Bishop Eaton joined faith leaders from many traditions during a National Council of Churches press conference urging Congress to bring HR40 to the House floor before the summer recess.
HR40 is a bill that would establish a federal commission to study the lasting impacts of slavery in the U.S. and develop a set of recommendations for advancing reparations for affected people of African descent.
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For two evenings in July, the Phoenix Fusion Racial Justice Team will host, and Pastor Kristin Rice will facilitate discussion on the book, “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration” written by Isabel Wilkerson. Thursdays, July 8th and 29th at 6:30 pm MST/PDT on Zoom. Click here to join.
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The ELCA has designated June 17 as a day of commemoration of the martyrdom of the Emanuel 9. On June 17, 2015, nine people were shot and killed during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Bishop Eaton reminds us to mark this day of penitence with study and prayer.
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Faithful Steps: A Step-by Step Guide for Congregations Starting to Engage in Racial Justice is a presentation by Brenda Blackhawk, Congregational Organizer for Racial Justice for the Minneapolis Synod to help congregations get started on doing racial justice work.
Join this Zoom event on Tuesday 6/22/2021, 4 pm MST/PDT. Click here to register and receive the Zoom link. Facebook event.
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A collection of resources is available at elca.org/emanuelnine to help synods and congregations mark the martyrdom of the Emanuel Nine — the nine people shot and killed on June 17, 2015, during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.
These resources can be adapted for virtual worship, online conversation or individual reflection and devotion. Synods and congregations are encouraged to mark this commemoration locally.
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The Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod invites all ELCA members to join the May 26-29, 2021 John Hope Franklin Annual Symposium: The Future of Tulsa’s Past: The Centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre and Beyond.
A post-symposium event on May 29 is sponsored by the Synod, the African Descent Lutheran Association and the ELCA Racial Justice Ministries. Bishop Eaton and Vice President Bill Horne will be participating in the May 29th event.
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Bishop Eaton encourages us to take time to reflect on this comforting passage from Psalm 46: Be still and know that I am God.
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The trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minnesota police officer charged with the killing of George Floyd, has riveted our national attention these past weeks, and now a verdict has been reached. Together with people around the world, we have anticipated the jury's decision with troubled hearts. As members of the community of Jesus, we affirm that "if one member suffers, all suffer together with it" (1 Corinthians 12:26, NRSV).
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After witnessing acts of violence this week, particularly against Black and Brown people, Bishop Eaton reminds us of all the ways our church has committed to do justice—on racism, on health care, on education, on immigration—but implores us to do more. Work for change. Get in contact with your neighbors, communities, lawmakers and officials. The same liberating gospel that sets us free from sin sets us free to serve our neighbor.
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But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24 NRSV).
The last 16 days have been a microcosm of the original sins of racism and white supremacy in the United States. As an anti-racist church that condemns white supremacy, we acknowledge these injustices.
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With nation focused on the Derek Chauvin verdict, we are aware of the struggle and pain around our relationships with those of different skin tones.
You’re invited to a Zoom workshop facilitated by Joan Crawford, who offers the rare opportunity to ask the tough questions and learn strategies we can put into immediate practice. Register by April 23, 2021 and get more info at gcsynod.org/solidarity.
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Members of the Association of Asians and Pacific-Islanders – ELCA share the Embodied Blessing and Healing, part of the litany for the day of lament against anti-Asian racism observed on March 21, 2021. The litany is done without words, using movement as expression.
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As a nation, we continue to witness and suffer from the cruelties of racial and gender-based violence. In recent days, we have witnessed the horror of gun violence in Atlanta and the vandalism of one of our ELCA congregations in Seattle.
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Leaders are invited to an anti-racism training workshop each Saturday in May, 2021. The 1.5 hour workshops are led by Reverend Joan Crawford, whose ministry includes promoting interracial healing and dialogue. Spiritual leaders will be equipped to engage in conversations within their communities.
Hosted by Phoenix Fusion, the cost is $40/person, with attendance capped at 60 participants. Download the flyer and visit gcsynod.org/solidarity for more info.
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Bishop Eaton and leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada and The Episcopal Church have issued a statement in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21, 2021.
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We have watched with horror recent news reports of attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders – fueled by racist rhetoric which has attempted to lay blame for the cause of the Coronavirus on Asian Peoples. The Conference of Bishops, meeting on March 4th, voted to affirm the “Statement on Anti-Asian Racism,” and to encourage the congregations and leaders of our synods to take action. A Day of Lament has been set for Sunday, March 21, 2021.
Please consider the points of encouragement in the statement as ways your congregation or ministry can stand in solidarity with our Asian and Pacific Islander brothers and sisters.
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Pastor Kwame Pitts believes a transfiguration moment occurred when George Floyd was killed last summer.
Here, she share what she believes the church is called to do in the wake of a time “when something broke open,” and how the future of the church is transformation.
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Why a lament, as opposed to a prayer or litany? This lament is intended as an action that acknowledges what has been broken in our relationship with our neighbor – the neighbor that we as the ELCA are called to love as we love ourselves. Specifically this lament is a way to recognize points of brokenness in the relationship between the ELCA and African Americans.
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This week, Bishop Eaton shares some of the rich contributions of Black Lutheran history.
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As we celebrate and honor Black History Month, we’ll be continually updating this page with related news from our blog and events from our calendar.
It also has an archive of posts from our blog concerning racial justice and selected resources from ELCA.org.
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