Statement from the Staff of LaSalle Street Church

“He did not pray. He did not mention George Floyd, he did not mention the agony of people who have been subjected to this kind of horrific expression of racism and white supremacy for hundreds of years.” - Mariann E. Budde, Episcopal bishop of Washington.

On Monday, June 1, 2020, President Donald Trump walked from the White House to St. John’s Church and posed for media pictures while holding a Bible, moments after announcing he intends to mobilize the military into cities across our country. In order to remove peaceful demonstrators from the president’s path, DC police shot flash-bang explosives and doused the crowds with tear gas.

As Pastor Randall said in his sermon last Sunday, we at LaSalle are dedicated to a ‘movement’ of racial justice, and not getting caught up in a reactive ‘moment.’ Responding to the latest political news often belongs to a moment — but we feel as a church staff it is important for us to make a statement together condemning this behavior, and the co-opting of our faith to suit the political whims of a leader of men.

We are grieved that President Trump has the power and will to harass peaceful protestors and cynically use the Bible and the church in a photo-op. But however he uses the image of this book, our president will not pervert the message that book contains: a Gospel of daring love for God and our neighbor, of liberation and freedom for the most vulnerable, and world-changing grace.

President Trump is far from the first leader to wield the power of the Bible this way, and he will certainly not be the last. We hope that the many faithful are equipped to recognize this publicity stunt for what it is, and center our prayers and actions back on the real injustice at the heart of the events of this past week: the unjust killing of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement.

In time, these actions from our president will prove to be like the seeds sown among thorns in the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:14-20); when the pressures and persuasions of power choke out the Word, it will yield no fruit.

We invite all to join us in the hard work of justice: of earnest listening and harsh self-truth, and standing up in solidarity with the people and people groups that have been knocked down by the virus of racism and discrimination. Demand piety over power. Demand humility over boastfulness. Seek love, compassion, and justice for all people.

Signed,