Reflections on recent events at the Arkansas Annual Conference Session
“Tension” is not an adjective fit enough to describe the days we are living. We are walking on eggshells within the United Methodist Church and in our communities and neighborhoods. Coupled with the word “tension,” we can add such words as frustration, anxiety, and division, which only worsens matters. We feel hopeless as we watch the events that unfolded in Buffalo, Uvalde, Philadelphia, Tulsa, and so many others of our communities devastated and victimized again and again through the violence of guns. We only hear “thoughts and prayers” from our elected officials without any action.
We are all reeling from these events, but the pain is especially acute in black and brown communities. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 40,000 Americans die from gun violence every year. That’s about 100 people every single day. Out of those, black Americans are disproportionately impacted by gun violence. They experience ten times the gun homicides, 18 times the gun assault injuries, and nearly three times the fatal shootings by police compared to white Americans. A 2021 review of CDC data by Everytown Research & Policy shows that 3,800 Latino people die from gun violence in the U.S. each year. That’s an average of 10 deaths every day. The report also indicates that Latino children and teens are three times more likely to die from firearm homicide than their white peers. Uvalde, Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Tulsa are the latest embodiment of these devastating statistics.
According to the Democrat Gazette, who obtained video of the Arkansa Annual Conference session that took place this past week, Pastor Doug Phillips, of White Hall United Methodist Church made reprehensible and harmful remarks during a time of “Holy Conferencing” related to a resolution being considered by the annual conference on gun-control, the mass shooting at Uvalde, and the racially motivated massacre in Buffalo. During his remarks, Mr. Phillips stated that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is “sacred” and “given to us by God.” He then closed his statement by saying he would “sacrifice any one of his four children to be able to keep his guns.”
The resident bishop of the Arkansas episcopal area, Bishop Gary Mueller, ruled Mr. Phillips’ statement “out of order.” Subsequently, Mr. Phillips offered an apology saying that he “practiced poor judgment, was impulsive and disrespectful” and “did not show [the] this conference the proper respect that [it] you all deserve.” Bishop Mueller accepted Mr. Phillips’ apology and then moved on to other business.
Mr. Phillips’ irresponsible expressions and how the presiding bishop handled them were disturbing and inflicted further harm to a community already in great pain.
Forgiveness and repentance are pillars of Christian discipleship. However, repentance is more than saying “sorry.” Repentance requires actions that show that one realizes the harm done and works at repairing that damage with precise and intentional steps of reparations.
Rev. Doug Phillips’ words affected not only his annual conference but also the communities of Uvalde, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Arizona, and so many others. His crude and insensitive remarks were made at the expense of communities devastated by gun violence, particularly communities of color who bear the brunt of Mr. Phillip’s unchecked privilege, which allows him to use harmful sarcasm in an attempt to make a point.
Furthermore, Bishop Mueller’s willingness to accept his public apology without consequences supports another person with the privilege to commit an egregious offense and say, “I’m sorry” and/or “it was out of character” to resolve it. Impulsivity is not a valid excuse when dealing with human suffering.
Dismantling the roots of racism requires we condemn the events that took place at the Arkansas Annual Conference session. Also, any apology that does not include a clear intention to repair the harm done reeks of pride and narcissism, not of a spirit of repentance.
Our congregations and communities deserve better. Apologies are not enough.
Therefore, MARCHA calls Bishop Gary Muller articulates a clear vision for increased cultural competence, social awareness, and anti-racist mindset in the Arkansans Conference that include appropriate leadership development experiences and systems of accountability for all active clergy and conference elected leadership so that clergy and laity leadership in the conference exhibit compassionate and culturally competent leadership.
MARCHA also calls the Arkansas Annual Conference, and all US annual conferences to join the efforts of the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church by creating Rapid Response Task Forces to educate, equip and mobilize United Methodists to advocate for responsible gun controls in our nation.
MARCHA is committed to continue surrounding in prayer the families devastated by gun violence in our nation and working towards responsible gun control policies that ensure the safety of all citizens, especially our children and other vulnerable persons.