Bolton Hill is full of stories sprinkled just beyond our baptismal font in the nave: stories flowing in the fonts of Black neighborhoods. Baptized by water and by Spirit, members of our Memorial community have been on a journey. A journey of paying attention and listening to stories: stories from our neighbors at Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary School.
As many of you know, Baltimore City Public Schools suddenly announced their intent to close Eutaw-Marshburn last year. For us at Memorial, our baptismal calling was to listen. With consent, members of our church community listened to parents, students, and educators struggling to find answers: answers to what was happening, or why the school was closing. We heard stories of frustration and exhaustion. Stories about the immensity of COVID-19 and the school closure amplifying stress in their school community.
Seeking change with our neighbors, we rallied together outside Baltimore City Public Schools’ headquarters to delay the vote. We prayed with signs, our feet, and with silent listening. Silent listening so that our neighbors’ voices might be amplified. Listening and not expecting our neighbors to relive their stories for our benefit. We listened to stories about after-school programs, food distribution, early childhood education and family support programs at Eutaw-Marshburn. We listened to our neighbors’ stories of love, family, strength, pride, and solidarity. We listened to our neighbors’ stories of fears about children having to cross some of the busiest streets in Baltimore to get to school if Eutaw-Marshburn closes. We joined our neighbors in seeking a two-year delay to the vote. Baltimore City Public Schools granted one year.
Listening is at the heart of our baptismal calling. In baptism, we recall the story of God's love and justice at work throughout history. Through baptism, we are empowered to bear witness to the grace and power of God moving amidst our neighbors today and their stories. Living into our baptism requires action: listening to stories—Black stories—not speaking over our neighbors’ stories. By listening, we might bear witness to the truths being told, honoring our neighbors’ sharing of their stories with us. By listening with an open heart and mind, we might pursue communities of reconciliation and justice—a stirring of Christ’s passion in Baltimore.
We are unsure of what stories lie ahead for Eutaw-Marshburn. Even so, as a Justice-Focused Jesus-Centered community, we trust that we need to continue listening. Bolton Hill is full of stories sprinkled just beyond our baptismal font in the nave: stories that flow in the fonts of Black neighborhoods. Baptized by water and by Spirit—and by stories—may we continue to center the voices of our neighbors, paying attention and listening to their stories: stories from our neighbors at Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary School.