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For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace — Isaiah 9:6-7a, NRSV
Last week I gathered with our Johns Creek Interfaith Clergy Group to meet the new police chief of Johns Creek. I was impressed with the initiatives he has planned for 2022. I think they reflect the challenges of his job in the midst of our changing world. At the end of our time meeting with him, we all promised to pray for him and his officers, which seemed to mean a great deal to him.
But after he and his staff had left, we took a few moments to introduce some of the new clergy who had joined our group. We also took a few moments to share with them how our group was formed a few years ago. It actually came out of a tragedy -- the Pittsburgh shootings in the synagogue. That event caused Shaun King, the pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church, to reach out to the rabbi of the local synagogue, Jordan Ottenstein. Unfortunately, that was not the last tragic event that would continue to draw us together across faith backgrounds. But in sharing how we got started, I think we were trying to pass along to our newer clergy members what brought us together.
I did share with them that I would be retiring soon. Maybe I felt the I need a pass along how important this Interfaith Clergy Group had become not only to me personally, but to our community of Johns Creek. I believe it is one of the most important things we have done during my almost 12 years of ministry here. I hope that when I am no longer a part of this group, others will take up the mantle and continue to build community in and among us. Maybe that’s one way we can be peacemakers and make peace in our world.
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