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Accusations and Racist False Flags: Rev. Nelson’s Saga is not Unique

Accusations and Racist False Flags: Rev. Nelson’s Saga is not Unique

Last updated on: March 3, 2023 at 10:34 pm by Leah D. Schade

Accusations and Racist False Flags: Rev. Nelson’s Saga is not Unique 2023-03-03T22:34:30-04:00 Leah D. Schade

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It’s important to understand the saga of Rev. Nelson Rabell-González in the context of racist false flags that play on white fear.

Rev. Nelson Rabell-González, false flag

Remember the story of Amy Cooper?

She was the white woman who called police on Christian Cooper (no relation), a black man who was bird-watching in New York City’s Central Park on May 25, 2020. Why did she call the police on him? Because he asked her to leash her dog in a wooded area called the Ramble. The rules are to leash one’s dog so that people can enjoy birdwatching without canines chasing them away and destroying their fragile habitat. When he confronted her about it, she frantically called the police to report that he was threatening her and her dog. You can watch the video here.

“I’m taking a picture and calling the cops,” Amy Cooper is heard saying in the video. “I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life.”

According to CNN’s story, Amy Cooper knew she was breaking the rules by walking her unleashed dog in the Ramble. But she said that Christian Cooper was “screaming” at her. Christian disputed that, saying that he “was actually pretty calm.” Nevertheless, she said she felt threatened when he offered her dog treats. Why? Because he said, “Look, if you’re going to do what you want, I’m going to do what I want, but you’re not going to like it.”

“I didn’t know what that meant. When you’re alone in a wooded area, that’s absolutely terrifying, right?” Amy Cooper said.

That incident started a national conversation about the ways in which white people target people of color for mundane things. Running while black, for example, got Ahmaud Arbery killed. Shopping while black, sleeping while black, walking in a white neighborhood while black are all risky endeavors because white people have been socialized to see people of color as threats. Those who wish to target people of color stir up racial tropes that play on white fears and are abetted by white fragility.

Pastoring while black is also a risky endeavor.

Targeting clergy of color

The church is another place where people of color are targeted, especially clergy of color. I write this as a white female clergyperson ordained in the ELCA who teaches preaching and worship to students of many races, ethnicities, and denominations at the seminary where I serve. What I’ve come to learn is that when white people set their sights on bringing down a clergyperson of color, they will stop at nothing until the deed is done. And they will play on every racist trope and stereotype to justify what they’re doing. Sometimes they even enlist other people of color to assist them, pitting them against their colleagues while the white power structure remains intact.

The case of Rev. Nelson Rabell-González

We have to remember the story of Amy Cooper when we consider the case of Rev. Nelson Rabell-González. An ELCA pastor who has served the denomination for nearly twenty years, Rev. Nelson was recently removed from his position as a mission developer and then taken off the roster of the ELCA. Why? Because, according to the Sierra Pacific Synod, there are 12 people who have accused him of harassment and retaliation. In this statement, the Synod Council describes them as victims and implies that Rev. Nelson is a serial abuser.

What led to this point?

Rev. Nelson served as an associate pastor in a white congregation in the Central Valley of California, St. Paul Lutheran in Lodi. He was tasked with starting a ministry to the Latiné community. But when he called out the racism he witnessed in their area, some of the members turned on him. They called for his dismissal and engaged in retaliation against him. Some of them also came forward to the Synod to lodge their accusations.

But because there has been no formal hearing, we must consider the possibility that these are “Amy Cooper accusations.” And because there has been no evidence presented against him in a formal hearing, we must consider a scenario where, like Christian Cooper, Rev. Nelson pointed out rules being broken and injustices happening, but these were interpreted as “screaming,” “threatening,” “retaliation,” and causing people to feel “unsafe.”

If, in fact, the evidence shows that Rev. Nelson did, indeed, engage in verbal harassment, then he should be held accountable.

But if the evidence shows that there have been deliberate misinterpretations and misrepresentations of his words, then we must ask why this is the case. And regardless of the he-said-she-said-they-said aspect of the allegations, we must consider them in light of the racial tropes that skew interpretations of what any clergy of color does or says.

It’s possible that this whole saga has been a series of false flags that disguise other issues and deflect attention away from actual harassment and threats of retaliation by those who would benefit by having Rev. Nelson be the target instead.

Rev. Nelson’s case is not unique

I have surveyed more than 3,000 pastors in my research about preaching, ministry, and social issues spanning from 2017-2021. Several clergy of color expressed the challenges they face when addressing certain social issues. “My congregation and denomination are predominantly white so speaking frankly about racism is delicate,” said one respondent. “I’m applying for an interim to turn into full time and so [addressing social issues] currently feels precarious. Wouldn’t be precarious if I was full time already,” said another.

Chillingly, one pastor said this: “I feel my physical safety would be in danger if I preached on certain issues.”

When we consider that the ELCA as a denomination is 97% white, it stands to reason that clergy of color like Rev. Nelson face enormous risk when they address social issues, draw attention to racist behaviors and xenophobia, and agitate for a more just society. If certain people who have power and influence get it in for them, there is almost no chance of surviving the onslaught.

The pile-on

Imagine a pastor of color in a white congregation preaching a sermon where they share a story of a time they struggled with an emotional issue in order to illustrate how Jesus’s strength sustained them. Now imagine a governing board meeting months later where the white leaders turn on the pastor and completely twist their words. “Pastor, you said you struggle with mental health issues. You admitted it in a sermon. [Turning to the other white leaders:] We all heard it, right? [Some heads nod vigorously. Others look puzzled but fail to speak up.] Pastor, you have serious problems, and you need help.”

