By Rev. Renita Marie Green, Columnist
Representative Val Demings greeted the General Conference during the opening business session on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Demings is a candidate for the US Senate in Florida’s 10th District. She is a member of St. Mark AME Church in Orlando, Florida where the Reverend Terence Gray is the Pastor.
During her address to the members of the Connectional AME Church, Congresswoman Demings expressed great appreciation for our presence in the state of Florida during this conference, but even more so for our continuing prophetic witness across the United States. The Congresswoman echoed the question often asked of those outside the Black Church tradition: Does the Church have a place in politics?
Affirming what we know, Demings exclaimed that the role of the Church is to ensure that no one is left behind and that the most vulnerable among us are protected. Demings celebrated the AME Church who has historically and consistently been committed to improving the quality of life for all.
Representative Demings called the Church to collective action, “The urgency is now”, she declared as she lifted issues that are of urgent importance to our communities:
Equitable access to
–quality health care
–good housing
–fair and sufficient wages
–quality education, lifting up Edward Waters University in Florida
Also, issues of importance are protecting and expanding voter rights and reforming the criminal justice system.
Demings declared that the strength of the United States is found in our democracy, which we must protect. We are supposed to be a people who choose our politicians, not land where politicians choose their voters through gerrymandering. On January 6, 2021, Demings found herself among lawmakers at the Capital who crawled on the floor wearing gas masks unsure if they would live or die that dreadful, shameful day. Nevertheless, she was confident of one thing, no matter what happened to them that day someone would certify the election ballots because democracy still means something to people today!
Demings closed her address by reminding us that the one sure way to know where we are going is to never forget our history. When community leaders visit our connectional meetings, it is an affirmation that they recognize the power of our collective voice. As Micah compels us to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God, it is undoubtedly that we will leave this place and carry on in the tradition of the Black Church—doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.
