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Joy & Peace at the Islamic Center

September 03, 2010, City & Commonwealth (63), Faith & Politics (33), In the News (Richmond) (74), Justice (12), Peace (18)

Posted by Wallace+

As faith leaders from around Richmond, and across traditions, gathered at Richmond's Islamic Center yesterday, I was struck by the spirit in the room. It reminded me of the spirit in the crowd when a contingent of St. Paul's folks joined the gathering at VCU, back during Lent, to protest the Attorney General's legal opinion barring Virginia's colleges and universities from protecting gay and lesbian people from discrimination. Likewise it reminded me of the spirit in the air about a week earlier in Lent when I, along with a number of St. Paul's clergy and our Lenten Preacher at the time, joined a rally for inclusive communities at VCU. And, still one more occasion, the spirit in the air when the St. Paul's clergy and community joined a witness for peace at Richmond's Holocaust Museum, when we faced off with the Westboro Baptist Church and their message of hate.

There is, indeed, an unmistakable joy and an unmistakable peace that come when you stand up for justice, when you stand up for compassion, when you stand up for humanity.

Thanks be to God.

Amen, amen.

To read more about yesterday's gathering at Richmond's Islamic Center, please go to the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Don't see the video below? Click here.

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Tags: islamic center of virginia, lgbt, richmond times dispatch, vcu

Word from Grace Street: The Beauty of God in Community

September 01, 2010, Equality (12), Faith & Politics (33), In the News (Nation, World) (80), In the News (Richmond) (74), Justice (12), Reconciliation (23)

Posted by Kimberly Allen

Islamic Center of VirginiaTomorrow after at 2pm, Wallace+ will join faith leaders from the Richmond area for a press conference at the Islamic Center of Virginia. In today's Word from Grace Street, he explains why they are coming together in solidarity:

Naturally, a range of words will be used to describe what we are standing up for: Civility. Freedom. Respect. Tolerance. Calm. Justice. Community. Diversity. Equality. Reconciliation. Welcome. Understanding. Unity. Hope.

While all those words have their rightful place, some come closer than others to what God wants for us, his children. While "tolerance" is a start, Jesus said nothing about tolerance, and we won't settle for it. While "civility" is a beginning, we are called to something higher, better, and braver. 

Among those who will speak are: Bishop Charlene Kammerer, Rabbi Martin Beifield, Pastor Charles Baughum, Rabbi Ben Romer, Imam Ammar Amonette, Rev. Jon Barton and others. 

In addition to standing together, they will publish a joint statement, which will be posted tomorrow.

Click here to read the full message.

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Tags: ammar amonette, ben romer, charlene kammerer, charles baughum, imad damaj, islamic center of virginia, jon barton, martin beifield

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