In the Directory for Worship of the Book of Order, the charge, as a part of the act of sending, is described in this way: “We are blessed to be a blessing to others. The charge calls the church to go forth as agents of God’s mission in the world” and because “ruling elders have oversight of the church’s faithfulness to God’s mission, it is fitting for a deacon or ruling elder to speak the charge.” (W-3.0502)
The report of the Special Committee on Racism Truth and Reconciliation approved by the 225th General Assembly (2022) ends with this charge from Isaiah 58:6:
Listen now, God’s people!
Let us repent for those we have harmed.
Let us repair spirits we have crushed.
Let us restore those we have broken.
This is the fast that God has chosen for us.
(The Inclusive Bible)
As we listen to this charge and God’s call, how might we become agents of transformation of creation and humanity?
As a ten-year-old girl from Leland, Mississippi, Ruling Elder Willye Bryan fled the South with her family and became one of almost six million people who, during the six-decade-long Great Migration—the Black Migration—fled the South for cities in the North, East, and West to escape the segregation and oppression of Jim Crow laws.
A sixth grader, she was placed back into the fifth grade because of unjust and discriminatory beliefs. Fortunately, because the future Dr. Bryan excelled with the fifth-grade material (she says, “been there, done that!”) she was restored to her rightful place in the sixth grade. It was there that a book on the life cycle of the mayfly piqued her interest and set her along a road that led her to become an educator, a researcher, an entomologist, and even a pioneer—as few Black people, and in particular Black women, had been drawn to that field. Her work on biological control of insect pests had a positive impact on protecting the environment and the lives of communities of color
In 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic was in full force, Bryan, who had been actively involved in racial and social justice work in the church, found herself reflecting on how Black communities were disproportionally impacted. She was not alone in realizing that the health impact on Black Americans was “amplifying or even worsening existing social inequalities tied to race, class, and access to the health care system.” This reality, as well as the murder of George Floyd, raised questions and concerns from the white members of her church community. In response, Dr. Bryan held adult education for the majority white congregation about the history of Black people and the full spectrum of who Black Americans are in America. It was a social justice awakening.
Subsequently, Dr. Bryan founded the Justice League of Greater Lansing in Michigan to tell the story of the history of Black people in America and the history of racial inequities and disparities that continue to impact Black communities and perpetuate generational wealth gaps. The Justice League hopes to collect $1 million to support the development and advancement of Black businesses, housing, and more for the restoration to the fullness and equality of creation and humanity God intends.
As Dr. Bryan tells the story of our history, ears open and hearts begin to be transformed.
For ruling elders who speak the charge, we give thanks to God.
For reflection:
- In the weeks ahead, pay attention to the charge spoken at the end of worship. How might God be calling you to make a meaningful difference in the world?
- What threads can you see in your own life that demonstrate how God has been walking alongside you in your journey?
valerie izumi is a ruling elder serving the Office of the General Assembly as an assistant stated clerk, coordinating the General Assembly nominations process.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, monthly Regarding Ruling Elders articles will alternate between a deep dive into the ways ruling elders discern and measure the life of a congregation through the ministry of members and stories about how ruling elders are using their call and gifts as they move within and beyond the walls of the congregation.
