Comments on arrests in church attacks

Some of the most interesting news to come out of yesterday’s arrest of suspects wanted for the church burnings in rural Alabama (dead link) was what came out of the college campus that two of the accused attended. The comments, made during a press conference on the campus of Birmingham-Southern College by their president, have been somewhat lost in the whirlwind of debate regarding proper punishment for the crime if they’re convicted. Attention has already been paid to the needs of the communities affected. This however, probably more than anything else since my arrival in town, provides a brilliant example of the existence of leadership willing to do things that are not necessarily expected or necessary. The college’s ability to step up in this time of need should serve as a call to arms for more people to figure out ways that they may be able to help rebuild the physical homes for these congregations. Perhaps it should also cause us to ask ourselves what we can do for our community, whether it’s asked for or not.