Dear Pastors and Leaders in the Christian Reformed and Reformed Communities,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Elder Robert Bennett — an elder at Roseland Reformed Church and a board member of Roseland Christian Ministries — was born in 1945 and grew up in Montgomery, Alabama. He was ten years old during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. He remembers his mother, Rose, walking miles each day to the homes where she cleaned — homes belonging to people who supported segregation, yet whose houses she cleaned because it was the work available to her. He remembers sitting at night and rubbing her feet because she was so tired from walking.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott sought to end segregation in public transportation.
Beneath this goal was a deeper longing for equality. This history is not distant or abstract. It lives close to us. It is the story of your African American brothers and sisters within our Reformed and Christian Reformed communities.
We write as African American religious leaders and allies, compelled by conscience and faith to address a matter that touches the heart of our shared Christian witness. Our Reformed tradition teaches that every human being is created in the imago Dei and therefore worthy of honor and respect. In a time when public discourse continues to reveal deep wounds around race and dignity, the Church must not be silent. We are witnessing what appears to be an intentional diminishing — and in some cases erasing — of Black history in our national story.
In recent months, federal leadership has threatened funding for institutions such as the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and has directed reviews of how slavery and the civil rights movement are presented. On January 23, 2026, an exhibit at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia that named nine individuals enslaved by George and Martha Washington was ordered removed. Those individuals — Austin, Christopher Sheels, Giles, Hercules Posey, Joe, Moll, Oney Judge, Paris, and Richmond — were human beings whose names deserve to be remembered. We do not learn from history by covering it up. We learn by telling the truth.
We are especially troubled by statements from the President of the United States and individuals he has given a platform to suggesting that the civil rights movement produced significant harm diminishing the leadership and moral witness of African American churches. The civil rights movement was deeply rooted in the Black church and in the conviction of human dignity. To characterize it primarily in terms of harm risks distorting its meaning and minimizing the courage and sacrifice that expanded freedom in this nation.
This troubling pattern extends to how we remember those who served our country. Medgar Evers — a World War II veteran and civil rights leader buried at Arlington National Cemetery — was removed from a prominently featured section honoring African American veterans on the cemetery’s website. At the National Park Service site honoring Evers, materials that described his assassin using the phrase “a member of the racist and segregationist White Citizens’ Council” were slated to be softened or removed. These facts matter because they tell the truth about the forces opposed to civil rights and the cost borne by those who stood for dignity.
Imagery and rhetoric that dehumanize any people — especially portrayals that echo the historic humiliation of African-descended communities — contradict the Gospel we preach. Such portrayals are theological failures that deny the fullness of God’s creative work. We are therefore troubled by racist imagery circulated through the sitting President of the United States that draws from a long history of dehumanization.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must ask what it means to proclaim fellowship in the body of Christ if we remain silent when dignity and truth are diminished. This is not a partisan concern. It is a church concern. To be Reformed is to be committed to truth, repentance, and renewal. We call upon pastors and leaders in our fellowships to speak clearly against racial dehumanization and to teach a theology of human dignity that shapes our congregations.
Let our pulpits proclaim the equality of all God’s children. Let our churches become places of repentance, healing, and active reconciliation. May we stand together in solidarity with those whose dignity has been denied and work toward a Church and a world that more fully reflect the kingdom of God.
In Christ’s service,
Rev. Gary Foster — Pullman Church
Rev. Emmett Harrison — Eastside Christian Reformed Church
Pastor Joe Huizenga — Roseland Reformed Church
Pastor James Jones — Oakdale Park Church
Rev. Kelsi Jones — Grace Church
Rev. Roger Nelson — Hope Church
Rev. Denise L. Posie — Discipleship in Redemptive Diversity Coach; Part-Time Professor, Calvin Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Bob Price — Former Ethnic Ministry Leader for Black and Urban Ministry Christian Reformed Church in North America
Rev. Dr. Reginald Smith — Diversity Ministry Consultant, Thrive Christian Reformed Church in North America
Rev. Richard Williams — Pastor Emeritus, Pullman Church
Rev. Jeff Munroe — Reformed Journal
Rev. Dr. Steve Mathonnet-VanderWell — Reformed Journal
Dr. Colin P. Watson, Sr. — Executive Director Emeritus, Christian Reformed Church in North America
Pastor Eric Crawford — Lawndale Lighthouse Christian Reformed Church
Pastor Him Wolff — Lawndale Lighthouse Christian Reformed Church
Please feel free to sign and share this letter with your congregations through bulletins and newsletters, and sign and share on social media.
72 Responses
AMEN
Thank you, thank you. I was recently digging for some statistics including some on the KKK, it was disturbing to see how many who call themselves “Christ-followers” have been on the wrong side of history concerning race. It continues to be that there are few voices willing to lead or even speak out on the issues you raise. Thank you for leading. You are modern day descendants of Amos, Micah, and Isaiah, prophets who were willing to challenge evil power.
Amen! The history of our country has things we need to repent of. But we should never attempt to cover up those people who didn’t have a voice, or agency. To pretend that slavery and Jim Crow weren’t a sin, that our country needs to acknowledge and make sure it never happens again should be foundational.
Thank you, friends.
Amen and thank you Jeff Munroe and Steve Mathonette-VanderWell among the many others for signing this letter (and posting it Jeff and Steve).
Thank You- I totally agree and believe that it is time for our Church (CMC) to take a stand.
Amen. We who are white need to know and pass on the truth of our history and not let it be erased or forgotten. We are one body , this is our history too.
