United Methodist Church leaders are asking for prayers as they mourn the death of the Rev. Autura Eason-Williams, who church leaders say was shot Monday afternoon in a carjacking outside of her Memphis, Tennessee, home.
The death of Eason-William, who was the superintendent for the Metro District in the denomination’s Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference as well as pastor of Memphis’ Capleville United Methodist Church, marks the second killing of United Methodist Church clergy this year. The Rev. Marita Harrell, senior pastor at Connections at Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Atlanta, was fatally stabbed in May while ministering to a man who is now a suspect in the crime.
During a chapel prayer service Tuesday morning at Memphis Theological Seminary, Eason-Williams was remembered for her hospitality and humility and described as someone who motivated and pushed her friends. Eason-Williams, an alumna of the seminary, led formation classes at the school.
“We’re broken. We’re grief-stricken. We have questions. We have doubts as we remember the life of a dear precious friend, a wonderful servant of our God, of this community,” said the school’s president, the Rev. Jody Hill.
“She was a wife, mother, and a devoted friend to many,” Hill said in a statement. “Autura was eager to embrace all of God’s children with a warm smile, gentle hug, or encouraging word.”
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Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, called the shooting a “senseless, tragic act” in a Facebook post and asked for prayers for Eason-Williams’ family and for “a district and conference in deep pain as they come to grips with this devastating loss.”
“May God’s grace comfort and strengthen all who grieve this servant leader’s death,” Easterling said.
Eason-Williams led her conference’s Signposts Seminars, which strive to address systemic racism, and worked on a campaign to highlight positive aspects of the church as the denomination is experiencing theological divides and rising church disaffiliations, according to UM News.
The church is urging anyone to contact police with information about where or with whom Eason-Williams may have been earlier on the afternoon she died.
Eason-William’s death comes just about two months after police said Harrell was stabbed by a 27-year-old man she was ministering to at his home, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Police allege that he abandoned Harrell’s body in a vehicle several miles from his home after setting it on fire, the newspaper reported.
A native of Chicago, Harrell moved to Atlanta more than 30 years ago, according to her biography on her church website. A wife and mother of two, Harrell also worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 20 years in the advertising department as the inbound call center manager and a diversity training facilitator.
Harrell graduated from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and earned her Master of Divinity degree in May 2014. She received her preaching certification in 2015 and was commissioned as a provisional elder in June 2019.
“She was passionate about what she did, which was helping those who are lost and left out,” the Rev. Michael T. McQueen, UMC’s district superintendent over its Fulton and Clayton County churches, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “She was doing what she loved to do. That’s what makes this so tragic.”
Alejandra Molina is a national reporter for Religion News Service.
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37 Responses
My heart goes out to her family and those close to her.
Beware the unacceptable face of Matthew 5:39.
RR: turning the other cheek. If that’s how Christians are supposed to behave then since 1775, we veterans have been disobedient to scripture. That scripture I am sure means more than just giving in to evil. If so than we veterans have sinned and are going to be hit with judgement. Or like many scriptures, it isn’t to be taken literally but are metaphors.
I have yet to hear a serious exegesis of this text in the context of a carjacking at the Walmart, or fleshing out the relationship with Luke 11:21. If anybody knows what we’re supposed to make of it, nobody is saying.
My sense is that Jesus was not intending for people to stand there and allow themselves or their families to be killed, but authorities differ.
At a certain point it’s better to ignore the legal format of chapter and verse and read the bible rhetorically. It’s a good way to avoid eisegesis as well.
Maybe, maybe not. Elizabeth Elliot’s career in Christian ministry would have been very different if her husband had adopted a less literal application of that text when he tried to evangelize the Huaorani in Ecuador in 1956.
Just read this….
“Miguel Andrade, 15, is charged with first-degree, murder in the perpetration of a robbery, especially aggravated Robbery, carjacking, and employment of a firearm during a dangerous felony.
A 16-year-old male juvenile is charged with theft of property between $2,500 and $10,000.
A 17-year-old male juvenile was released without charges.”
Truly sad.
For certain individuals I am in favor of the death penalty. Not as a means of punishment but why should us taxpayers provide three hots and a cot for someone who had proven they are a menace to society and of not value to live amongst. Oh to those that will share their piety over this thought. I defy you to put your money where your mouth is and protect these things by taking full responsibility for them vs jail by inviting into your homes and churches. But upon doing that your location becomes a 911 free zone. Meaning you will reap what you sow.
This is what the Democrats and apparently the majority of the American public want in 2022. Release without bail, abolition of the death penalty and life without parole, send anyone under 21 to summer camp for a couple months no matter how heinous the crime.
