Let us Bear One Another’s Burdens and so Fulfill the Law of Christ.
The School of Religion at Loma Linda University stands unequivocally in solidarity with those who espouse the value of human equality. We believe all human beings are created “in the image of God” (Gen 1:27) and therefore loved equally by God, worthy of dignity, respect, and deserving of equal treatment under the law. We stand opposed to the structural and systemic racism which marginalizes communities of color, made recently even more evident in the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. And we do not believe that any person’s request for mercy, justice, equality or the right to breathe should be viewed as anything other than their God-given right to be seen as a human being and beloved child of God.
We hold fast to the university’s mission of continuing the healing and teaching ministry of Jesus Christ to make all of humankind whole. We affirm the Bible to be a symbol and communication of God’s love, and do not condone its use as a political weapon. We are resolutely united with all who believe the message of hope and inspiration in the quest for social justice found in Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Toward this end, we, as a faculty, commit to a process of listening, particularly to our students of color, and learning from relevant colleagues and experts, in order to more intentionally and effectively address these issues through our teaching, scholarship, and life together.