Dear Members and Friends of University UMC:
Here in Austin, it is Spring Break for many of our area schools. I’ve heard from some of you who are traveling with family. Others of you are enjoying a more relaxed pace at home while tackling Spring cleaning or projects around the house (that’s me!). For still others of you, Spring Break for students may not impact you. However this week has been for you, I hope you’ve enjoyed signs of Spring in perfect weather days and the sight of bluebonnets. And however this day finds you, I wish for you peace and joy.
In these Friday notes, I often cull prayers and poems I’ve come across and want to share. Sometimes I’m reflecting on things in my life. Other times, it’s a place I process news events; this is where I find myself today.
It was earlier this week that news broke about César Chávez’s horrific acts, including sexual abuse of girls and women. I am with the many of you who have been reeling from this news. When we learn that someone who has inspired us and someone we’ve respected grossly violated ethical standards and boundaries, it is excruciating. This is especially so when the person has been known for their work in the area of justice.
Here are a few things I’m keeping in mind.
It is important to separate the person from the movement. Justice for farm workers and rights for those who labor will always be important. This movement was never about one person. It is not about Chávez. As our recent guest preacher Jim Harrington shared earlier this week, “The movement is about people.”
In the work of justice, we resist the false narrative that we have to choose. Rather than adopting an “either/or” approach, we lean into “both/and.” In other words, we don’t choose whether we will support farm workers or victims of abuse. We support both. We don’t choose between caring for the environment or becoming anti-racist. We choose both. We don’t choose between advocating for the full inclusion of all LGBTQIA+ persons or reproductive freedom. We choose both. We don’t choose between welcoming immigrants or speaking out against ageism. We choose both. We choose it all because the mercy of God is wide—wide enough to include the whole wide world. And as the people of God, we also extend our compassion to all who are vulnerable and underrepresented. We will not grow weary in the work of justice. And so, we refuse to hold only some oppressors accountable while dismissing and overlooking the sins of other oppressors. To be quite clear, there is no justice in holding an abuser who was a Democrat accountable while refusing to hold a Republican abuser accountable. We choose to hold both— all abusers—accountable.
