Brothers and Sisters,

In the last few hours we have learned that a Florida jury found George Zimmerman not guilty in the death of Trayvon Martin.

From the beginning we have watched and listened as this sad tragedy has unfolded. The victims are many, and ultimately we have all been affected. The conversation about racism in this country has grown deeper because of this case.

I pray that as persons of Christian faith we will help guide the conversation in thoughtful and prayerful ways. The life of a young man has been cut short. His family and closest friends will live with a hole in their hearts. A man has taken a life and will live with that burden the rest of his life. Racism, guns, violence, and the lack of security plague us all.

But we trust in God in whom we find perfect love for every single one of us without exception; God in whom there is security, a security born of right relationships and justice.

Let us pray for the Martin family, but also for the Zimmerman family.

Let us pray for each other for in God’s eyes we are all one family.

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, Resident Bishop
The California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church