Categories
Minneapolis

Lessons from Minneapolis one week after George Floyd’s death

 

Whole thread: 

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1267698646180483072.html

 

First tweet of thread: 

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1267692150130540544

Last tweet of thread: 

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1267698646180483072

PDF:

Download Lessons from Minneapolis one week after George Floyds death

 

Pasted below: 

Lessons from Minnesota (1 week)
Thread
1. Do not murder people.
2. Do not abet murder.
3. Do not have a history of killings by police.
4. Do not have a history of rendering people unconscious with neck restraints
5. If someone does commit murder, cry out for justice.
6. Do elect thoughtful, collaborative, compassionate public officials. If some leaders speak without compassion, minimize their responsibilities. In crisis, update 3 times a day.
7. Protests and demonstrations may be unpleasant for those who are not used to being inconvenienced.
8. Protests and demonstrations are best when led by people with a history of integrity and compassion. They know how to protest in symbolically powerful, spectacular ways without violence, looting and arson. They understand the web of interconnected issues that need challenging.
9. Local, state, and National Guard will initially have difficulty coordinating their efforts.
10. They may initially need to allow some property damage (strip malls, fast food restaurants, liquor stores, big box stores) in order to prioritize saving lives and crucial locations.
11. It is impossible to stop looting and arson if any of these are true:
(a) there are thousands more trouble-makers than law enforcement,
(b) there is a general sense that police deserve to be humbled rather than be cooperated with,
(c) politicians ignore legitimate demands.
12. If the general public get angry at the looters and arsonists and decide to protect their businesses and homes, politicians act reasonably, good activists direct protesters, and outside law enforcement act compassionately, looting and arson may slow.
13. Law enforcement need to avoid hitting media. Media need to communicate clearly who they are. Media need to try to avoid getting caught in the middle and interfering with law enforcement operations.
14. Rubber bullets are very dangerous to eyes. Wear eye protection.
15. Curfew *may* help to slow looting and arson but only if public despises looters and arson more than government.
16. Even after order resumes, government officials will still need to be responsive to wise protesters and avoid brutality or rage may burst out again.
17. Learn about how to wash out tear gas and pepper spray.
18. Local media (newspaper, radio, TV news, TV news online streaming, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) are very important. In a crisis, the public are desperate for accurate and the most recent information.
19. Government officials need to go to great effort to affirm and coordinate generous, sacrificial efforts to protect property, clean up, and provide supplies to the hurting by the general public. Yes, it is less messy to just have government do it, but public support is crucial.
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Categories
Minneapolis

Immediate reaction to George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on May 26-27, 2020

 

First tweet of thread on the day after George Floyd was killed: May 26th.

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1265372677696442368

 

Last tweet of thread on May 27th

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1265517346355056655

 

Whole thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1265372677696442368.html?refreshed=yes

 

PDF of immediate reactions to George Floyd's death in Minneapolis:

Download George Floyd death

 

This will be more jumbled below: 

This is horrifying and wrong. I am mourning and angry.
(Facebook 10 minute video below).

Minneapolis has fired the four officers involved.

Press conference with reaction from police chief, mayor, and outraged representatives of the black community.

Local news coverage:

MPR (local NPR station)

Minneapolis Star Tribune (newspaper)

Unroll available on Thread Reader
More local coverage:
twitter.com/ChaoStrib
More national reaction:

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This occurred 11 minutes from my home.
Both officers visible have been involved in violent incidents in the past.

His boss and landlord and his partner grieve:

#GeorgeFloyd

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Coverage of protests:

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More reaction:

I pasted above a lot of reactions so that Minneapolis people can see that there are people I like who are disturbed about this all over the nation. And I also want those people to know that the story checks out here in Minneapolis.
Also, I am "introducing" people to one another.
Minneapolis Star Tribune Reporter:

Washington Post Editorial Board:
washingtonpost.com/opinions/anoth…
Grew up in Minneapolis:

Police seem to have little problem handcuffing him. The one who kneeled on his neck arrived later.

Organized demonstration was from 5-7 pm: facebook.com/events/s/i-can…?

Thread on violence afterward (first tweet 7:16 pm) until now (past midnight).

Unroll available on Thread Reader
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Categories
Church Discipline Restoring pastors

On restoring pastors who lose their position because of a moral failing

Whole thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1265095639756492800.html

First tweet of thread: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1265095625260937216

Last tweet of thread: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1265095639756492800

PDF: 

Download On restoring pastors who lose their position because of a moral failing

Pasted below: 

Thread below on restoring pastors who lose their position because of a moral failing.
The apostle Paul urges people to follow his example.
A theme in the classic books on pastoral ministry is that pastors must be a moral example (Gregory the Great, Richard Baxter).
Moral lapses diminish the trust people have in the church leader.
For pastors who are fired because of a moral failing, it is not often just one mistake, but a series of questionable decisions. Sometimes all these are present: inappropriate relationships, financial corruption, deception, and angry threats.
However, like any organization or business, sometimes a pastor loses their position because of personality differences or disagreements about performance issues or conflict with the board or a “bad fit.”
Many good pastors do get fired. They can thrive in a new church.
Pastors often feel that there is nothing else they can do if they do not pastor but this is not true. There are many other fulfilling and challenging jobs. At first they may pay less because they are new and starting at the bottom but pastors often have management potential.
Virtually all of the former pastors I know have thrived in other professions. They have good writing and speaking and reading and computer skills, can motivate and supervise, know finances, and are good with people. They are often less stressed out.
It is easier to lead a lot of other groups than a church. Church people are peers. They are volunteers. They need to be motivated. You can’t force them to do anything. You have no carrots or sticks. If you have led in the church, you likely have some leadership ability.
There are New Testament examples of restoration.

 

Peter denied Jesus three times. He regretted it greatly.

John Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas wanted to give him another chance. Paul didn’t. It was painful (Acts 15:37-41). Mark appears later in the NT positively.

Many famous pastors start a church again after a year or two, or a friend hires them.
1. Some emphasize grace to themselves and others.
2. Others deny everything.
3. Others stress how they been radically transformed and enlightened.
Most market themselves extensively.
But it is very difficult for people in power to change. Therefore, patterns of thinking and behavior that led to the moral lapses often are still present as the “restored” pastor leads in the new setting.
In summary, I would urge pastors who have had a moral failure to assume they will never return to church leadership. Instead, do something else. Do good. Write. Get healthy. Apologize. Read. Go to school. Serve. Make amends. Explore.
If a pastor tries to make a comeback and be “restored” to ministry, they should know that they are likely still susceptible to the same problems they experienced the first time. It will take a huge amount of therapy, listening, and apologies to be able to function differently.
A restored pastor will likely need to have tried their best to make amends in writing, over the phone, and in person with those they have harmed. Without this, they cannot expect that their past actions will not follow them through online critics to future employers.
The press, public outcry online, and organizational structures provide accountability for pastors’ misbehavior. Being defensive and nitpicking slight errors when they have the story mostly accurate will not win trust or silence critics. Confession might. Or leave pastoring.
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