Our guest blogger, the Rev. Kwame Pitts, helped draft and present the ELCA Social Policy Resolution “Voting Rights to All Citizens” adopted by the Churchwide Assembly in 2013. She shares her poetically presented thoughts in 2018 here.
THE RESPONSIBILITY I CARRY INSIDE MY DNA: THE CONTINUED STRUGGLE FOR VOTING RIGHTS
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By guest blogger the Rev. Kwame Pitts, Campus Pastor, Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park in Chicago (bio)
Simply because they refuse to assimilate
Kowtow to the dominate culture
To the poisonous American nationalism.
2018
We are still having this conversation
They tried to wipe our rights.
They tried to cripple the peoples of Georgia
The tired, the poor, the abused, the violated.
We are still standing.
So please,
Don’t tell me to conform
To stick to the sickly sweet,
Feel good Gospel
ANY THEOLOGY,
That does not address the suffering
ANY DOCTRINE
That chooses to ignore the cries for justice
ANY DENOMINATION
That co-signs off on the slavery and the destruction
Of God’s People,
Of Black and Brown Bodies
Of Indigenous and Ancient Bodies
Of those who Love Authentically,
Even if that makes folks uncomfortable
OF those who rejoice the Creator,
In so many beautiful and original ways…
Will not be the religious tradition that I will ever follow.
So,
What side are YOU on?
Will you speak prophetically,
Unapologetically
And defend
The right
To
VOTE?
Ache’
Amen
Ameen.
Biographical submission: The Rev. Kwame Pitts understands her role in the scheme of things as a weaving of both academics, theology and the practical. Currently she serves as Associate Pastor for Body and Soul UChicago Campus Ministry at Augustana Lutheran Church, Hyde Park. Campus Ministry, under her tutelage, is being redefined as a resource for public theology and an example of public Church. Pr. Pitts holds a M.Div. degree from LSTC, is working on her final STM thesis on syncretism and oppression and has been accepted to an Ecumenical D.Min. program concurrently. In 2013 she wrote and presented to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly the Social Policy Resolution regarding Voting Rights and subsequently partnered with ELCA Young Adults and Racial Justice Ministries to form #ELCAVotes. Currently she serves on both boards of SOUL (Southsiders Organized for Unity and Leadership) and Emmanus Road, another faith rooted organization located in NYC. Pr. Pitts has no apologizes for her voice and where she places herself in faith rooted organizing for all people. She is also known for her poetic voice both academically and theologically, and this is reflected in the blog.
