Nashville, TN – During a very busy and harmful Holy Week in the TN State Legislature, Tennessee pastors responded.
Rev Ingrid McIntyre Connects Holy Week to this year’s legislative session “As a pastor and lifelong Tennessean, I believe that all Tennesseans, whether they live in Memphis, Johnson City, or Chattanooga, deserve the freedom to be themselves and to live without fear of gun violence in their communities, the freedom to receive a high quality public education in their neighborhood, and the freedom to be themselves. Yet instead of prioritizing policy to move us closer to that reality our elected leaders have spent this legislative session, including this Holy Week passing policy that harms the most vulnerable in our community over and over…
“In the middle of this grief and anger, I can’t help but think of what it might be like to walk through Holy Week with Jesus. Maundy Thursday where we remember how He washed the dirty feet of His disciples, even the one who would betray him, and then Good Friday when he was murdered by the state, death on a cross, which would be like an electric chair these days right? Death on a cross and of course Easter where he defied the power of death, which is giving me hope. I hear Jesus today, over 2,000 years after He walked the earth in the flesh, calling those of us who claim the Christian faith, to once again change the power structures and be willing to make those in our society who are often considered ‘the last’ or least among us’ among the first instead, and those who find themselves in at the lead of the line with all the clout and with all the power, to instead maybe consider themselves last…
“And where are we now? I see a Supermajority and governor who claim the Christian faith, yet instead of changing power structures to prioritize who Jesus did they are enacting further harm on the vulnerable and championing systems, policies and practices of death. It’s time for an end to this divisiveness. It’s time to enact policies that are life giving instead of death dealing. It’s time to ensure everyone has the freedom to be themselves and to live safely in community.
Rev. McIntyre ended with a call to Tennesseans who claim the Christian faith, “Who are we? Today, in 2024, as Tennesseans who are Christians, who do we choose to be? Do we want to follow in the footsteps of the Supermajority Legislature and the values of the Roman Empire? Or will we as Tennesseans follow the love and sacrifice of Christ, God’s child who chose and embodied love and sacrifice? We are told we must choose today whom will we serve. Will we choose death? Or will we choose a life of everyday Resurection? I choose life every day and I hope you will join me in calling all of our elected leaders to do the same. Sunday always comes. Resurrection always comes. Jesus always brings life. May we embody this love and this life with justice. May we be an everyday, living resurrection.”
Response to Gov Lee and TN Supermajority vacating and replacing the entire Tennessee State University Board.“I’m horrified but unfortunately not surprised by the atrocious vote of the Tennessee Supermajority today to vacate the entire Tennessee State University board. Instead of addressing the historic underfunding of TSU, the TN Supermajority has decided that they will use their “power” as a legislative body to replace the board of trustees and take over the decision making power of the University,” stated Rev. Wesley King, Pastor in the Disciple of Christ denomination.
“This is all at the same time that the Legislature and Governor Lee are passing laws that would make it illegal to discuss “divisive concepts” including diversity, equity, and inclusion at this University. This is just further proof that Governor Lee and the Supermajority are willing to harm, silence, and punish any and all communities as long as it gives them more power. This Holy Week, we are reminded that the Roman Empire killed Jesus for speaking out against the status quo and those who were in power. So just like 2,000 years ago it appears to still be true that those in power, such as the Supermajority Legislature, are willing to harm others in order to assert and be in control. We must come together to let them know that this is immoral, inappropriate, and that Tennesseans stand united against this gross abuse of power.”
