At the last Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) meeting a representative from the Mayor’s office attended to inform us about an upcoming Prayer Breakfast in support of the Mayor of Baltimore City, Sheila Dixon. For those outside of our area, Mayor Dixon is currently working under the cloud of corruption charges. She’s been charged with 12 counts of felony theft, perjury, fraud and misconduct in office stemming from her connection to a Baltimore Developer named Ronald Lipscomb.
Despite this, the Mayor still seems marginally popular in the city. The pockets of Baltimoreans who have decried her political activity over the years were no match for the O’Malley political machine which made sure that Dixon won the mayoral election of 2007.
The representative from her camp asked pastors of the IMA to attend the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast which is slated for Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:00 – 11:00AM at the Forum Caterers in Baltimore.
Soon after the IMA meeting, I received a call from the organizers of this event. I was requested to offer an opening prayer at the Prayer Breakfast. I found this quite odd for any number of reasons. First, though the IMA endorsed Sheila Dixon for Mayor in 2007, I could not in good conscience lend my name to that endorsement. After examining her lengthy record in Baltimore politics, I did not think it was in the best interest of Baltimoreans (especially the majority of the city’s residents, i.e. Black folks) to have Ms. Dixon as our Mayor. I respected the decision of elders within the IMA, but chose to stay away that day. Second, I have regularly been highly critical of Ms. Dixon via this blog and other media outlets. I have challenged her policies, decried her staunch loyalty to the O’Mally political machine, and had op-eds printed in the local Afro American Newspaper openly critiquing her record. Just last week, I was interviewed by a freelancer for a national magazine covering Mayor Dixon. Why me? They were looking for a critical voice to add to their piece!
So for them to call me to give the opening prayer at this Prayer Breakfast was highly puzzling. Either they don’t know me or they are attempting something more sinister like eliminating my voice (and the voices of her other critics) by pulling me into the camp.
“I’m not doing it,” I told my wife.
“How are you not going to pray for somebody? Aren’t pastors supposed to pray for everbody?” she quipped.
That sent me for a mental loop. Yea, that’s right. I am a pastor now. I’m supposed to pray for everybody right? But what if my prayer upsets everything they’re trying to do at this Prayer Breakfast? I gotta be me. My prayer would come from my heart. If I am to be me – and I tend to be authentic no matter the setting – my communication with God on the Mayor’s behalf would be unhindered, uncensored, and probably would have a “oh no he didn’t” edge to it – not outright rude, but truthful. As forthright and outspoken as I can be; I don’t enjoy being unruly just for the sake of it. Why mess up their event?
They don’t want any trouble, but you can’t ignore the cool relationship that the Mayor has with the clergy in my circle right now. Even at the IMA meeting, an awkward silence followed the presentation by the Mayor’s representative. Eventually it came out at the meeting. Mayor Dixon has not been responsive to the segment of the Faith community in which I am a part since she was elected. The IMA endorsed her for mayor and she has given the IMA the cold shoulder as a result. Now she’s in trouble and needs our help?
And even as I type that, I hear a good sister-friend of mine whispering in my ear: “Heber, it’s the people who most don’t deserve our love and support that need it the most.”
I have been wrestling with what Jesus would do in all of this. In his context, would he have attended the birthday party for Herod Antipas and offered an opening prayer knowing full well that John the Baptizer (whom Marcus Borg identifies as Jesus’ teacher) was locked up and facing a dubious future because of Herod’s own decree? I just can’t see it.
But what I do believe is that Jesus would have found an opportunity if some invitation was ever extended to bring forth some creative, nonviolent act of resistance and/or coded critique that would have empowered the oppressed while at the same time disarm the oppressor thus liberating both.
I’m far from Jesus. I’m reaching. I’m journeying toward The Way, but I have a LONG way to go. I’m leaning toward declining being on the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Program (word is she might not even be there!), but prayer was requested so let me fulfill my ministerial duties via an open prayer here:
Most Holy God: I bow today first thanking you for who you are in our lives. You are the unwavering strength and support that provides sustenance in every facet of our earthly experience. No matter the circumstances, you never change. For that we say, “Thank you.” And today at this Prayer Breakfast Lord, we gather to humbly request your guidance on behalf of your daughter, Sheila Dixon. Dear God, during these trying and tense times, give her the internal fortitude to unflinchingly face the persecution that has come her way. Surround her with those who will tell her the truth in love and stand with her in this time of challenge. Bless her with moments of reflection and if necesseary rededication to how You would want her to honor You in her role as mayor. As You bless her with grace might You remind her of the families in East Baltimore who are threatened in the shadow of Johns Hopkins’ gentrification plans. Your grace extends to them as well. As You bless her with support might You remind her of the youth in Baltimore who grow without safe places to play and learn. Your support extends to them as well. As You bless her with love remind her of the families in South Baltimore who will be presented with occassions to stumble by way of slot machines. Your love extends to them as well. Finally, Lord as You bless her with mercy remind her of those whom she has shown mercy to as well. Thank you for making room for redemption. Might we all take full advantage of every opportunity presented us on our own damascus road. Amen.
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An interesting dilema. Having to pray for one who
has shown duplicity in dealing with the downtrodden in our city. Being a Pastor is deeper than I at times have thought. A lot of people in your position would not have even thought about that aspect. Just a chance to hob-knob with the mayor. Props to you for not going along just to get along you radical!!
Hey C.S. – I've loved the radical role over the years, but now I'm quite leary about not playing the role just for the sake of it. In this case I'm really not sure if I'm making the right decision.
Wow. What a thought-provoking dilemma! I've pondered whether I could truly pray for my enemies, and if it meant praying against myself, and in some cases, praying for evil. Enemies are folks that actively work to achieve my personal demise, or, the demise of principals fundamental to progress, fairness, justice, equality, and, even, God.
I'd consider the mayor an enemy, an unsympathetic, obstructionist of justice and progress. For decades, destructive to the lives, liberty, and well-being of generations of Baltimoreans, particularly, Blacks. She's been silent accomplice and unabashed co-conspirator in the commission and perpetuation of savage inequities. Now, she's the caretaker of Baltimore's entrenched systems of educational, environmental, and economic apartheid.
I say, pray for this enemy of your people while standing in your truth. Ignore the sinister motivation and the sinister mayor. Focus only on being used to spread a message in the spirit of God. I realize that the occasion calls upon you to pray not preach, but the only true protocal is God's protocal, right?
"Praying for my enemies" – very interesting comment, Advocate. The strange thing is with all of the policies that I've disagreed with coming out of Dixon's administration or city council; I've never considered her an enemy. I've never had one personal interaction with her. Not one conversation. Nothing. So it's impossible for me to harbor personal feelings for her (either in support or against) because I don't know her. Now when engaging the question of whether or not she's been an enemy of our community, then that might be a different story.
Well, at this point I've not gotten back to them confirming me praying so I won't be doing that and I really wasn't too enthused about going period. However, perhaps I should go just to – as you say – stand in my truth.
Amen!