Carter urges faith leaders to combat racism

ATLANTA—Jimmy Carter says the United States is experiencing a “resurgence of racism” and he’s calling on Baptist faith leaders to foster change in their churches and communities.

The former U.S. president spoke Sept. 15 at a summit hosted by the New Baptist Covenant, which he convened in 2007 to unite Baptists of different races, ethnicities and theologies. Carter’s keynote address came during a three-day meeting in Atlanta aimed at creating partnerships between black and white churches to work together on pressing issues in their community.

Before Carter spoke, leaders of two Baptist churches in Macon, Ga., located less than a block apart but split by race, discussed their congregations’ partnership. Carter called such relationships “a very powerful potential weapon to set an example not just among Baptists, not just among churches, but in communities.”

Carter said some white Americans stay quiet when they see discrimination or segregation, fearful of losing a “privileged” position in society. He said that amounts to acceptance of “discrimination and animosity and hatred and division.”

Carter, a lifelong Baptist, often spoke about his faith during his political career. Now 91, he continues to teach Sunday school several times a month at a church in his hometown of Plains, Ga.

Carter said Americans’ multiple races, ethnicities and religions form “a beautiful mosaic” and said the country has been “resilient” following other periods of deep division, including the Civil War.