Newtown Interfaith Council (NIC) met earlier this month, with eight members logging in from various locations.

The council’s members are still getting used to virtual meetings, with mixed results. At one point on June 3, Reverend Matthew Crebbin referenced a recent Saturday Night Live skit where a Baptist minister was once again addressing “a large congregation logged into the Zoom machine.”

SNL cast member Kenan Thompson played the pastor of Mt Methuselah Baptist Church, which was celebrating its Mother’s Day service online.

“Mute yourselves during the service,” Thompson’s pastor said calmly in the opening minutes of “Zoom Church,” which aired May 9.

“The way that this Zoom machine works,” the pastor continued, “is that every mic is as loud as mine, so when y’all respond, I can’t really hear myself preach. Amen?”

Fifteen small screens surrounding the preacher’s immediately came to life, with members of the church all offering their responsive Amens.

“I can hear ya’ll agreeing,” the pastor says, “which means that you’re not taking the note, because it’s still very, very loud, all right? So how ’bout nobody say amen after I say amen, Amen?”

The church group had surged to 24 attendees by then, and everyone puts in their Amen. Within a few minutes, the aggrieved pastor has had enough, and signs off.

On June 3 it took a few minutes for everyone to understand what Crebbin what trying to explain. Fortunately, background noises and other sounds slowly tapered off, and conversation ensued among those on the screens.

The members of NIC checked in on a project they are working on. Members are creating prayers or finding readings that will be shared with the community, to offer comfort from many faith backgrounds during the current pandemic.

The lead item discussed that Wednesday afternoon was a collective response to the murder in Minneapolis, Minn., of George Floyd. The 46-year-old black man was on the ground, face down, during an arrest, when a white police officer knelt on his neck for a reported 8 minutes, 46 seconds, suffocating Floyd and killing him.

The Black Lives Matter movement has gained increased attention and support internationally since Floyd’s death. In Newtown, signs supporting the movement and calling for social justice have been appearing. A pair of peaceful gatherings were held on June 7.

The June 3 NIC meeting was a week earlier than the council usually meets. It was called, in large part, in response to the Floyd death.

The group is careful, however, Reverend Matt Crebbin said, “to steer, as best we are able, to try and find unity, but not to proclaim that we have unity, in many circumstances.”

For that reason the group generally does not publish statements as the council, he reminded the attendees. While people had been looking to the council for its collective thoughts, Crebbin reminded those participating in the online gathering that the group does not put out statements “where folks are not inclined to sign on to.”

Having said that, he also noted that after 12/14, many people looked to the council for a group statement.

“We had a number of us that did sign on, but we signed on as individuals,” he said. There are council members who, because of religious tradition, cannot attach their name to such statements “without having permission of their line of leadership, or having other religious or theological issues with whatever is done.

“People have often said ‘The council can put out a statement,’” he continued, “but I tell them, ‘We’re really not that kind of council.’

“We are this less formal group of gathered folks that I would rather rely on to build relationships in these kind of settings as opposed to ultimately, even in very important issues, set up a dynamic where then certain folks say ‘I can’t be part of the council now because the council’s going in this direction and it’s not a place where I can be.’”

Instead, the council has become a place where members can find themselves with different opinions and views, without judgment or repercussion.

The Reverend Dr Jennifer Montgomery said she sees strength in the council, even with its informal settings.

“The fact is there are representatives from the Jewish faith, the Islamic faith, the Christian faith, the Catholic faith, and we do come together,” she said.

“It’s amazing to me that all of us, with our faith traditions, can agree on some things,” she added. “We agree on unity. We agree on justice. We agree on peace, love, racial reconciliation, hearing all voices, dignity of every human being.

“We stand against systemic racism and violence,” she continued. “I don’t think that’s a political statement. That’s a faith statement, and the power of this group being able to sign on to just a basic statement like that, knowing that more action needs to take place, is the beginning of an important conversation.”

Those words formed the basis of a statement written that evening. It was addressed “To the Newtown community” and eventually signed by eight members of the council.

‘Meaningful Conversations’

Crebbin and Montgomery were two of the six members of the council who joined the virtual meeting a few weeks ago.

Also among the afternoon’s attendees were John Woodall and Eman Beshtawii. They had just returned from Danbury, where a protest had taken place in response to the death of George Floyd. The event began outside the Danbury Library at noon.

One group from that event worked its way to the Danbury Police Department building, where the city’s mayor and police chief addressed the crowd. A second group made its way onto I-84, reportedly closing the multilane highway.

Woodall called the initial protest “inspiring,” but cautioned he also felt a “sinister” feeling to the crowd.

“The emotions are so high, the pain is so deep, the brokenness was so evident,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know how to manage brokenness.

“If you don’t have a grounding in humbled faith, that brokenness turns into rage, or great fear, and then you look for a scapegoat,” he added. “That was absolutely happening in the march.”

Recalling the uplifting remarks he heard, which were countered by angry voices that afternoon, Woodall said he sees the need for “a moderating voice.”

As critical as marches are, Woodall said, it felt to him that the event he and Beshtawii had been to earlier did not have a focus.

“There was no philosophical center, and no transformative action,” he noted. “It’s an ongoing spiritual path. Not all of us were there, but we’re committed to the path and we’re humbly walking together on the path.”

The council members concurred, but also quickly admitted that they need help from others.

Lori Miller agreed that she wants to lend a voice to the issue of social injustice. She has heard, she said, from members of Newtown United Methodist Church who also want to help, but feel stymied.

“One frustration is what can we do, as white folk, that’s going to be constructive, and not destructive?” she said.

Crebbin agreed, saying that he too, as a white man, does not always know what to say when it comes to talking about peace.

Crebbin and Woodall both introduced the idea of hosting conversations. Instead of Newtown Interfaith Council members speaking, the community events would host the voices of those “who could articulate their own lived experience,” Crebbin said.

The group could use its platform, he said, “for access, to give other people voices to speak of their experience, who often don’t get a chance.”

Shaul Praver suggested the local group join with other clergy groups, especially those with members of color.

“Joining together might give us representation in an area we can’t achieve on our own,” he said. It would be important, he later said, to have “meaningful conversations.”

Steve Bamberg said he has a feeling “most people in Newtown don’t have a lot of black friends or socialize with many black people.

“I don’t know what it would take to change that,” he continued.

What most seemed to agree on is that discussions need to start, soon.

“There are different kinds of perceptions and treatments, even for our friends and neighbors in Newtown,” Crebbin said. “How do we have these conversations in town? How do we find them and hear them?”

Praver pointed out that it would be important to have many speakers share their stories.

“We don’t want to fall into the trap of thinking there aren’t different views among black people,” he said. “There is a great amount of potential.”

Having been silent for much of the meeting, the founder of Al Hadeya Islamic Center spoke up.

“It is very hard to have black skin, or brown, and live in Newtown, believe me,” Eman Beshtawii said. “I feel a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood only within this group, and within the mosque.”

For families of color with children, she said, “it’s very, very hard, even in the schools. Most of us, we have already left the town.

“If not for the mosque, my family would have moved away by now,” she said.

“When people share their stories,” she cautioned, “some people don’t want to believe your story. I’m telling you. I still love Newtown, but I feel really sad. The reality is, you’re not made to feel like you’re part of Newtown. You see a difference. You really do.”

She shared memories of seeing fellow council members at public events, and feeling comfortable because she knew they would speak to her.

“They know me, and I knew they would say ‘Hello’ to me,” she said. “But other people are so cold.”