OC Register, June 18, 2015
BY CORYNA OGUNSEITAN, Staff Writer
IRVINE – More than 150 people of all walks of faith gathered at Irvine’s Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal Church on Thursday night. The small room was crowded, full of families, with people talking, comforting each other and grieving quietly.
The church organized the prayer vigil in light of the events of Wednesday night, when a gunman opened fire in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., and killed nine people during Bible study.
Emanuel AME Church is the oldest of its denomination in the South. Rev. Mark Whitlock of Christ Our Redeemer began the service by explaining the history of AME: a historically black church, the first AME was founded in 1816 after two black Christians at a St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia were pulled from their knees and forced to leave as they were praying in front of the altar. They bought property across the street and used the space for black locals to worship. Since then, AME has continued the legacy of social justice.
“For us, spiritual comes after social,” Whitlock said.
Seventeen religious leaders from a host of denominations ddressed the audience, all calling for God’s guidance, but also love, support and the end of discrimination in the nation.
Chris Abraham, a regular Christ Our Redeemer attendee for 10 years, said the church has served as a critical support space during difficult times such as this. She was shocked when she found out what happened in South Carolina.
“I was like, not again,” she said.
The church’s gathering in the face of the killings reminded her of its response to other acts of violence against the black community. “When Trayvon (Martin) was killed, we all came together in our hoodies,” she explained.
Whitlock wanted people to come together and see what he called “the rainbow of God’s creation.”
“We all have more in common than in contrast,” he said.
Indeed, other religious leaders emphasized the importance of regarding the shootings as a racial issue.
“As Americans, we’re so used to stories like this,” said Sarah Woods of the United Church of Christ. “Racism is a cancer.”
AME leaders say they are staying strong in the face of racism and violence.
“That young man picked the wrong church,” Whitlock said. “No church would have been right, but the AME church? We’re not afraid.”
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- More than a hundred people attended a prayer vigil at the Christ Our Redeemer AME Church showing support for the victims of the Charleston, SC shooting.
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- Chief of Police for the city of Irvine & OC Human Relations Commissioner, David Maggard, right, hugs Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, Jr. at the start of the prayer vigil.
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- The Rev. Mark E. Whitlock Jr. gestures during opening remarks at the prayer vigil. ALL PHOTOS: MICHAEL KITADA