The fuddy-duddy fundamentalist hellfire-preachers we all loved to make fun of when we were younger were all spot on. You take God out of a country, and it goes to hell.
Brian –
That is a horribly oversimplified assessment of what progressives want.
As the daughter of a criminal lawyer, I encourage you to read about the cash bail system that is inconsistently applied (too many examples and reasons to list here), and ultimately favors the rich and leaves poor defendants with inept, overburdened public defenders, and their families riddled with debts BEFORE trial. What about innocent until proven guilty?
Then read about the Innocence Project, and the number of innocent people found on death row. Then tell me how confident you are about killing them all (and are you pro-life? Hmm.)
Also, many believe jail should include opportunities to reform and reintroduce into society, ultimately improving the recidivism rate. Look at the MONEY being made off keeping people in prison – even nonviolent offenders – leaving little incentive to help them repent and reform their lives.
Our criminal justice system needs an overhaul. I know both conservatives and liberals who agree on that.
Yes, I do not think that the death penalty is to be used UNLESS after MUCH use of DNA there is no doubt that the criminal is guilty. BUT for the long term never ending more time in jail then out type of people. Too bad. In NYC a man was hit in a cross walk a few days ago. Then the driver and its two companions instead of rendering aid, ROBBED HIM while he was suffering in pain. My verdict: Not human and no need to keep amongst humans.
Or am I being too unchristian?
The French had a good idea. Devil’s Island for those whose society decided they were fed up with the criminals. I will never understand why we see a need to take care of long-term criminals. They have proven their unworthiness to society. Why keep them around. I would love to have a magic wand and only the do Gooders friends and family are victims. Then I would be first in line to say “yes, we must forgive and forget over and over and over and over”. How about a 19 YO with 19 arrests’ starting at 13 YO. Do Ya think he is going to change? let you be the next victim and so we can test the waters. My anger comes from the future victims because we have so guts to take a stand and say enough is enough and we just threw away the key. Too bad. Lesson to the rest of you and not my problem your family life is horrible and that’s your excuse. Take it out on your family then and not us. July 24th edition of NY POST is the story.
Brian, I did not read anything in this article about Democrats. Also, most or all of what you typed was nothing but rhetoric.
Gary –
I have very mixed views and nuanced thoughts on the death penalty; sharing will make this too long. But as for the rest, when we do life in prison without parole, or long sentences for non-violent offenders, we ARE taking care of criminals through tax dollars. This is a reason why we should look for ways to better invest in reducing the recidivism rate.
For example, drug addictions are criminalized. I think jail is of NO USE (and can actually be triggering) to addicts, who are REALLY need to go to rehabilitation centers. there is data supporting drug addicts actually committing crimes to go back to jail to get their fix. See the problem? This is actually part of the “defund the police” concept; it’s not about getting rid of police altogether, but for taking repurposing some of the funding to invest in mental health, drug/alcohol rehabilitation, and other resources to better support the rehab and reform of those who are actually ill. As of now, police are not trained to handle these types of cases and just haul folks off to jail.
I’m in no position to say who is “unworthy” (I believe God considers all of us to be of value in His eyes) nor who can be reformed or not. Scripture points me to people like Paul, who had made a career of murdering and terrorizing Christians before Christ got a hold of him. I’ve said it repeatedly that if Paul lived today, we would be too busy reminding him of his murderous past to EVER listen to him.
Tom Parker,
Tell me what Jesus himself said should be done (since you appear to be a “red letter Christian”) to those who harm the little children, and what he said should happen to the unforgiving debtor, and then we can talk about Biblical criminal justice. And yeah, I engaged in rhetoric, and won’t apologize for that.
I just read that a 15 yo and 16 yo were arrested and had criminal records and will be tried as adults. I also read that her daughter would believe these two should not be tried as adults because that is what her mom would want. With all due respect maybe if when these two wonderful examples of society were treated more harshly from day one, they would not have been on the street to think it’s ok to commit a car jacking and murder. Why we think criminals need to be well treated is beyond me. I am done with do gooders feigning piety when the do gooders are rarely the victims.
I actually do not think children should be tried as adults. Go read the stories of physical, mental, sexual, and emotional abuse endured by children who are thrown into adult prisons, where they are seen as prey. Children and adult offenders should be kept separate.
There’s a difference between “well treated” and “treating the cause of their behavior.” Those who are mentally ill and/or addicted to drugs and alcohol should receive proper in-house treatment and counseling. Those who cry “just lock them up and throw away the key” sing a different tune when it is their loved one who is diagnosed. Even now we are seeing the same people who claimed “crack addictionm is a criminal offense punishable by prison time” shift their tune to “opioid addiction is an illness” when their loved one gets hooked on prescription pills. Everyone talks big until they are in it.
