A Pastoral Statement on the Killing of Sonya Massey

In the early morning hours of July 6, Sonya Massey, a Black woman, was shot to death in her home in Springfield, Ill., by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson after she reported a possible prowler outside her home. Just this past Monday, July 22, law enforcement officials released the body camera video of Sonya’s killing. As the video clearly shows, her killing was a heinous and senseless act, adding to the indescribable pain and hurt of individuals and communities of color across our nation suffering from yet one more killing at the hands of law enforcement. For us in the Central/Southern Illinois Synod, her killing is felt personally as she was a member of our community.

As followers of Jesus who lived and died to bring dignity for all people, we join with all those who grieve for Sonya and recommit ourselves to living out our baptismal promises to work for justice and peace. In the words of the ELCA’s social statement Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture: “Racism—a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice—is sin, a violation of God’s intention for humanity. The resulting racial, ethnic, or cultural barriers deny the truth that all people are God’s creatures and, therefore, persons of dignity. Racism fractures and fragments both church and society.”

Confessing our own sin and need for repentance, we trust in the power of God’s love in Christ to transform our hearts, our communities and our nation, even as we await that day when none of God’s children, regardless of the color of their skin, need to live in fear anymore. Freed by Christ’s love, we acknowledge that racism is not only individual but also systemic. We must work together to dismantle practices that cause such tragic loss of life.

We pray for the friends and families of Sonya and all those affected by her tragic death. We pray for justice and peace in our communities, our state and across our nation. We pray for all those across our church and in our congregations who are engaged in the work of law enforcement as peacekeepers and justice seekers for all.

Merciful God, heal the hearts of all those who grieve the death of Sonya Massey. Tear down the walls that divide us as we seek peace and justice for all people. Free our hearts and our communities from the sin of racism. Give courage and strength to all those engaged in the work of law enforcement that they might know and do what is good and right for the sake of all. In Christ, our peace, Amen.