Statement from the Council of Bishops
July 1, 2025
Friday, July 4th the United States will observe Independence Day, which commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 which declared the thirteen American colonies free from British rule. It will mark the 249th birthday of the nation. Ordinarily, it would be a time of celebration and rejoicing. But not this year. For many Americans this year’s Fourth of July is filled with anxiety, apprehension and fear. Instead of celebrating independence they dread the loss of independence, opportunity and the revival of racism, antisemitism and oppressive government.
The nation’s founders produced a constitution and government with three equal branches, the executive, legislative and judicial branches with each providing accountability to the others. However, the Supreme Court on Friday announced decisions on cases which put a nail in the coffin of “three equal branches of government.” The Supreme Court ruled that federal district judges could no longer issue rulings that affect the entire nation, but only the parties and jurisdictions over which they preside. This is a major ruling which broadens and increases executive authority while restricting and limiting judicial authority. The current president has tried to increase presidential authority at the expense of the legislative and judicial branches. And to the dismay of many the legislative and judicial branches are going along. Since taking office in January 2025 the president has signed 165 Executive Orders, many of which are illegal or need Congressional approval. But Congress has not blocked or exerted it’s authority on any of them. For example he seeks to close down the Department of Education which must be approved by Congress but Congress hasn’t said a word. The president has cut off or failed to provide funding approved by Congress but again Congress has not said a word. Several federal judges have ruled against the president and his Executive Orders which the president appealed to the Supreme Court which sided with him in their ruling on Friday. This is the same Supreme Court which said the president has immunity.
With the Supreme Court’s Friday ruling the president can do almost anything he wants to do by Executive Order. For example he could issue an Executive Order that no federal funds can go to HBCU’s. We would have to take legal action. But no Federal District Judge would be able to issue a decision to cover all of our schools. It would have to go to the Supreme Court which could take a long time, causing great harm to our schools. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor stated in her dissent the Supreme Court’s decision creates “a new legal regime” in which all of our rights are at risk.
This president seeks to lead as an autocrat. Not with Congress and the Courts as equal partners, but by Executive Orders. This is what he’s done with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, immigration, federal funding, tariffs and a host of other issues. He pushes to see how far he can go and so far the legislative and judicial branches are allowing him to do it. As we approach this Fourth of July the United States is more like an autocracy rather than a democracy.
Today the United States Senate passed the “Big Beautiful Bill” proposed by the Trump Administration which cuts 1 trillion dollars from safety net spending (Medicaid, SNAP and Healthcare) causing hurt, pain and devastation for millions of people. It will cut funding for USAID and other programs to address poverty, hunger and disease causing sickness and death, especially in Africa and other third world nations. The bill also specifically provides the largest tax reductions for those who make hundreds of thousands of dollars or more a year. Now the legislation must pass the House of Representatives. President Trump hopes to be able to sign the legislation on of all days the Fourth of July.
The Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church expresses our very strong opposition to the leadership and policies of this president and administration. He makes very clear that for him, black lives, progress, history and future don’t matter. That he is determined to turn back time and put blacks and people of color in their place. Falsely claims that most immigrants are criminals, really using deportation as a means to get people of color out of the country because by 2040 the projection is that the majority population will no longer be white, but people of color. The only way this president can govern is not by uniting but by dividing the country.
We acknowledge something must be done. But it cannot be done by African Methodism alone. The Social Action Commission is collaborating with faith leaders across the nation to develop a strategy to impact and negate much of what the administration seeks to do. The Council of Bishops will make known the strategy and what we ask you to do soon.
Until then, let us be true and faithful.
Council of Bishops African Methodist Episcopal Church