On the first day of early voting faith leaders from various communities gathered at the United Methodist Church of Peekskill to promote unity over divisiveness. The brunch event was hosted by The Peekskill Area Pastors Association on Saturday, Oct. 26 and had 10 speakers across Judaism and Christianity.
The event’s organizer and moderator Pastor Valerie Paul-Greenway of the United Methodist Church of Peekskill told the Herald the goal of the event was to bring people of different backgrounds, diversity, and faith together.
“It is our humanity that is created by God, the creator, that makes us all one community,” she said. “So the purpose of this gathering is to begin to lift up prayers in this time of uncertainty and high anxiety as people are concerned about the election and what the outcome will be, and everybody being so divided. One of the things you will hear me say is our differences have been weaponized. How do we as people, all people, diffuse that?
Part of the effort to diffuse that divisiveness was in the form of a collective prayer gathering which included Hebrew hymns for peace, prayers for environmental stewardship, and verses that emphasized community. The group was asked to pray for those running for office and encouraged to set aside any division or prejudice they may have had.
Rev. Cheryl Parris of St. Peters Episcopal Church told the Herald she was proud that her church had every stripe and orientation of political affiliation and characterized them as being on a “big boat.”
“There are five fingers on every hand. Each finger is a different size, shape, and they have a different place,” Parris said. “Do you ever see them fight amongst each other? They all need (eachother), right? If one of them is gone, everyone will hurt and everyone will miss him. And if one of them is gone, everybody will have to do the work. We in the United States all have diversity of things, a diversity of understanding, just like a diversity of denominations. As a result, we have to understand that we are together. We have to work together.”
Rabbi Jennifer Jaech of Temple Israel of North Westchester and a Peekskill resident, told the Herald that one of the purposes that religion can serve at its best is to bring people together.
“We live in a time when it’s really easy to become polarized and to view people who might have different political beliefs as other than us,” Jaech said. “…I thought it was important to come and say we are all together despite any political differences. We, first, and foremost, are all human beings and we all want what’s best for our lives.”
Mayor Vivian McKenzie told the Herald the event allowed for healing for those hurting. “I don’t care what side of the ballot that you’re on, the country is pulled apart and having a hard time coming together,” she said. “Things like this let you know that we’re all the same and we all have the same challenges. Whoever you serve, it’s the same thing, it’s to treat people with respect and to work together.”
Rev. Robert Kilpatrick of Park St. African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, said the people of the world and Peekskill are currently living in a time of so much division.
“We have so much diversity throughout the city, that we as the ecumenical community come together and show that we are united,” he told the Herald. “As religious as we are, coming from the African American church or whether it be the Jewish church, or whether it be the Islamic church, whatever it is, we can come together for the betterment of the community.”
During Kilpatrick’s remarks, he paid honor to the legacy of the late Rev. Jeanette Phillips during his remarks. He described her as a firecracker for the Lord and a visionary who helped those in the community get jobs and health care.
“This organization PAPA was something that was near and dear to her heart,” he said, “working with those that may not look like her, may not worship the same way she worshipped, but at their core, love the people and love God.”
Rev. James Perry of Mount Olivet Baptist Church told attendees that several members of the community asked for the PAPA organization to do something about the divisiveness. He said it was important to do something that does not require anger, but speaks to the divinity and righteousness in each and every person.
“You cannot handle it alone. We have a great race to run,” Perry said. “We cannot run it and win it alone. The work is too much for (faith leaders and attendees). The work is too much for those beyond these four walls, democracy. This is what democracy means. Democracy means the work is too much for you. Every one of us has to be in the boat together.”
