A Hate Crime Story

Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Once our church facility opens up again and you return to campus you will discover that during this time when we have moved our ministry to a virtual format, we have added security cameras to our physical plant.  In the past year we have had a couple incidents that precipitated this decision.  As members of this church family you have a right to know what has happened.

We have always had many people visit our church.  It is a beautiful building with lovely grounds.  However, this winter we saw an uptick of people coming to our campus who appeared to be scoping out the facility.  One man in particular took photos of all entrances into the sanctuary and when engaged in conversation shared his opinion that our church is part of the “Illuminati.”  We also had a rage-filled voicemail that was deemed a “hate crime” by the police.  The caller was angry about our church’s inclusion of all sexual orientations.  Then, after the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, the California Council of Churches encouraged progressive churches who display support for racial justice on their building to have staff work remotely during the week of the presidential inauguration. We were told that this suggestion was based on credible threats.

These incidents led us to feel that cameras should be added for the safety of our congregation, staff and HeadStart children.  We thank the Property Commission for responding so quickly to make this possible.  A Security Task Team was formed and meets regularly to address safety, with a desire to not sacrifice welcome or hospitality.

Regarding the Hate Crime, we made the decision to ask that the case not be turned over to the District Attorney, but instead to ask the police to warn the caller.  The caller admitted to the Detective that he made the call.  The caller identified himself as a Christian man who was disgusted by our church’s message of welcome.  He felt it was his First Amendment Right to leave us that message.  The Detective informed him that it was actually classified as a Hate Crime.  The law enforcement officer told the man that the leadership of the La Verne Church of the Brethren had lived out our faith by warning him rather than asking for him to be prosecuted. In other words we were the ones who had continued the work and love of Jesus. The caller asked the Detective to pass on his gratitude to the La Verne Church of the Brethren for that decision.

When the Detective told me that story, I was so moved by the Detective’s understanding that we had lived out our conviction to follow Jesus.  In this time of polarization and hateful rhetoric, we want to keep our community safe from those who might mean us harm.  At the same time, we want the La Verne Church of the Brethren to be a place of faithfulness, welcome, belonging and transformation. 

CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING/ OCTOBER 18, 2020/ 10:00 A.M.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86265095982

Or Telephone: 1 669 900 6833

Please plan to join us on Zoom for our first-ever online Church Council meeting.

The packet of materials for the Council meeting will be emailed to you in advance.

If you are unfamiliar with how to navigate Zoom, click HERE for a tutorial.

If you do not have internet access or are not comfortable in that environment, let the church office know and we will send you a hard copy of the Council packet through the mail, along with information on how to phone into the meeting.

We have two items of business: a first-read of the 2021 budget that the Board has approved and a vote on the leadership slate for 2021. You will have an opportunity to ask questions, make comments, and vote through the features on zoom. Those joining by phone will also have an opportunity to ask questions and vote.

But Council meeting will not be “all business” — we will also hear from the staff, celebrate together, connect with one another, and enjoy some musical and visual reminders of our life together. Please plan to join us!

–Laurie Schreiner, Board Chair

Spirituality & Social Justice Conversation Series: Creating Space for Change

Wednesday Evenings 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

September 9 – October 14 (6-weeks)

Advanced sign-up required: dawna@lavernecob.org

Deadline to register for Conversation is August 26.

Overwhelmed by the problems of our world?  Want to give up and feel compelled to keep going at the same time? Understanding the dynamic intersection of spirituality and social justice can help you do the deep work at a sustainable, life giving pace.  In this series we’ll work together to learn and practice how to call people into reflection and conversations that create space for changes in our world that will help each of us and all of us thrive.

Topics include:

  1. Unlimited living
    1. Moving from spiritual bypassing, political correctness, and excuses to Spiritual growth, thoughtful changes, and personal responsibility

2. Trauma Awareness and Resiliency

3. Trauma informed listening

4. Let yourself be made new

  • Facing white privilege and perpetrator induced trauma

5. Pacifism: privilege or practice

6. Pace yourself: building strength for the long hall

What you will need for this group: an acceptance of the need for change, humility to listen and learn, courage to speak and to listen, respect for others, effective mental heath practices

Racial Justice in the Community

Article:

Los Angeles Times, July 19, 2020

Antiracism as government policy?  County supervisors will decide soon, by Jaclyn Cosgrove

Sample letter:

DATE

To Chairperson Kathryn Barger and members of the Board of Supervisors,

We, the members of the Racial Justice in the Community committee of the La Verne Church of the Brethren, strongly support the public health antiracism declaration being proposed by supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas for the Board’s approval. 

We urge your support of any measure that produces or sustains racial equality between racial groups and will address the inequities faced by Black residents in housing, healthcare, education, employment, and insures fair and equitable treatment in the criminal justice system in our county.  Establishing an antiracism policy and holding county officials accountable if they fail to uphold this policy is vital in creating an environment where all people are treated with respect, dignity. and equality.

Equally vital and essential is funding to support this policy.  To successfully dismantle systematic racism and bring about racial equality in our community, each county department must have a budgeting tool for implementation of antiracism policies.  The County budget must reflect the county’s commitment to antiracist practice and policy for the sake of the public’s health.

Thank you for consideration and your progressive, compassionate, and courageous re-evaluation and response to Los Angeles County’s practices and policies regarding existing systematic racism.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

Member of the La Verne Church of the Brethren, La Verne, California

Contact Information:

We are suggesting you make contact with Chairperson of the LA County Board of Supervisors  Kathryn Barger by email:  www.Kathryn@bos.lacounty.gov

(First District and Fifth District Supervisor information follows.  Send a letter or call them if desired)

Hilda L. Solis, First District Supervisor
(Serving Claremont and Pomona, among other LA County cities and unincorporated communities)
East San Gabriel Valley Office:
2245 N. Garry Ave.
Pomona, CA 91767
909) 593-3661

Kathryn Barger, Fifth District Supervisor
(Serving La Verne, San Dimas, Glendora, Covina, S. Pasadena, Alhambra, among other LA County cities and unincorporated communities)
615 E. Foothill Blvd, Suite A
San Dimas, CA 91773
909) 394-2264