PHILADELPHIA (BRN) — Joe Velarde still remembers when Barry Whitworth approached him about his idea to facilitate a racial reconciliation effort in Philadelphia.
Nearly four years ago, as racist events were unfolding, Whitworth, Baptist Resource Network’s executive director, approached Velarde and other pastors to check their interest in being part of a cohort of pastors who could work toward racial healing. Initially, 12 pastors, six African American and six Anglo, agreed to meet. That group has since grown to include other pastors as well.
“Obviously, we’re hearing a lot right now in light of George Floyd and so many other instances, but that’s just a blip on the whole of what’s been going on historically and even in the last four to six years,” recounted Velarde, pastor of River Bend Community Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
He remembers thinking it would be a great way “to really bring about a collaborative and cohesive direction” because “this is not a political issue first or a culture issue first. It’s a Kingdom of God issue,” he said.
Looking back, he added, “I’m so grateful for the leadership of Barry, but I’m also grateful for the leadership of Pastor Larry Anderson and Dr. Kyle Canty and just how they have led us through that journey.
“Here we are a couple years later … still moving towards racial healing in the midst of all that’s going on and taking some really important, I think, strides and steps not just in that area, but just culturally and ethics and really thinking through how do we live out the Shalom of Jesus in this world in which He has us to be a part of.”
At the beginning of the gatherings, Velarde remembers there was “tension” and even “reluctance,” especially from “our black and brown brothers … because they’ve had so many conversations around this. This isn’t the first time they are doing this.”
He continued, “On the other side of it were these brothers who were just trying to figure this out, understanding historical realities” but also navigating through ideologies and the demonizing of people.
Each participant was “trying to wisely enter into that without stepping on a landmine,” he said. “And so, I think, over time what happened was we just kept showing up.”
Like the others, Velarde took on the posture of listening. He remembers once getting advice from a friend who urged him to not be so quick to move to solution and action, which he admits is very hard for him.
“I like to move and especially when there is a vision, and there is a way forward,” he said. “But in order to actually make something happen, you had to have genuine understanding–but even sitting in the sadness in the pain and the anger and in the grief and the fear–because that actually leads to deep repentance. And when we repent, all those emotions are part of it, but it allows for us then to genuinely move towards restoration and reconciliation.”
Without that, he said, it’s very short-lived.
Beyond the dialogue, Velarde said the relationships between the pastors deepened through their visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., and through prayerwalking through the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood in Philadelphia.
Pointing to John 17, he said using a “cohesive approach and collaborating together” was necessary for the effort. Without the combined approach, he asserted, “it’s artificial” but when you are “linking arms” and “sharing these experiences,” there is a mutual respect and growing empathy.
“We’re not only showing up, but we are moving forward on something together,” he said.
The museum visit brought home the reality of how racism and slavery has shaped America.
“One of the things that I just walked away from [the museum] was how much of this really comes down to economics and money,” Velarde said, “and so the lack of human dignity and seeing the Imago Dei in others was really for the gain of building something; and how we can objectify people in that way really speaks to Jesus’ warning about gaining the world but losing your soul (Matthew 16).”
He asserted, “I think it’s a good challenge for us. How may we be objectifying people—people of color, women, we can through a list—different ways in which that’s happening all for financial gain or to hold power over versus to use power to hold up or to lift up?”
He noted how, at any point, instead of enslaving people, slave-owners could have paid or employed people to do the work.
“Even when laws are passed, you know, they found loopholes around it. They used Bible verses to really manipulate what was said all because again, it was really an economic engine, and it was a refusal to see them as more than just property and ‘a tool in my toolbox.’”
He countered, “No. No. No. We’re co-equal in God, and we’re created equally in Him and so together we’re coming after this.”
As soon as the group came back from the museum, Velarde kicked off a series at his church based on the book of Philemon, a book in the New Testament, which speaks of slavery.
The visits to Strawberry Mansion were good, too, he said, because “just the power of being together, praying together, and seeing what could be” helped them move from knowledge to empathy and action.
“We’re actually in it together. Like I’m here to walk with you. I’m here to follow your lead,” he said, indicating he considers it a joy to follow the leadership of Anderson and Canty because they “are worth following and are worthy of that respect and honor.”
Velarde said he’s noticed each of the pastors in the cohort, now named the Culture Ethics and Justice Coalition, had different giftings that complimented each other, which really helped them to effectively go after what God was calling them to do.
Velarde’s also brought the focus back to his own communities in the Lehigh Valley, where he is trying to address racism through his podcast, Vision for the Valley, and through a local organization, Color Outside the Lines.
As the Send Network PA/SJ missionary for the Baptist Resource Network, Velarde is excited to see how compassion-based ministry centers, like the one being developed in Strawberry Mansion, will lead to more church planting.
With all these efforts, he feels the Baptist Resource Network and its churches “are poised for Kingdom impact” … because of the cohort’s “deep journeying with the Lord and with one another.”
He foresees “Kingdom fruit” through indigenous church planters being raised up and leaders being developed.
“I’m very encouraged by that,” he said.
