Fort Worth interfaith service calls for unity against violence

Asking for God’s wisdom and insight, Christians, Jews and Muslims gathered Tuesday night to consider how to lead the nation toward racial healing after the murder of nine black worshippers at a Charleston, S.C., church.

“We honor and pay homage to these nine who experienced a hate like none of us have known,” said the Rev. Charles Robinson of Meadowbrook United Methodist Church. “We honor and pay homage to these nine by loving relentlessly.”

At times like this, Sister Ayesha Shafi said, “our differences melt away. We stand shoulder to shoulder as mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers.”

Shafi, a Muslim, is program director for Radio Azad, which targets the South Asian community in North Texas.

The gathering was at Broadway Baptist Church, just south of downtown Fort Worth. Other speakers included Rabbi Ralph Mecklenburger of Beth-El Congregation, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and the Rev. Brent Beasley, pastor of Broadway.

Cheryl Kimberling, president of the Multicultural Alliance in Fort Worth, which helped organize the service, said participants sought to stand in solidarity against racial and religious violence.

“Any attack of this sort violates worship in any faith tradition,” Kimberling said.

The nine were fatally shot June 17 during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the country’s oldest black churches. Since then, fires have damaged six black churches in Southern states, and investigators suspect arson in at least three.

Keri Day, an associate professor of theological and social ethics and director of black church studies at Brite Divinity School, said this country is facing serious racial tension.

In the service’s homily, Day said religious communities are well-placed to lead a necessary but painful national conversation.

“The civil-rights movement was grounded in prayer and protest,” Day said. “We are being called to continue that legacy.

“We will be the change that is desperately needed in our communities.”

This story was originally published June 30, 2015 at 9:50 PM with the headline "Fort Worth interfaith service calls for unity against violence."