Punish punish punish without treating the cause has just gotten us nothing but overflowing prisons. Clearly something is broken and not working.
Marin. Don’t care about there issues. I care about there victims. If we started caring about the victims more than the criminals regardless of age and punishment was so severe they wouldn’t think twice about doing it again then crime would drop. And this piety about treating the cause is unicorns and butterflies thinking. Here’s the cause. Mental illness. Oops the ACLU win cases all the time convincing useless judges that these people have the right to live in there filth. How about judges saying, there mentally I’ll no they don’t. Then institutionalize them. Drug and alcohol problems. Again institutionalize them and offer a choice, let us help you or it’s a 21st century version of devil’s island where you can do something useful and no drugs. A lot of piety and pity for the downtrodden and criminals. How about saying to the criminals we the decent law bidding citizens are sick of you and your ways. And as for a bad life at home. Then attack and hurt your parents who they claim caused it and leave us alone. Again refer to my 07/21/22 messsge on dogooders and options for the dogooders to show their real concern.
Gary when you say you do not care about theses issues, are you making this comment as a believer in Jesus Christ? I believe he cares about these issues and as followers of him we should care also.
Nice try Tom. Go be a victim and see how fast your Mary Popins attitude changes. I can’t believe how many people use scripture to justify cowardice in the face of the enemy. The enemy being the children of satan and their evil brought upon our community’s.
Tell that to the dead of our cities. It must be so nice sitting in your safe little world where everyone is nice and everything is all rosy and your life is just one perfect answer based on scripture day after day. Ahhhh. I can see the coffee is ready.
Gary, You did not answer my question. You are distracting people from the real issues and how Jesus would approach such tragedies.
Gary –
You are being emotional and not logical (and VERY unBiblical).
There is data that shows treating issues like mental health and addiction with proper medical supervision and counseling reduces “episodes” and relapses MORE than just “locking them up.”
There is data that shows criminality falls when the quality of education (starting as early as kindergarten) and amount of job opportunities increase.
If punishment worked and “scared people from doing it again”, given we have the LARGEST prison system in the world – by your theory, we should have the lowest crime rate and little to no repeat offenders. Why don’t we?
I won’t get into how unBlbical and unChristian it is to have such condescending hatred in your heart. I say this as someone who has been a victim of a violent crime. I’m so glad that I have a relationship with Christ, because through Him I was able to heal and let go of hatred and unforgiveness (it was tearing ME apart more than anyone else) and see people who are hurting, angry, and need Christ. I STILL pray for the person who raped, beat and robbed me nearly 10 years ago TODAY.
I can only imagine what you would have said about the apostle Paul in his day.
Spare me the self righteous attitude. Marin. Unchristian and unbiblical?? How you smugly judge me (least ye be judged) about making sure the innocent are not victims of satans kids then there is no more to say. I’ll stand for the innocent victims and you can pretend to care for oppressed criminals. After all they are so oppressed and have no options but crime. Yeahhhh right. Have you read the stats of Chicago last weekend? Crime must be going down. Only sixth people shot over the weekend. Ya bet many were just minding there own business? How about the 16 yo shot in the head. In front of his home and a car drove by and bang bang. Unchristian of me to wish that the car suddenly exploded in flames. Easy to be self righteous when it ain’t your family getting hurt. Me I have no problem going before god and he greeting me as a friend who care more for the innocent and less for evil.
Marin Heiskell,
Being “emotional and not logical” is defending the subhuman filth that murdered a pastor in cold blood like the left constantly does. If you argue for serious penalties against violent criminals in 2022 (I’m not talking drug offenders, or people who did something bad 20 years ago and have turned their lives around), you are liable to get canceled as a “racist”. That’s emotional, to say the least.
God’s word says “an eye for an eye”. Jesus spoke against US taking revenge–not against the legal system he appointed here on earth dealing justice as it should be dealt. He *never* undid that Mosaic commandment.
God even said we were supposed to obey ancient Rome–a monstrously cruel, evil regime bordering on an ancient Third Reich. Even the barbarous tyrants of emperors that were putting Christians and Jews to death were entrusted with executing justice against the evil. (And, let’s not forget, God also uplifted and anointed the similarly wicked Assyrians and Babylonians, as instruments of his sovereign justice.)
I am deeply sorry for your horrific and traumatic experience–at the same time, an impartial administration of justice for your attacker should be in God’s hands and those wisest leaders, not the whims of the progressive Twitter crowd.
