Charleston's Christians pray for unity

CHARLESTON, S.C.—For nine minutes beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, the bells of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in downtown Charleston, S.C., pealed in slow, dirge-like succession as hundreds of people, mostly white, gathered in silence on the grassy expanse of nearby Marion Square. They came in memory of the nine people killed during an evening Bible study just four days earlier and to worship as one church without walls.

A block away, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church opened its tall wooden doors to the city in defiance of those who would divide the city and keep them shut. On Wednesday night, a lone gunman opened fire on members of the congregation as they gathered for prayer.

“No weapon, no weapon, formed against us shall prosper,” proclaimed interim pastor Norvel Goff, the church’s presiding elder. Goff took the pulpit in place of the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who was killed Wednesday with eight of his parishioners.

On Sunday evening, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people held hands across the Arthur Ravenel Bridge that spans the Cooper River between Charleston and Mount Pleasant, S.C. The “Bridge to Peace Unity Chain” drew thousands from each side to meet in the middle, strangers greeting strangers with smiles and hugs, singing hymns as they walked.

“A lot of folk expected us to do something strange and break out in a riot,” Goff said to those who gathered Sunday morning at Emanuel, including South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley, and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott. U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum also attended the service.

“Well, they just don’t know us,” Goff said. “We are people of faith. We believe that when we put our forces together and our heads together, working for the common good, there is nothing we can’t accomplish together in the name of Jesus.”

On Marion Square, scattered circles of six to 10 people held hands and prayed for the families of the nine victims as their names were read aloud. Reading lyrics from programs passed out to the worshippers, they sang well-loved hymns of comfort: “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “It is Well with My Soul.”

“As a pastor in this city and a husband and father of two boys and two girls, my heart broke in grief and disbelief,” said Brandon Bowers, who is white and the lead pastor of Awaken Church, the interdenominational congregation in Charleston that organized the event. “What the enemy intended for evil, God is using for good. We are here to pray for the healing that needs to come.”

Jermaine Watkins, an African-American and the teaching pastor at Journey Church, declared God’s church would remain united across color lines.

“What unites us is greater than what divides us,” he said. “To hatred, we say no way, not today. To racism, we say no way, not today. To division, we say no way, not today. To reconciliation, we say yes. To loss of hope, we say no way, not today. To a racial war, we say no way, not today. To racial fear, we say no way, not today. Charleston, together we say no way, not today.”

Large white banners spilled from buildings surrounding the square to declare messages of healing and unity: “Love. If not us, who? If not now, when?,” “Holy City. Let us be the example that love conquers evil,” “Mother Emanuel, we love you,” and “We stand united in Christ.”