Come for a Walk: An Invitation

by | Dec 8, 2016

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry to join Faith Over Fear Interfaith Walk Sunday December 18th

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour… Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Romans 12:9;1

Dear Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington,

I invite you to take a walk with me.

Faith Over Fear, an interfaith walk and prayer service, will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 18th, at Washington Hebrew Congregation and include stops for prayer and song at Washington National Cathedral and the Islamic Center of Washington. I will be leading the walk along with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig, Imam Johari Abdul-Malik and the Rev. Delman L. Coates.

Though we belong to different branches of the Abrahamic family, we will walk united in our belief that at this divisive and distressing moment, people of faith and goodwill from across the broad spectrum of American society must come together to create a counter-climate in which we practice hospitality, protect those who are vulnerable, engage in respectful dialogue about our disagreements, and love one another regardless of our differences.

We will walk united, too, in our grief and concern at the rise in hate speech, the increase in violence against racial, ethnic, and religious minorities, and the ugly consequences that ensue when people’s actions are informed by extremist rhetoric and careless slander.

It is not sufficient for us simply to hold what we deem to be the proper opinions, or even to cultivate a deeper knowledge of the challenges before us. God calls us to faithful action. In Presiding Bishop Curry’s words, God requires us to do all we can, “to change the nightmare that this world often is into the dream that God intends.”

In walking together, we will demonstrate our commitment to creating the dream God intends. We will convey our resolve to stand firm in the face of any acts of violence or hatred perpetrated against our friends and neighbors.

The distance we will cover together is about two miles, and I expect us to be finished by 3:30. I hope you will join us as we walk and pray, affirming our faith traditions shared conviction that all people are created in the image of God, all people are worthy of dignity and respect, and all people deserve to live without fear.