Flames engulfed a historic African-American church near Charleston, South Carolina on Tuesday night – one that the Ku Klux Klan had set on fire in 1995, according to a Charleston Post and Courier report.
Mount Zion AME Church in Greeleyville is the seventh black church to burn across the South in the wake of the killing of nine worshipers at Charleston’s Emanuel AME Church.
In several of the fires, investigators have ruled that the cause was arson but have not determined if it is a hate crime. In other cases, they suspect that lightning or a tree falling on a powerline from heavy storms could have started the fires.
However, many believe the arsonists are clearly attempting to strike at the heart of the black community. In response, Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in St. Louis is coordinating the Rebuild the Churches Fund to unite people of all faiths to help rebuild these buildings.
“These acts of terrorism are not only an attack on the human dignity of our black sisters and brothers, they are an attack specifically leveled on their most sacred spaces,” said Christ Church Cathedral Dean Mike Kinman.
“The only way to meet this hatred is with love. That’s what the Rebuild the Churches effort does ¬– give people of all faiths a chance to respond in with a love that will always be greater than any hate.”
After setting an initial goal of $25,000, the organizers doubled that to $50,000 after receiving nearly $19,000 in the first 72 hours, after the online giving portal went live.
All money received will be divided equally among these congregations:
Glover Grove Baptist Church, Warrenville, SC
College Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church, Knoxville, TN
Briar Creek Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC
God’s Power Church of Christ, Macon, GA
The funds will be designated to cover rebuilding costs not covered by insurance. If money is raised beyond that, it will be permitted to be used to expand or improve the physical plant so that it may better serve the wider community.
If other black churches are burned or previous fires are deemed to be arson, those churches will be added to the distribution list. The fund is being managed and funds will be disbursed by Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in St. Louis.
So far, 50 faith communities – Christian, Jewish and Muslim – in 14 states and at least one coffee shop have committed to have at least one special offering for the churches during July as a sign of interfaith solidarity against racism and with their sisters and brothers of faith.
“Our young activists remind us to ‘love and support each other,”’ said Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis. “We will continue to rebuild every church with our love and support and the good in us, in all of us, will win.”
The Rev. Dr. Heather Arcovitch, senior minister of First Congregational Church of St. Louis, said all people deserve a sanctuary.
“To desecrate and destroy a sanctuary is a heinous act,” she said. “We are praying that God will spread a shelter of protection and comfort over our Black sister congregations, and we invite faithful people of all faiths to join in being Gods hands and heart in doing it.”
Anyone can contribute to the fund online at https://cccathedralstl.dntly.com/campaign/2571#/
Those wishing to give can also make a check out to Christ Church Cathedral with “Rebuild the Churches Fund” in the memo line and send it to:
Rebuild the Churches
c/o Christ Church Cathedral
1210 Locust Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
In St. Louis, the following faith communities have already agreed to have a special collection for these churches at least once during July: Central Reform Congregation, St. John AME Church, Trinity Episcopal Church,
Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, Christ the King United Church of Christ (UCC), First Congregational UCC, Washington Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, Ward AME Church, Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal), Southern Union Missionary Baptist Church, Lafayette Park UMC, Centenary UMC, All Saints Episcopal, St. John’s UCC and the Islamic Community Center.
Other congregations who wish to be added to this list should email Dean Kinman at mkinman@gmail.com.