It doesn’t matter how much the pastor tries to explain or defend their words or actions. In fact, the more they say, the faster the quicksand drags them down. And if they dare show any hint of anger at the way they are being treated, the leaders throw out the racist false flags.

You are dangerous. You are threatening. We are scared of you. You will hurt us. You need to be removed from our congregation/synod/denomination.

This happened to a clergyperson of color in a different situation. The pastor hoped their denominational leader would come to their defense. But despite this leader touting themself as an “ally,” they caved to the white congregational leaders and agreed to the pastor’s removal.

The therapy trap

Casting doubts on a person of color’s mental health is another one of the racist false flags. If you can get people to believe that a person of color has “issues” that require therapy, this becomes a convenient way to deflect from the racial dynamics that railroad them into a no-win situation. The gaslighting and manipulation are relentless in casting doubts about the pastor’s character and ability to minister.

This is exactly what happened with Rev. Nelson. The Sierra Pacific Synod Council and Bishop found an extrajudicial way to remove him first from his congregation and then from the roster by substituting the disciplinary procedure with the “therapy trap.” Either submit to psychological testing and therapy – and sign away your HIPAA rights in the process – or be removed if you resist.

Rev. Nelson refused to go forward with therapy when he felt his bishop was not acting in good faith and that they were manipulating the process. This set the dominoes in motion that have crushed him, his family, and his congregation under the inescapable momentum of ecclesial abuse.

**I can tell you that this kind of thing has happened repeatedly to clergy of color in the ELCA for decades.**

Many have shared their stories with me personally. Some have been brave enough to post about it on social media or write books about what they have experienced. But others have been silenced either by their own shame in not being able to overcome systemic racism, or because they have been warned that they will not receive another call if they continue to “make trouble.”

Rev. Nelson Rabell-González

But sometimes, clergy are silenced by being forced to sign a non-disclosure or non-disparagement agreement. In the case of Rev. Nelson, this was what his former congregation wanted him to do. When he refused, a systemic and coordinated effort was launched against him. As one person has described it, Rev. Nelson was the victim of the “rumor lynch mob.” He paid the price, and other clergy of color have been asking, “Am I next?”

When defending yourself becomes “harassment” and “retaliation”

Because Rev. Nelson was never given the chance to defend himself against the accusations in a formal ecclesial process, he has been forced to defend himself in the public square. But when he does this, or when his allies speak on his behalf, yet another of the false flags is raised. He is accused of “harassment” and “retaliation” against those whom the Synod has called victims.

Again, this is a no-win situation. Especially when his primary accuser and the son of the senior pastor at his former congregation sit on the Synod Council to decide his fate, what else can we expect?

The pattern will only continue

Christian Cooper was fortunate. He had documentation of the encounter that showed what actually happened when Amy Cooper called the police on him. Amy Cooper was fired from her job, and Christian Cooper survived.

Rev. Nelson also has documentation that shows what actually happened in his congregation, in his exchanges with his former senior pastor, and with his primary accuser. He also has documentation about what happened to Latina women in his church who were themselves the victims of someone at St. Paul. But he has not had the benefit of due process to be able to present this evidence and tell his side of the story. The result is that he has been fired and his professional career and reputation have been destroyed.

Unless there are serious, fundamental changes in the way we do things in the ELCA, Rev. Nelson’s story will repeat itself over and over again.

Pastoring in a Racist Church: One Pastor’s Story

The Church’s Racist Code of Silence: One Pastor’s Story

For a complete compilation of all documents, blogs, commentaries, and posts from all parties about the situation in the Sierra Pacific Synod, visit this website created by Shruti Kulkarni: https://whathappenedinthesps.weebly.com/. This website compiles communications relating to the controversy for accountability, clarification, and ease of access.

The supporters of Rev. Nelson are calling for the following:

A full, independent investigation of the charges against Rev. Nelson Rabell-González as well as the actions of the Sierra Pacific Synod, Bishop Megan Rohrer, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, and the ELCA Churchwide Office.
Reinstate Rev. Nelson Rabell-González as a rostered leader in the ELCA and mission developer of Misión Latina Luterana.
Issue a public apology to Rev. Nelson Rabell-González and his family, as well as to the congregation and the Hispanic/Latiné community at large who have been traumatized by these events.

If you would like to stand with Rev. Nelson Rabell-González, we invite you to contribute to his Legal Defense / Life Expense Fund.

Click here: https://fundly.com/nelsonsbills

Your contribution will go towards the legal costs that will enable the truth to come out and due process to proceed. Our goal is for Rev. Nelson to be exonerated and restored to the roster of Word and Sacrament Ministry of the ELCA and to his congregation.

OTHER WAYS TO GIVE:

Venmo: @Nelson-Rabell

PayPal: @NelsonRabell

CashApp: $NelsonRabell

WANT TO MAIL A CHECK?

Make checks out to “Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church – Fresno” with “Rabell” in the subject line and mail them to: 2101 N Fruit Ave, Fresno, CA 93705

Thank you for standing in solidarity with Rev. Nelson Rabell-González and his family, the congregation of Misión Latina Luterana, and the Latiné/Hispanic community.

The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade is ordained in the ELCA. She does not speak for the ELCA; her opinions are her own. She is the author of Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019) and Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit (Chalice Press, 2015). She is the co-editor of Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019). Her latest book, co-written with Jerry Sumney is Apocalypse When?: A Guide to Interpreting and Preaching Apocalyptic Texts (Wipf & Stock, 2020).

Twitter: @LeahSchade

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeahDSchade/

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