A Concerned Pastor Addresses Racism in Powhatan Public Schools

Pastor Engle

Pastor John Engle and some 150 other concerned citizens recently expressed grave concerns about an increase of incidents of racial and other forms of bullying in Powhatan public schools. Both parents and students cited examples that included an actual death threat (for which the student responsible was given only a three-day suspension) and frequent uses of the N-word and other racial slurs against people of color, including Asian and Latino children. LGBTQ students were also among those targeted.

Here is the text of the remarks Engle prepared for the April 16 meeting of the all white Powhatan school board, shared with his permission:

My name is John Engle. I am the pastor of Powhatan Mennonite Church and am speaking tonight as a representative of the Powhatan Pastors Alliance.

A verse in the Old Testament book of Proverbs says, “The tongue of the wise brings healing,” and it is my hope that my words tonight will promote at least a measure of that healing.

I want to thank the Board for extending the time for public comments at the March 18 meeting. We know that your roles involve challenging responsibilities and appreciate your service.

The Powhatan Pastors Alliance is a fellowship group of pastors from various local churches. We are diverse both in terms of denominational affiliation and race but have enjoyed a genuine unity in our relationships. We are united by our common faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, as well as by our concern for the welfare of all students in Powhatan schools.

The book of Proverbs also tells us, “Speak up for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” After hearing the statements made by students and their parents at the last Board meeting, we as pastors felt that we could not remain silent; that in fact we had a moral obligation as spiritual leaders in our community to speak up. When we hear students as young as seventh graders telling us that they are called racial slurs and verbally abused in other ways regularly at school, how can any of us not be affected and concerned?

When we hear their parents telling us of their heartache as they see the bigotry their children face, how can our hearts not ache with them? All that those of us who are not part of a minority need to do is to ask ourselves, “What if it were our children or grandchildren who were being abused?” Wouldn’t we do everything we could to bring about change? I believe we know the answer to that question in our hearts.

In speaking up, we first want every student who has faced discrimination to hear us say that you are valuable in God’s eyes. The first chapter of the Bible speaks of human beings as those created in the image of God. This truth, which applies to all races and includes you, gives you a value and dignity that no one can take away from you. No matter what anyone else has ever said to you, you are not a second-class citizen in God’s sight, but a unique individual fearfully and wonderfully made by him, and we are glad you are part of our community.

Secondly, we want the parents of those children to hear us say that we are with you in solidarity of spirit and will do whatever we can to support you in your struggle for justice.

Thirdly, we hope every adult of good will listening to this will commit to working together to rid our community and school system of every expression of racism and mistreatment of minorities.

We know that young people can make unwise decisions, but it is up to us as adults to lay aside our differences and stand together for the sake of all students, to affirm that we are all connected by our common humanity, all created in God’s image, that no one is superior or inferior to anyone else in His eyes, and that therefore discrimination and bigotry can never be tolerated.

Finally, in speaking up, we as pastors are urging you as School Board members to be proactive in response to what you have heard from students and their parents. Please do not think these issues will go away by themselves; hundreds of years of American history tell us otherwise. We understand there are no simplistic solutions to complex problems, but we urge you to make addressing this problem a high priority, to keep listening, to work together creatively with parents, teachers, administrators, and students to do everything in your power to ensure that every student in Powhatan public schools feels safe and respected and is able to get a high- quality education without fear. 

Again, I ask the five of you directly, what would you do if it were your children or grandchildren being abused at school? Please consider that scenario, ask God for wisdom, and let your God-given conscience guide you with proactive responses.

Ultimately these issues remind us of human brokenness and our great need for authentic spiritual renewal. Our prayer is that we might experience such renewal in Powhatan, that the darkness of racism and alienation will be eradicated, and that all members of our community might live together in peace in the light of the love of God. “What is impossible with man is possible with God”

In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote a letter from the Birmingham, Alabama jail—sadly enough, to a group of white religious leaders who opposed his work in the city— in which he said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” 

May God help all of us recognize our connection to one another as those created in his image and do all we can to oppose injustice anywhere and promote justice everywhere, including in the Powhatan public school system and community. 

Thank you.