The reason I said it is emotional, is I have asked simple logical questions and have yet to get a single answer. I’ll ask again: what data shows “locking them up for life” works? Again, we have the LARGEST prison system in the world. But something is clearly amiss if we still struggle with repeat offenders, crimes (both violent and non-violent) being committed a younger ages, etc.
There’s nothing wrong with being angry – I believe we are to get righteously angry about crime; it motivates us to take action both in defense of the vulnerable (victims) and in holding to the truth of the gospel. I’m asking what that action should be, because our current criminal justice system isn’t working; it is inconsistent, full of loopholes, biased against the poor, and is more focused on profit than problem-solving.
And Gary, as a victim of a violent crime (I am unable to have children due to what happened to me) – don’t do the “it ain’t your family that’s getting hurt” play with me. You have NO idea the depth of hurt I nurse every time I see a woman my age having children. It took YEARS of therapy for me to learn to let go and truly give it to God, because that hurt and anger was consuming me. If that makes me self-righteous, then so be it.
I do believe it is God’s desire to see all come to Christ – even the worst among us. That’s why I turn it over to Him.
Marin Heiskell,
A regime that even went through the windowdressing of caring about basic Biblical standards of rightness would make sure your attacker was forever cordoned off from society. We don’t have that kind of a world. Society in general has rejected God and decreed that that is “inhumane” or even “racist” (I don’t know what race your attacker was, and I don’t care–but you are a black woman, and a disproportionate amount of VICTIMS of violent crimes are black/brown/Asian as you already know).
The fact that some of those on the above bandwagon claim to be “Christians” doesn’t legitimize it. There were “Christians” on the side of Hitler, and Nero, too.
Night is day and day is night. We live in Opposite Land where the measure of your compassion and kindness is measured by your willingness to indulge the worst specimens that Homo sapiens has to offer.
Gary: You said “Why we think criminals need to be well treated is beyond me.” Please define well. You also said earlier “Or like many scriptures, it isn’t to be taken literally but are metaphors.” How do you determine this is a metaphor? What verses in the Bible are to be taken literally?
refer to my comments of 07/20 and 07/21 and 07/24 and 07/25. I have no concern for the criminals. And when people use scripture as an excuse to coddle criminals I only care for the victims and future victims. What a novel idea. Make criminals fear us. How to define coddling. Make three strikes and your out for all ages. Do you honestly think there rights supersede our rights. Ya know the law bidding citizens. I truly wish I had a magic wand and only the dogooders and their family members are the victims. When liberal Beverly Hills ca was hit with a crime wave and a few murders of famous people suddenly cops mattered and defunding was a taboo subject. To bad if only the elite liberals would be the victims for a while. Some defund the cops politicians spend thousands of taxpayers dollars for protection. That should make you sick. I’m exhausted caring about the useless eaters of our society.
Tom Parker,
If you aren’t willing to take *all* of Scripture literally–you have no leg to stand on to take *any* of it literally.
The same left that used to rail endlessly against “separation of church and state”, that couldn’t stomach a pastor such as Mike Huckabee becoming POTUS, suddenly had nothing but praise for Raphael Warnock, the black-supremacist “pastor”, two years ago. Really consistent with their values eh?
You can’t appeal to the parts of Scripture’s message that you think you like and bash those verses that you consider unenlightened or inhumane or whatever. It doesn’t work that way.
I have more respect for outright atheists that say we need to chuck the Bible altogether, than hypocritical religious leftists with an agenda to ramrod.
To Tom parker and per your statement:
Gary, you did not answer my question. You are distracting people from the real issues and how Jesus would approach such tragedies.
Okay let’s try your way and the Jesus way
1) I am not here to answer your questions when the questions are empty of substance
2)He is sitting in the passenger seat of the guy that just plowed thru a xmas parade by someone who has an extensive criminal history and just the day before got bail of $1000.00 by some judge after he beat up his girlfriend. And Jesus would do what?
3) He is next to the teen that just killed 21 people while the cops played on the cell phone and made sure their hands were clean. AND Jesus would do what?
4) He is walking with the homeless guy who just beat to death a nurse waiting at a bus stop to go to work. What would Jesus do?
Like many self-righteous people you throw out empty thoughts with no real answers. AM I to understand you think we must be kind and gentle and loving to people who would kill you in a second for a watch?
How about the con man aka: calls himself a Bishop who had 1 million dollars of jewelry, stolen while he was preaching in his building aka: church. A million bucks of jewelry while preaching the gospel while his rolls Royce is in the parking lot!!!! please enlighten me on your solutions so I may learn from your piety as me just a mere sinner.
Your turn Tom.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Mat 25:36 NIV).
