Dr. Mark Bailey’s Letter to the Church in Charleston
Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church
110 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Dear Leadership and Membership of the Emanuel AME Church of Charleston,
It has been seven days and nights of grief since the tragic and utterly sinful murders of your staff and church members. While much prayer has been offered in our classes and in other venues at Dallas Theological Seminary over the past week, as well as in our churches here in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, I wanted to write this to you as a church to express on behalf of the Dallas Theological Seminary family our deep sadness and grief for your loss and assure you of our continued prayers. I have been away from the office this past week engaged in an intensive time of teaching, preaching, and travel. However in each of those settings, we have held you up before the Father asking Him to minister to you, by His Son and through His Spirit, as only He can. Today as you begin to lay to rest our brothers and sisters, I want you to know we continue that effort.
The roots of bitterness and hatred go to the core of human depravity. We stand with you and others to condemn all acts of violence and injustice and particularly those that are motivated by hate and prejudice. Throughout this past week, you as a church have modeled for all of us the grace of God, the need for forgiveness, and the courage to keep fighting the good fight for Christian values and human dignity. Such values are rooted in the biblical belief that all of humanity has been created in the image of God. On behalf of your brothers and sisters in Christ at DTS, I want you to know that we are committed to that end as well. Thank you for your clear testimony before a watching world to the power of God and His work of grace in your lives.
As the president of DTS, I pledge along with our faculty and board to continue speaking into the culture to address the sins of racism and to promote and model genuine reconciliation and fellowship. Christ would have us to do no less, and with His help we will strive to do more. Please be assured of our continuing prayers in the days and months ahead.
In His service,
Mark L. Bailey, PhD
President and Professor of Bible Exposition
About the Contributors
Mark L. Bailey
Dr. Bailey assumed the role of DTS Chancellor after serving for 19 years as the Seminary’s fifth President, and continues his role as Sr. Professor in the Bible Exposition department. In addition to his years at Dallas Theological Seminary, he has pastored various churches in Arizona and Texas. He was a seminar instructor for Walk Thru the Bible Ministries for twenty years and is in demand for Bible conferences and other preaching engagements all over the country and world. His overseas ministries have included Venezuela, Argentina, Hungary, and China. He is also a regular tour leader in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Rome. His board service includes Bible Study Fellowship, Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and Word of Life.
Contributors
