New York, June 2, 2020
The Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops of the United States of America issued a statement yesterday, June 1, condemning all forms of racism, violence, and revenge in the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 and the wave of violent protests and riots that have erupted across the country.
As OrthoChristian reported yesterday, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America also issued its own response on May 31.
The members of the Assembly’s Executive Committee express their deep concern over recent events in America, stating:
We stand in unequivocal solidarity and peaceful protest with all those who condemn racism and inequality, which betray the spirit of democracy in our nation, i.e. “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”. The unjust and unjustifiable murder of Mr. George Floyd, as well as so many before him, is deplorable as anti-Christian and immoral.
While the death of George Floyd is inexcusable, the hierarchs also condemn the violence and revenge that have erupted in its wake, while lauding peaceful protests: “At the same time, we denounce all expressions of violence and revenge, including those despoiling and detracting from peaceful demonstrations. Peaceful marches of protest are a distinctive hallmark of American freedom and progress.”
Violence is a manifestation of the tyranny of sin in our world and is an affront to the image of God in every person, “in whom God has placed an irreducible dignity and sacredness.”
“Thus, as Orthodox Hierarchs, we condemn all actions and words that promote hatred and racism, but also all acts of violence and destruction,” the Committee continues.
Further, the hierarchs call on “all clergy, faithful, and people of good will – of all traditions, faiths, and walks of life” to observe a moment of silence tomorrow, June 3, at noon (Eastern Standard Time) “for all victims of racial violence followed by prayer for peace and reconciliation in this country.”
The statement concludes:
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore, as we kneel, invoking the coming of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, let us offer up our prayers to our loving God for the victims of hatred and racism, to safeguard us all from such prejudice, and also vengeance and destruction, as well as preserve unity and peace in our country, our common home.
The Assembly of Bishops also issued a statement in August 2017 in response to the rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in which it, “emphatically declare[d] that it does not promote, protect or sanction participation in such reprehensible acts of hatred, racism, and discrimination, and proclaims that such beliefs and behaviors have no place in any community based in respect for the law and faith in a loving God.”
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The Assembly represents all canonical jurisdictions operating in America except for those under the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Executive Committee is made up of: Chairman, Archbishop Elpidophoros, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; First Vice-Chairman, Metropolitan Joseph, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America; Treasurer, Archbishop Michael, Orthodox Church in America; Secretary, Metropolitan Gregory, American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA; Bishop Irinej, Serbian Orthodox Church in North, Central and South America; Metropolitan Nicolae, Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas; Metropolitan Joseph, Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia; Bishop Saba, Georgian Apostolic Church in North America; and Metropolitan Tikhon, Orthodox Church in America.
