By The Board of Bishops, The A.M.E. Zion Church
“A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’”
(Isaiah 40:3 NRSVUE)
It was the late, renowned, and distinguished lawyer, diplomat, and Executive Secretary of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) James Weldon Johnson, and his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson, who put pen to paper and notes to music as they gifted the nation with what would be known as the “The Black National Anthem: Life Every Voice and Sing,” in 1900, during the rise of post-war racial violence and reconstruction. The words of this hymn gave voice to the grief and gratitude felt by so many who struggled to be free and sought to honor the journey of faith traveled by those whose names should never be forgotten.
"Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers (and mothers) sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered.
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast".
(James Weldon Johnson)
Our legacy of faith and practice as a Church has always been consistent with the biblical mandate to be a voice that cries amidst the confusion and to stand in solidarity with those impacted by violence. Hence, your Board of Bishops offers this statement to express our collective grief regarding the recent tragedy that has fallen upon the Saint Mark African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Athens, Tennessee, and the family of our faithful, dedicated, and beloved member, Ms. Linda Buchanan.
Because our Church regards life as a gift from God and all members of our Communion as persons made in the “Imago Dei” (image of God) and worthy of love and belonging, we are deeply saddened by the murder of Linda Buchanan, a devout member of the Saint Mark Church. Ms. Buchanan was a faithful servant of God, loved by her community, and warmly regarded as an educator and activist. Our prayers are extended to Ms. Buchanan’s family and all those who mark and mourn her passing. We join you in seeking justice for her and supporting the authorities' ongoing efforts to bring clarity and resolution to this severe matter. We are comforted by the salient truth that the God who always chooses the side of those whose martyred lives bear witness to the grace accompanying our grief will be our light amid this darkness.
Having been apprised of the details regarding this occurrence, we also offer a priestly word of comfort to those who mourn and a prophetic word of solidarity with the Saint Mark Church and the Athens community. This church has stood as a bastion of hope and justice for over 150 years and was a living reminder of the sacrifices made by men and women to live and worship in freedom under the banner of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Therefore, we see such a tragedy as an affront to our mission and witness as a Connectional Church.
The tragedy at Saint Mark affects us all, and as The Freedom Church, we are on high alert. We are confident that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is giving its full attention to this matter and will responsibly and diligently handle this case in the interest of justice for all involved. Our commitment to justice remains unwavering.
We are thankful to the Athens community and all who have come alongside our brothers and sisters of Saint Mark and the Buchanan Family. We especially thank Pastor Tiki Dixon and Presiding Elder Richard Gadzekpo for their leadership and pastoral care for Saint Mark and the Athens community and hold them in prayer for the days to come. In this season of challenge and choices, we choose love over hate, light over darkness, and courage over fear. As The Freedom Church around the globe, we stand in solidarity with Bishop Daran and Reverend Lynn Mitchell, the Midwest Episcopal District, and the Tennessee Annual Conference. We Hurt Together, We Heal Together, and We Will Rebuild Together. We are One Zion, and we are Zion Strong!
Sincerely,
The Board of Bishops of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Bishop Hilliard K.D. Dogbe, President
Bishop Darryl B. Starnes, Sr., Senior Bishop
Bishop W. Darin Moore
Bishop George D. Crenshaw
Bishop Uduak U. Effiong
Bishop Brian R. Thompson
Bishop Eric L. Leake
Bishop Daran H. Mitchell
Bishop Anthony N. Witherspoon
Bishop Melanie R. Miller
Bishop Dwayne Anthony Walker
Bishop Bernardo Ngunza
Bishop Seth O. Lartey, Located
Bishop George W.C. Walker, Sr., Retired
Bishop S Chuka Ekemam, Sr., Retired
Bishop Joseph Johnson, Retired
Bishop Marshal H. Strickland, I, Retired
Bishop Nathaniel Jarrett, Retired
Bishop Warren M. Brown, Retired
Bishop George E. Battle, Jr., Retired
Bishop Kenneth Monroe, Retired
Bishop Dennis V. Proctor, Retired
Bishop Michael A. Frencher, Sr., Retired
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