A Letter to the White American Church

Dear White American Church,

I am writing this letter to inform you of what is going to happen within your congregations.

Many of your churches include People of Color.

Many of these People of Color will be leaving your churches.

As someone who has attended White/mostly White churches for twenty-five years, I can testify to the charged dynamics POCs experience while worshipping and serving in your churches.

At times, I was welcomed as an equal congregant.

But not always.

I have experienced racism and bigotry in these churches.

Sometimes from the pastor.

Sometimes from fellow congregants.

I sometimes experienced racism from people I counseled.

I certainly was ill-treated by fellow parishioners when I began to speak out about sociopolitical topics on social media.

I was publicly attacked by so-called friends who had once broken bread with me and told me they loved me.

Apparently, I was lovable when I was silent about how society treats Black men.

I was acceptable if I interceded to God, but otherwise, I needed to keep my mouth shut.

It was okay for them to blame Democrats for the wind and rain in and out of worship service, but I needed to mind my place.

I currently attend a multiethnic church with many people I love.

The problem is that some of these White people that I love voted against my best interests.

Some of them voted for a racist, sexist, nativist who means me and everyone who looks like me harm.

I can’t articulate how much this hurts.

These people can’t convince me they love and care for me when they vote for someone who hates people like me.

I’m wrestling with how I’m going to handle this situation.

But many other Black people already know what they’re going to do.

They’re going to leave your churches because they can’t justify remaining.

They don’t want to preach, teach, and serve besides racist people who voted for a racist president.

Some of them won’t show up this Sunday.

Some of them will show up on Sunday, and it will be the last time you see them at your church.

They will find a Black church where they can feel safe and protected.

One where the minister doesn’t cast Democrats as demonic.

One where the virtues of an adjudicated rapist and serial adulterer aren’t lauded as admirable.

They will seek churches where they don’t have to worry about being used for their gifts, talents, and abilities one moment, and being treated as an “other” the next.

At this moment, Black people like me feel unsafe in White and mostly White churches.

We feel uncomfortable and uneasy.

We know all White people aren’t the same.

We know that all White people aren’t racist.

We know that all White people didn’t vote for the once former and now future president.

But many of you did.

Some of us will wrestle with making a decision.

Some of us will stay where we are because we feel safe and want to ensure that future congregants of color will feel the same.

Some will stay even though they don’t feel safe because they choose to “ride out the storm,” believing that they can effect changes that will staying worthwhile.

But many will leave.

We must have our time of processing.

Have times of wrestling with God.

Time to talk and pray with our spouses.

Time to agonize over leaving loved ones and cherished roles and responsibilities.

The White American Church is unsafe.

Too many White American Christians are unsafe.

We should be able to worship in peace and security without worrying about the pastor in the pulpit or the person to the left or right of us.

We should be able to worship safely and securely.

And we will.

With or without you.