Church and Community Groups Join Forces to Combat Racism

The Hodge’s display the letters and cards they have received from well-wishers. Photo: Monroe Gilmour

Staff reports

On Sunday, November 7, Grace Chapel United Methodist Church in Leicester hosted a community-wide service to express support for three area families that have recently been subjected to shockingly racist acts.

Pastor Vic Wilfong and his congregation welcomed approximately 50 members of other congregations and activist organizations that have joined together to speak out against racism.

The racist acts have ranged from burning a cross on the front yard of
one of the victimized families to driving doughnuts across the lawn and
leaving verbal and written hate messages at the home of another.

Derived from the book of John, 4:6-23 — the story of Jesus and
the Samaritans — Rev. Wilfong’s message to those gathered, and to the
general public, was a call to all citizens to reach out to those who are
different than themselves. He reminded those working for social change
that they must take three steps: 1) get out of their comfort zone of
like-minded people, 2) move beyond their own social sphere and 3) be
willing, when necessary, to do it alone.

Kathryn Liss, one of the organizers of the outreach, noted, “I
thought that what was most important is that we did not do it alone. The
community came together to voice our disapproval of the actions of a
few.”

Pastor Vic Wilfong (blue shirt and tie, standing 4th from left in front row) with
community activists and congregation members. Photo: Monroe Gilmour

According to Wilfong, outreach between blacks and whites, Jews
and gentiles, other ethnic and religious groups, economic classes, city
and county residents, and every other “different” group is the essential
part of Jesus’s message. Just as Jews were biased against Samaritans,
other groups oppressed Jews, he noted, and reaching out to bridge
differences rather than reinforce them is essential to combat, and
ultimately end, prejudice. “We must,” he said, “see Jesus in the face of
everyone we meet,” for only then can the ideal of brotherly love for
one another truly exist.

Jackie Simms, board president of the Ethical Society of
Asheville, agreed with that message. “It is important for people of
different religions and no religion to take a stand against racism, to
take a stand for and with those who are doing good in our
community. Another way to think of this is to stand with those who are
doing what the Christian scriptures tell us Jesus did. What a wonderful
example he set for us to follow!”

The ideal of our common humanity and brotherhood is widely held
by different faiths and secular groups, as seen by the wide range of
organizations represented at the church service. They included the
Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council, Building Bridges of
Asheville, the Center for Diversity Education, Christians for a United
Community, the Ethical Society of Asheville, Mountain Area Interfaith
Forum, Temple Beth Ha-Tephila, WNC Citizens for an End to Institutional
Bigotry, and the YWCA of Asheville.

Salena Wilson and family members enjoy the well-wishes of friends. Photo: Monroe Gilmour