A confession in the name of racial justice

Since the week of George Floyd's murder, six of our Arlington Heights churches - Our Saviour's Lutheran, Lutheran Church of the Cross, First Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Congregational United Church of Christ and Christian Church of Arlington Heights - have committed to standing for racial justice outside our buildings for an hour on Friday afternoons.

Recently, Lutheran Church of the Cross's permanent "Black Lives Matter" sign was vandalized: "Suck," replaced "Matter," "KKK" hung from the bottom, the cross now sat in a pool of urine.

The church repaired the sign. It was cut apart. They repaired it. Again, it was slashed.

Those who vandalized the sign did not stick around to talk, nor did those who made gestures out car windows or who, with shouts and notes, accused us of being racist ourselves.

If they had, they might have been surprised to learn that our stand is indeed a confession.

It is precisely because we know the racism within us that we are compelled to take this stand. We know that we as individuals have been shaped by the racism around us. Just as significantly, we know that white churches in the United States have too often actively perpetuated white supremacy. We know how deeply this legacy has distorted the gospel of Jesus.

We confess. We repent. We commit to change. We invite you to do the same.

The Rev. Allie Lundblad

Christian Church of Arlington Heights

The Rev. Melissa Earley, First United Methodist Church