The year ahead: Minister Nancy Petty

The Rev. Nancy Petty is pastor of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh.

Our nation, our state, our communities, our families are facing a defining moment in history as to whether or not we will embrace and celebrate one another in our unique differences as well as our shared commonalities.

It is easy to be united when we all agree. But my vision and hope for my faith community, for my Raleigh community, for my beloved North Carolina and for this great nation is that we can come together with civility and compassion and support one another in all of our diversity and difference, whether that be religious, political or cultural.

The only way we can do this, however, is if we come together around a common good where we lift one another up and show compassion to those who are struggling in our society.

My faith teaches that we are all created in the divine image of God. In my own imagination, I can’t fathom that God ever imaged a world where everyone would think alike, believe alike, look alike or love alike. Our Divine Creator created the world and humanity to reflect difference and diversity; and my hope for the coming year and the next decade is that we can celebrate, not just tolerate, our differences.

Specifically, it is my hope that by the end of 2020 we will have made giant steps in securing healthcare and a living wage for every person living in the United States. It is my hope and vision that 2020 will began an era where we make great strides in offering reparations to our Native American and African American sisters and brothers on whose land and backs our nation was built. It is my hope and vision that here in this country of religious freedom our Jewish and Muslim sisters and brothers will not fear for their safety when they assemble to celebrate the rituals and rites of their faith.

There are defining moments that mark history. 2020 is one of those defining moments for our nation. It is my hope that we will have the grace and wisdom to risk it all for the good life for every single one of us.

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