It seems that Jesus is present in your local prison as much as He is present in your local church. To visit the prisoner is to visit Christ Himself. See also Hebrews 13:3.
Gary Weigel makes a valid point and I tend to agree with him in part.
Lately, many of our major cities with democrat mayors have become crime-ridden hellholes. Criminals are coddled and, because of the ridiculous nonsense of bail reform, are let out back on the streets to commit even more crimes.
Let me give you a quick example. I live in NY. When Rudy Giuliani was mayor, NY was safe and clean and friendly. Now, after the reign of Bill de Blasio and the latest democrat disaster Eric Adams, the city has become a crime-infested cesspool of filth and degradation.
God help the Church to find the balance between compassion for the prisoner, punishment for the criminal, and justice for the victim.
Something to consider…
Romans 13: 1- 4
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”
This speaks to the importance of following police directives and keeping the law. The laws against theft, murder and other evils exist for a reason. Young people should be taught to follow the law early on.
To Marin and Tom:
in PA two weeks ago a 73 YO man was beat to death by a bunch of teens. the ages were 10- 17. It was 3AM. What were they doing out at 3am? what horrible parents do they have to where they were not taught that ganging up and beating a 73 YO to death was ok. SORRY Tom and Marin. Unless YOU want to house these things, my vote is GOODBYE for a long time. They have proven they cannot mix with humans. And I no longer care about age. Apparently, age didn’t mean much to these sicks animals. That could have been any of our, Father or Dad or Grandpa. You expect me to care about their mental state or drug problem and show mercy? Reminder: Beverly hills CA was all in for defunding the police right up until the stores were robbed and gangs swarmed the stores and stole thousands of dollars in merchandise and people on the street were being assaulted and a couple of famous people were murdered in their homes. Now it’s considered blasphemy if you speak of defund the policy. Wow image that. And YES, MARIN I AM ANGRY
Gary:
We are ALL angry. A woman was killed by teenagers. There is something incredibly wrong with that picture. We all see it and it ticks us off.
God has promised to repay. We don’t know how or when, but God will make sure justice is served.
You can count on it.
You should also know that we, as humans, are very limited in how we view things when compared with how God views things. In the book of Habakkuk, this very question comes up: How come God seems to let evil triumph?
God’s answer? Wait. It is not over. The day is coming when wrongs will be made right.
Again, you can count on it.
Gary –
I never said don’t be angry. I waited for you to answer my questions; however, you were ranting, not answering. IMO, that was a display of emotion, not logic.
I think we are to be angry when we see, experience or observe wrong – righteous anger spurs us to righteous action. I believe that’s a part of the directive to “be angry but do not sin”. I don’t think wishing death falls under this directive, but it’s an understandable human reaction.
I believe supporting punishments that promote rehabilitation and repentance is a righteous response to anger. I believe God wants to see all come to Christ; prison ministries fill in the gap, but can’t do it alone. And wordly prison systems primarily focused on making money for corporations aren’t the sole answer either. With options like this, IMO, it’s why we are only seeing crime go up. So what is the answer?
And this weekend is about to be one big example of how the SAME people who call for punitive punishment for others sing a different tune when it is THEIR loved one facing time: Rich suburban kids come into the city for Lollapalooza, get caught selling and using illegal drugs and drinking underage, flood into adjacent areas (I used to live in one), vandalizing, robbing, passing out and defecating. Now when it’s poor kids from the South side doing this, the chant is “lock them up! where are their parents?” But Lolla kids? It’s “Don’t ruin their lives over one weekend!” I find that unfair. That’s why we should discuss the cause and influence of these narratives that only want to punish “others.”
That’s my 2 cents.
Marin Heiskell,
Nobody seriously argues for throwing the book wholesale at petty disorderly conduct like public defecation and vandalism (other than not outright tolerating it like San Francisco does). We are not talking about stupid nonsense like this (that still needs to be punished in some way). We are talking about violent crime here. Someone who rapes, murders or attempts to murder should not see the light of day again with very few, if any, exceptions, ever.
Just today, I read the following coming out of NYC:
“Under the Raise the Age statute, part of the state’s sweeping criminal justice reforms, 16-and 17-year-olds charged with misdemeanors and many nonviolent felonies are automatically prosecuted in family court.” https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-york-city-prosecutor-defends-going-easy-teen-brutally-attacked-cop
The story of a very troubled teen was told in the article. He needs some very serious intervention because he physically attacked a police officer, committed an armed robbery, and recently also attacked someone else without provocation.
Three serious attacks by a teenager. What should be done? What should NOT be done?
We will all have different opinions, but while we’re discussing the options, this felon should be taken off the streets before he commits murder.