Black Texas Baptist group leaders support nonviolent protests

Leaders of the African American Fellowship of Texas voiced support for nonviolent protests against racially motivated police brutality.

Presidents of several Texas Baptist universities also issued statements deploring racial injustice and pledging no-tolerance policies regarding racism.

The president, vice president and executive board of the African American Fellowship called the death of George Floyd while in police custody “a senseless, unnecessary act of violence against a human being.”

Floyd died after Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes while Floyd was face down on the street and handcuffed.

‘Make your voices heard’

“This act of murder demands justice,” the African American Fellowship leaders stated. “And we want the country to know that we stand in support of all nonviolent demonstrations to move this country to action regarding the killing of Black men and women at the hands of our police force.

“We also call upon all Christian-based organizations to break the bonds of silence regarding this issue. We call upon you to speak up and make your voices heard. This is a crime against humanity, and we cannot remain silent and allow these crimes to continue in the greatest country in the world.”

The African American Fellowship leaders urged Christians to contact local officials to insist that actions like those surrounding Floyd’s death will not be tolerated.

“We want to support our local police, pray for them and encourage them,” the statement continued. “But we want to also remind them that they are here to ‘serve and protect.’ … So, we support our police and appreciate their service. Yet we will not support police that break the laws they are sworn to uphold.”

Fellowship President Kenneth Jackson, pastor of New Light Baptist Church in Lubbock; Vice President Edward Wagner, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Harker Heights/Killeen; and members of the fellowship’s executive board issued the statement June 5.

Jackson also joined 50 other African American pastors from across the South Plains in calling for “meaningful and constructive dialogue that will lead to actions toward true progress.”

Racism will not be tolerated

The presidents of Dallas Baptist University and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor each issued statements saying racism will not be tolerated on their respective schools.

“There has yet to be a time in my life where I have been filled with such sadness and grief of witnessing what seems to be unfolding all around me. DBU has always been a refuge for me, but as I have learned in recent days, this has at times been the opposite for others, especially our students of color. This grieves me,” DBU President Adam Wright wrote in a June 4 online message.

At DBU, “the heart of our campus beats for the Lord,” Wright stated, while acknowledging that “we are an imperfect people, called to serve a perfect God.”

“Though we may often fall short of the ideal we imagine, we will not fail to continually strive and reach for that peace and unity for which the Lord has already claimed for us through the power of his resurrection. It is because of this power that our collective heart’s desire will be to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God,” he stated. “Though I feel this and have seen it manifest in very tangible ways, we have so much further to go.

“To be clear for any and all that have come and gone before, we will not tolerate racism at Dallas Baptist University.”

The recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd not only have brought to light the reality of racism and social inequality in the United States, but also have “caused our campus community to mourn and come together in prayer and hope for a way forward,” Wright stated.

While DBU has sought to increase diversity in its student body, leadership and governing board, as well as integrate diversity into its strategic planning programs and create “safe spaces … for dialogue about difficult issues,” he added, “these still are not enough.”

“In the coming weeks and months, we plan to have a full review of our campus activities and proactively seek to engage in the sometimes-uncomfortable conversations to change the narrative of our culture, first beginning on campus and then within our community and beyond. The need for elevated and honest dialogue is clear, and we plan to ensure that our words translate to actions,” Wright stated.

DBU will host separate listening sessions and forums for faculty and staff, students and alumni to “create a space to lament, listen and learn,” he continued.

‘Prompt corrective action’ pledged

UMHB President Randy O’Rear issued a statement June 5 promising racism will not be tolerated in his university community and pledging to “take prompt corrective action” when it occurs.

“As we have witnessed again in recent weeks, racism remains a pervasive evil in our country. Our Black brothers and sisters are in pain. I am disheartened to hear about students and alumni who experienced racial injustice on our campus. We live in a fallen world, but there is never a justification for any form of racism to be tolerated, especially in our university community,” O’Rear stated.

“I promise that UMHB will strengthen our commitment to identify and eliminate the biases that contribute to racism on our campus. We are dealing with a heart problem. The most effective ways to change racist attitudes are through education and the work of the Holy Spirit. As a Christian university, we are uniquely positioned to provide opportunities for students to experience both. Our graduates can then go forward to help transform the hearts of the world. This is our vision of Christian higher education.”

O’Rear pledged UMHB “will take a deeper look at how racism is affecting people of color on our campus.” He urged alumni, students, faculty and staff to report online any experiences with discrimination or other concerns.

“When our community is back together this fall, we will formally initiate conversations so we can listen to and, more importantly, hear those who have encountered racism on our campus. This feedback will be essential as we form a plan of action,” O’Rear stated.

“Together, we will identify where the university is falling short. We will then take prompt corrective action and purposeful steps to change biases and other factors that lead to racism. Ultimately, our actions will speak louder than our words. We love our Black students. They deserve, and will receive, our very best.”

Offer  grace and peace

In addition to endorsing a Big 12 Conference statement committing to “fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect” and deploring “acts of racism and violence,” Baylor University President Linda Livingstone issued her own statement May 29.

“My heart is broken as I join with our Baylor students, faculty, staff and alumni in deep grief and prayer over the pain, fear, anger and injustice caused by disturbing events of racism and violence in our nation,” Livingstone stated.

“As a Christian university, we are called to offer the grace and peace of Christ to others. These continued heartbreaking acts emphasize the great need for all of us to come together as a people, deepen our capacity for compassion and meaningfully address the systemic issues that allow them to happen again and again.”

On June 2, Houston Baptist University President Robert Sloan posted an online statement saying the death of George Floyd—who grew up in Houston—“has painfully reminded us that there is much work yet to be done for us to fulfill God’s purposes for the world.”

“God’s kingdom—the reign of God through Jesus, the true monarch of this world—stands opposed to all acts of bigotry, racism, hatred, murder, violence and chaos. HBU, a university committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, rededicates itself in these troubling days to love, service, prayer, justice, reconciliation, peace, and liberty for all people,” Sloan stated. “May God give us the wisdom to live with faith, love and mercy so that we may courageously do his work in the world.”

George Floyd’s death brings to mind all those “who have died due to injustice and hatred,” a June 3 statement issued by leaders of Stark College and Seminary asserted.

“We will not be silent or passive allowing those in our diverse community to stand alone while systemic practices, attitudes and actions of racial prejudices and discrimination of social injustice spawn hatred toward those of any race, especially our African American brothers and sisters. We choose not the path of destruction or hate, but love,” the statement said.

“We choose to love and serve our students, faculty and staff so that we may become more of Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘Beloved Community,’ for this is truly the nature and expression of becoming the kingdom of God.”

Two African American employees—Fritz Williams, core faculty member and bivocational pastor of First Baptist Church in Lockhart; and Eric Tarver, director of church relations and bivocational pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Beeville—drafted the statement.

Stark College and Seminary officials who joined Williams and Tarver in signing the document were Tony Celelli, president; Tina Villareal-Cooper, vice president for student experience; Christopher Stapper, vice president for mission and finance; Jena Dunn, provost; Andres Garcia, acting director of the certificate program; Tony Miranda, acting director of the graduate program; Celeste Gonzalez-Moreno, acting director of bachelor and diploma programs; Khristian Nichols, director of theological library services; Primitivo Pagayon, registrar; and Grover Pinson, core faculty.

NOTE: The last five paragraphs were added after the article initially was published.