One of Syracuse’s oldest and more progressive churches will celebrate the installation Sunday of its senior pastor…nearly 17 months after he first began serving. The Reverend Eric Jackson was supposed to be installed at Plymouth Congregational Church last March, but then the pandemic happened. Jackson says in the meantime, he’s observed congregants navigate the pandemic with grace, openness, and faithfulness, even if it’s been mostly through virtual gatherings.
"Not being able to watch how the church flows, and learn it's culture over the first year or two of your ministry. But we did take the time to continue to build relationships with each other and get to know one another, which has made this journey very meaningful over the last 17 months."
Jackson says the church continued to live more deeply into its purpose during the pressing times.
"We kept feeding people throughout the pandemic from our food pantry. We took the opporunity to do an Earth Day cleanup. Even in the times of the horrible, horrible execution of George Floyd, the congregation went out into the co mmunity and made its voice heard about why we cannot be silent in the face of injustice."
The pastor says police are a symptom of a wider problem.
"I think it's causes us to reflect on what it is about the systems that allow us to exclude some because of skin color and include others."
That’s the opposite of the legacy of Plymouth. The church has a nearly 170 year history of fighting against slavery, poverty, and war, and welcoming all regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or identity, class, immigration status, physical ability, or other difference.
Jackson is the first African American senior pastor of Plymouth, which was founded by a group of Christian abolitionists in 1853. His installation service complete with music and inspiration will take place virtually Sunday at 3:00. Information and a link is here.
