Orlando Massacre Statement On Friday, June 17, 2016, we commemorate the first anniversary of the Charleston Martyrs. In response to that unimaginable attack on the very sanctuary of God in order to incite a race war, we drafted the statement for the national network of state councils of churches. The Christian Action Council of South Carolina adopted the statement as their own. It is published here for remembrance. Download Charleston […]
After USF Dr. Erin Kimmerle and team released the initial report on the victims that were found at the Dozier School for Boys, Dale Landry of the Florida NAACP contacted the Florida Council of Churches. The Council was invited to bring together faith representatives statewide to assist in advising state authorities in the appropriate manner for the victims of Dozier to be re-interred and memoralized. The Interfaith Commission for Florida […]
These are my remarks at Moral Monday Florida, March 3, 2014, sponsored by the NAACP and 18 partner organizations. The Rev. Dr. Russell L. Meyer, Executive Director.
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
Greetings to my interfaith colleagues, to Rev. Barber, to Sister Adora and the NAACP leadership, and to all of you gathered here today on Moral Monday in Tallahassee. This is the Day that the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it!
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Nov
St Petersburg Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, November 24, 2013
The Rev. Dr. Russell L. Meyer
Let me begin by thanking the Planning Committee of SPIA for inviting me to speak tonight. I was asked for a title in advance, and not being enamoured much with titles, I gave the generic “Of Grace and Gratitude” for this talk. The two words come from the same root word. Grace is a favor and gratitude is how we accept the favor in the spirit in which it is given. Though I won’t use the terms grace and gratitude much more in what I’m saying now, I think you’ll see the connection come through clearly enough.
Here’s what I want to do in this time together. First I begin with the logic of Christian thanksgiving. Then I will show how it reflects the pattern of thanksgiving generally found across religions in most cultures. I’ll note how this pattern is baked into our humanity, and then conclude with the often forgotten wisdom that the religions continue to remind us of.
23
Jul
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In response to the jury’s verdict in the case against George Zimmerman, faith leaders in the Florida Council of Churches have issued the following statement on July 15, 2013. Note: co-signers will be added as requested.
And the LORD said, “What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! Genesis 4:10
All things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18
So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. Galatians 6:10
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Jun
A personal commentary by the Rev. Dr. Russell Meyer
As the full U.S. Senate begins to consider the bipartisan S.744 immigration bill, the light is shining on Sen. Marco Rubio to lead enough fellow Republicans to support modernizing our immigration system. The stakes are high for all involved.
The last elected predecessor in his Senate seat, Mel Martinez, resigned from office after fellow GOP members refused to support his immigration efforts. Being chair of the national party at the time did not help Martinez. Rubio’s future aspirations may be equally problematic now as an often-named front-runner for 2016.
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May
The churches listed below represent the denominational offices of the network which makes up the ecumenical movement among mainline Protestants and historic Black churches in Florida. United Methodist Church – Florida Conference http://www.flumc.org Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA – Lutheran http://www.fbsynod.org The Ecumenical Catholic Communion http://ecumenical-catholic-communion.org Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ http://www.uccfla.org Christian Church in Florida (Disciples of Christ) http://www.floridadisciples.org/ Southeastern Yearly Meeting (Quakers) http://www.seym.org/ Moravian Church – Florida […]
On Sunday, March 3rd, hundreds of farmworkers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and their consumer allies in Florida and across the country will gather at Jesus Obrero Catholic Church in Ft. Myers to begin a two-week, 200-mile march to Publix corporate headquarters in Lakeland, Florida. Marchers will be calling on Florida’s beloved grocery giant to honor the breakthrough social responsibility partnership for farm labor reform known as the Fair Food […]
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May
Today (May 1), I head off to the Assembly of the Florida-Bahamas Synod. It starts tomorrow in Orlando, and I’ll be overseeing the audio and visual again. The Assembly will elect a new bishop. For the ELCA in Florida, this is a “change year.” In my various capacities with the synod and ecumenically with the Florida Council of Churches, I’ve learned a lot about church life beyond the congregation. […]