When I was serving as pastor at an inner-city congregation in Erie, a frequent sound was the yells and loudness of children. Play in the inner-city seems to have a rougher edge than it's more pastoral cousin of rural rough-housing. One night while leaving the church, a young girl came running up the sidewalk to the church door and said, "I'm safe." I asked, "From what? You OK?" She replied, "I am now. I always run to the church because it's a safe place."
I remembered this moment as I reflect upon the murders at the Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. I've always loved the concept of sanctuary --- the safe place where persons run to and are sheltered and protected. I grieve the loss of this and even more that in many places of faith it was lost long before a troubled young man with a .45 caliber gun entered a church prayer and bible study meeting.
The deep disquiet over Charleston is because it was such a common, frequent occurrence. I have sat in many a church meeting space on many an evening leading a Bible study and joining with persons in prayer. I have welcomed the stranger who showed up and joined the circle of study and reflection. If we are who we say we are, we must continue so to do.
After the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the United States, congregations all over the nation were posting various slogans and quotes on their sign boards. Many were of the "God Bless America" variety. At the congregation where I was the pastor (also in Erie), I put "NO FEAR" on our sign board.
Of all the places in our society, communities of faith must remain open, hospitable places of peace. All talk of having the ushers carry guns or mace and installing video surveillance equipment to check-out who is coming to our locked doors must be denied and stopped. Remember who we are and what we have been given --- we are a people of peace whom have received a spirit of love -- this was made abundantly clear in the mercy-filled responses of the family members of the nine persons killed while attending a Bible study and prayer circle open to all.