"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

~ Philippians 4:7

Peaceful Leaders

Friday afternoon, over a warm cup of coffee, I sat with a church member who, like many of you, has significant leadership responsibilities in her job. We talked about the week’s news, the tragedy of it all, the complexity of people’s responses, and the sharp divisiveness of our political scene. We talked about our own work, and decisions leaders need to make in tense times, balanced times, and even in easy times. “It’s just hard to be a leader,” we said to each other, as we nodded sagely over our pastries. Naming that felt good.

Last week was tumultuous, and the tumultuousness of it was noisy enough to distract me. I spent some time in silence and then found myself turning to faith leaders to point me back to Christ. Two United Methodist bishops wrote poignant pieces about violence in words and deeds, giving me plenty to consider.

Bishop Kristin Stoneking is the bishop of the Mountain Sky Conference, the geographic area holding both Colorado and Utah, which witnessed two shootings that day. She wrote a letter reminding us of Jesus’ response and our actions:

"Just before the violence of this world overtook him, Jesus said, 'Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.' This violence is not our way.

"To be clear, the violence we experience is not only gun violence, but the violence of poverty, of degradation, of greed, and of dominance. Every step we take to bring about the mutual flourishing of all people matters. Every action to remove the life-killing elements around us can save a life."

Then, Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling wrote a letter with these powerful claims and calls:

"ENOUGH!

• Enough bloodshed.
• Enough violence.
• Enough hatred.
• Enough othering.
• Enough partisanship that persuades us to believe that anyone has license to dismiss, diminish, or destroy another person because they are different, outspoken, conservative or liberal, marginalized or mainstream.

"We are all created in God’s image. Every life bears value. Every voice deserves to be heard. Our faith teaches us not only to pray for peace, but to build peace. To seek justice rooted in mercy. To practice kindness. To open our hands to reconciliation. To oppose systems, political, social, or cultural, that encourage dehumanizing our neighbors. These are not optional ideals; they are central to who we are as United Methodists."

On Sunday, Shelley Walters’ inspiring sermon reminded us that we are shaped, guided, and held in God’s hands. I’ll re-read these letters and listen to Shelley’s sermon again this week as I continue to process that tragic day, continue to ask God for the best Christian responses to the divisive and sharp discourse in our nation, and continue to  pray for peace, fairness, and belonging in our country.

After worship on Sunday, another church member in a leadership career thanked us for the morning's service. "I get something here I don't get anywhere else," she said. Remember that, Dear Ones. When the faith community focuses on the Holy Spirit and seeks Christian love, we have something to settle into during these noisy, unmoored times. We follow the leadership of the Prince of Peace. Keep praying, keep working, and keep working together. God is with us.