Resources for Preaching About Charleston

Many thoughtful blogs and articles have been written about the massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June 2015. No doubt, many more will be written as we continue to reflect on this event as a nation and as Christians. Many of the links listed below were posted to the UMC Preachers Facebook Group, as social media tend to offer the most immediate resources for people preparing for sermons and Bible studies.

I am providing links to some of these articles below, and will continue to add to the list as more articles, blogs, and reflections are offered during this week of celebrating the lives of the nine victims. If you see something you find particularly thoughtful, please email me the link at [email protected], and I will add it to the list.

I would urge our United Methodist preachers to continue to offer prayers and to wrestle with the theological and social implications of not only this event, but other incidences of racism and prejudice as opportunities arise in the study of our Holy Scriptures. Many blessings to you as you prepare to be bold and relevant stewards of God’s word.

• Why We Need Philosophers Engaged In Public Life
• The Way of Christ of the Way of the Zealot: Some Further Reflections on Charleston
• The Only Logical Conclusion After Charleston
• Preaching While White: This Sunday’s Lectionary and Emanuel AME
• We Have Sinned (video liturgy)
• Charleston Shooting Families Proved Grace Wins Out Over Hate
• Preaching Reflections on the Charleston, SC, Shooting
• Bishop Watson: My Heart Is Aching . . . We Live in Such a Broken World
• The Rev. Olu Brown’s Response to the North Georgia Annual Conference
• A Gospel Reflection on Charleston
• Services and Liturgies for Times of Crisis -- Discipleship Ministries Website