WRONG  (Philippians 2:3-5). 
  5. We AFFIRM that our nation’s sinful history of slavery, segregation, racially-biased laws, court rulings, policies and practices has caused serious adverse effects to people of color: emotionally, physically, economically, and in other ways. (Galatians 6: 7-8). 
  6. We AFFIRM that repentance, forgiveness, increased awareness, and cooperation in addressing issues of racism, coupled with continuing efforts to repair past adverse effects of racism is essential to build trust and heal our country (1 John 1:9, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Micah 6:8).  

ACTIONS: 

  1. We ARE COMMITTED to having the difficult conversations about race relations in our families, our churches, neighborhoods, and our communities that allow us to listen and learn from others who have experienced racial discrimination (Galatians 6:2, 2 Corinthians 1:3, Colossians 3:12). 
  2. We ARE COMMITTED to being intentional about strengthening relationships. This is done by self-examination, being willing to repent, by practicing forgiveness, and learning to trust one another (2 Corinthians 13:5,11). 
  3. We WILL ENDEAVOR to stop promoting only our own interests and begin looking out for the interests of others, treating others as we would like to be treated (Philippians 2:4, Luke 6:31). 
  4. We WILL ENDEAVOR to stop blaming others and our personal circumstances to taking individual and mutual responsibility for how we can succeed together (Galatians 6:3-6).   
  5. We WILL ENDEAVOR to stop accepting and repeating “our group” axioms about racism but to do the necessary work of researching, understanding, and sharing the truth that is learned from credible sources (Proverbs 18:17). 
  6. We CALL UPON our churches, schools, work environments, neighborhoods, and social networks to embrace becoming more multiracial and diverse so we can better foster safe environments for racial dialog and the exchange of ideas to achieve peace and racial harmony (Matthew 5:9, Romans 12:16, Psalm 133:1).  
  7. We CALL UPON our institutions to develop and promote new approaches that affirm we are all created equal by God, we all suffer from a sinful selfish nature, and we all must take personal and mutual responsibility for resolving individual and institutional racism (2 Timothy 4:3-4). 
  8. We CALL UPON Christians to support and choose political leadership, not in a partisan manner but in a prayerful, thoughtful, and Godly manner (Exodus 18:21, Proverbs 29:12, Proverbs 29:2).
  9. We CALL UPON Christians to pray for our governmental leaders not to develop allegiance to them but because we know we are subject to their earthly authority and we know they need God’s help to rule in the best interest of the country (1 Timothy 2:1-2, Romans 13:1)
  10. We CALL UPON government leaders to pass laws, make policies, reform practices, and provide leadership that will move us towards a more perfect union that lives up to our founding principles in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these Truths to be self- evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Working Group Membership:

Senior Pastors 

Bob Barnes – Mt. Oak Fellowship
Ron Crawford – New Vision Church
Charles Galbreath – Bowie New Life Assembly 
Scot Moore – Judah Temple AME Zion Church
Steve Fix – Reformed Presbyterian Church 

We Care Bowie Leadership Team 

Darryl Colbert – Share Coordinator 
Bill Hall – Family Coordinator 
Tom Knorr – Prayer Coordinator 
Galen TeSelle – Executive Director 
Mark Wallace – Care Coordinator