Statement on Charlottesville Events: Naming and Repenting Evil Executive Committee of the Florida Council of Churches In every generation the face of evil appears, bringing death and confusion. We speak against this evil. On the weekend of August 11-12, 2017, white supremacists committed acts of terrorism in Charlottesville, Virginia, including Read more
Florida leads the nation in exoneration of innocent persons sentenced to death at 27 since 1973. More than half of them are Black – an indisputable sign of racism working in the state criminal justice system. We’ll spend close to a billion dollars trying to execute the nearly 350 on death Read more
The Florida Council is a catalyst for realizing the unity which Christ has given the Church, a unity that leads to solidarity with all of humanity. At the beginning of biblical history, God calls the immigrant Abraham to become a blessing for all families upon the earth. Isaiah proclaims that Read more
Recent Research Reports in the Field of Criminal Justice Compiled December 2016 for The Florida Council of Churches Civil Citations 1. “Stepping Up: Florida’s Top Civil Citation Efforts: 2016 Study.” ACLU of Florida. a. Publication Date: Sept. 2016. b. Type: State-specific study c. Florida is mentioned 142 times. Read more
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 Read more
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 Read more
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.
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!
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.
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