Thank you to all who participated in the writing of this, signed it, and are willing to have their names be sent into the world. In traveling over the years we have applauded the addition of a truer narrative at so many historic sites. These additions have acknowledged that the opulent romance of the perceived life was made possible by the enslavement and/or marginalization of other human beings. Now we see this truth being taken back. May our pastors preach the Word in a manner that speaks clearly to all.
Is there a way to sign this online?
I did not get African American history in school. I learned about this history through our travels to national parks, national monuments, documentaries, and books later in life. This is a history that should not get whitewashed or hidden. Thank you for voicing this.
Thank you.
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 2-3, repeated 7 times)
Thank you!
Praying for Gods intervention in our country and thankful for your voices!
Jeff and Steve, thank you for posting this.
Powerful and truthful statement! Speaking truth to power. Amen
I join with you in this righteous cause. Thank you for being voices seeking justice for all God’s children in our society.
Thank you for this. It reminds me of the lynching memorial in Montgomery, and the grief i felt seeing all of the “unknown” names on the markers. How important a name truly is in the act of knowing. May we remember the ones who were erased- both in acts of removing their names from our history and in removing their bodies from this earth. And, may we name our own complicity so that we might remember and not erase our guilt, but learn from it.
Thank you for speaking truth.
Thank you
“We do not learn from history by covering it up. We learn by telling the truth.” So true, unfortunately many do not want to learn from history and truth telling is in short supply.
I agree with all of you. Thank you for this letter and I hope people listen and act on the words.
Thank you, friends, for this courageous and timely letter.
Extremely relevant and insightful. Thank You !
Thank you! May this letter find a place in many more publications, including The Banner.
Thank you.
Thank you and AMEN from Canada!
Thank you to the author and to the editors of the Reformed Journal for stating so clearly what has grieved my heart and for sharing with the wider church. I’m sharing it with my friends and I hope others will also.
Thank you and Amen!
Thank you all, and Amen!
Amen! Well said! I’d sign this in a heartbeat.
I can imagine no Christian argument against this statement.
(Yes. I shared this article on Facebook.)
Thank you for the tone and eloquence of this statement. As someone who was baptized in one of the early CRC churches to attempt integration (with well intentioned but often misguided steps) I recognize not the historical pain, not only in our country but in our denomination. May God bless you all as you continue to serve him, and us!
Thank you
Agreed and thank you!
Thank for this powerful statement on behalf of all God’s people.
Thank you!
Native Americans are facing the same dishonoring eradication of the true history of our people at national monuments and museums. We must make the true and right historical recollections stand for generations to come and not the one written by those who would be offended.
We see you. We thank you. We must keep the stories alive.
Thank you! An important message!
Thanks so much. This is important and I hope it gets much attention and action. Is there a way more people could sign thism adding to those who have already done so? I know many of my Canadian colleagues would sign in a heartbeat, along w/ many friends. Blessings and strength.
Thank you! And not only for this important letter but also for so many of you bearing witness to the church on this for years and decades. May this message find a transforming reception in the churches of the Reformed tradition and beyond.
How do we sign? Sorry if I missed it.
I’m afraid that many of our younger people, and some older ones as well, who never experienced or witnessed segregation and the civil rights struggles or witnessed the assassinations are not sensitive to what is happening.
Thank you for saying what needs to be said!
Amen. Thank you for speaking not just for yourselves, but for many of us who continue to be deeply troubled.
I am glad my pastor’s name is on this list. I am proud of her and thankful to part of our church family.
Thank you for speaking up! Amen and amen!
Thank you!!
Well said. Lou Haveman
Thank you and Amen!
Thank you and Amen!!!
Thank you all….. I will renounce anonymity for the chance to sign this!
Thank you for this courageous letter.
Well said- Thank you and a hearty “Amen!”
We (our parents and siblings) were/are proud to be one of several families who refused the white flight to the western suburbs of Chicago and chose to work together to start Pullman CRC. For 40 years Pullman supported, and still supports, the churches that started in Sierra Leone where we were long term missionaries. Every month there is an offering in Pullman for this on-going and Sierra Leonean led church which is growing.
I’m wondering if this letter was submitted to The Banner?
It was submitted to The Banner.
Deep thanks for this! Holy. Courageous.
Agree and thanks so much,
With appreciation – let’s all commit to remember the truth, speaking and teaching it boldly, so those before us will not have struggled in vain and those behind us will be encouraged and able to learn from it.
I am with you brothers and sisters all the way, to the only true our Lord Christ and his calling for all of us to stand firm together to walk in this wonderful and powerful journey!
To his path and to his true teachings in Christ alone!
Korean sisters and brothers, where you all at? Let’s join this important movement!
Justice, Peace, and Love in Christ!
Amen. May it be so!
Thank you for this timely and important witness.
Amen!! May we have the courage to be bold and stand together against the racism and violence we are seeing and experiencing in this country! Praying that followers of Christ and congregations can be living examples of God’s justice, hope and kingdom!
Well stated. Thank you.
I think of this from MLK: “darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that”. Thank you for shining a light.
Amen and Amen
Amen.
Your message is one of great importance in our churches and in our land today. All are God’s image bearers!
Thank you. These words reflect the deep shame that we as Americans should carry for such heinous actions. I will forward this and I hope others will do the same.
Preach Christ Crucified
Amen and Amen …and thank you for your courage !
Amen.
agreed and thank you for publishing
Amen, and Thank you for posting!