Ten Ways to Strengthen Relations with Police and Public Safety Officials
The following was developed by longtime EI faculty member and pastor of Epworth Chapel UMC the Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt and shared as part of his presentation on “Police, Protest & Possibility” for the virtual #TheologyTownHall held Wednesday, June 17, 2020. [Join us at noon on Wednesdays for Theology Town Halls led out by different members of the EI community.]
One key to a church’s vitality is the quality of the relationships it establishes with a broad spectrum of leaders and institutions throughout its community. One of the most important set of relationships a church can develop is with police and other public safety officials. Recent well-publicized police-involved shootings and deaths, and the shootings and deaths of a number of police officers around the nation, have stained police-community relations and resulted in unrest in many areas.
Working proactively rather than reactively to strengthen a church’s relationship with its surrounding community and with police engenders trust. It also helps improve the quality of life for persons living and working in particular communities. It is a part of the theological task of churches to “seek the welfare” (shalom, peace, well-being) of all people in their respective communities (Jeremiah 29:7). Individuals, churches, groups, organizations, institutions, and even governments can promote the wellbeing of communities by making a sincere commitment to strengthen the relationship between the church, the community, and the police.
Here are ten ways that individuals, churches, and other community organizations can work toward strengthening these relationships.
- Pray for the police serving your community.
- Pray for and publicly affirm the police and other public safety officials who are members of your congregation.
- Know your community police officers by name, and keep their contact information readily available. Schedule regular meetings with community police officers to establish and strengthen relationships.
- Participate in periodic drive-arounds and community walks with police and community leaders.
- Invite police to community events held by the church, such as back-to-school events, community meals, and food giveaways.
- Include local police on the distribution lists for the church newsletter and email communications.
- Seek to collaborate with community entities like the Chambers of Commerce, NAACP, community associations, PTAs, and other churches in the community across denominations and faith traditions to address common interests and concerns regarding policing and public safety.
- Invite community police to speak to youth and young adults in the church.
- Educate youth and adults on appropriate conduct if stopped by police.
- Assist police departments in the recruitment of qualified persons in the congregation and community who would serve well as uniformed police officers, especially women and minorities who may be underrepresented.
St. Mary’s Seminary & University is pleased to announce that Rev. Robert F. Leavitt, France-Merrick University Professor of Systematic Theology, has been awarded First Place in the category of theology for books published in 2019 by the Association of Catholic Publishers for The Truth Will Make You Free: The New Evangelization for a Secular Age (Liturgical Press). As many of you know Fr. Leavitt was President-Rector of St. Mary’s for 28 years prior to his retirement in 2008. St. Mary’s is extremely proud of Fr. Leavitt receiving First Place for this significant and influential contribution to the literature on The New Evangelization in the context of modern secular societies.
Please see the full announcement here:
https://www.catholicpublishers.org/2020-publishing-award-winners#Theology
Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney – an alumnus of St. Mary’s Seminary class of 1877 who in 1888 founded the Knights of Columbus – will be formally elevated to “Blessed” by Pope Francis.
