Community Corner
Black and White Congregations Honor Dead
Two Georgetown congregations with distinctly different racial makeup will honor dead from covid and racial violence.
In a display of unity during a tumultuous year, two Washington, D.C. congregations with distinctly different racial makeup will honor dead from their own churches and others who have died of covid or racial violence.
Dumbarton United Methodist Church and Mt. Zion United Methodist Church will hold the service at 3 p.m. Sunday Nov. 1 at the Female Union Band Cemetery.in Georgetown.
“This is part of a long process of reconciliation between the two congregations just after they both adopted the Baltimore-Washington Conference pledge of antiracism,” remarked Rev. Rachel Cornwell, the pastor at Dumbarton.
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Both were part of the same church until the predominantly African-American Mt. Zion broke off from Dumbarton in 1816. Just three blocks apart, the churches have gotten together in recent years for events such as Bible study, an annual Pentecost service and evenings feeding unhoused neighbors.
The site of the service, at 27th Street NW and Mill Road NW, is at the cemetery which Dumbarton has deeded to Mt Zion. Mt. Zion’s pastor, the Rev. Selena Johnson, had proposed honoring not only people who died from many causes in their own congregations, but also those nationwide who died from covid or racial violence.
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She says, “Out of adversity is born opportunity. Therefore, my prayer is that our churches will take this opportunity to be at the forefront of healing and hope, especially where anti-racist work is involved.”
Says Rev. Cornwell, “On All Saints Sunday, we liked the idea of a sort of memorial service in that sacred space and as a way to gather outdoors for this remembrance.”
The service starts with a somber time of reflection and some music, followed by some readings and a lighting of candles for the dead.
“The goal is to send people out in a hopeful way, focusing on how we can respond to this moment in history in a unified state,” said Rev. Cornwell.
You must RSVP to attend and follow the covenant of safety protocols. Please use this link to the RSVP form, https://forms.gle/frdvgeRuGDUUxDHF6.