Celebrate Black History Month with season three of “Talks at the Desk,” a four-part video series by African Descent Ministries of the ELCA. This season focuses on the Reclaim Gathering and will explore its themes: reclaim, embolden, embody and liberate. A new video will premiere each Wednesday in February at 6:30pm MST, 5:30pm PST, beginning 2/7/2024. Watch live at youtube.com/ELCA, and view the trailer in this post.
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Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, The Lutheran ran this article in its May 8, 1968, edition. The piece is a first-person account by then-Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago student Harold Wesley Varner, who was feet away from King when he was killed. Varner, who died in 1996, served as a Lutheran pastor in the 1960s and 1970s.
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In recognition of the National Day of Racial Healing, Rev. Jennifer Thomas reflects on her ongoing journey to address white supremacy and racial justice. A proponent of continuous learning, Rev. Thomas emphasizes the importance of understanding and actively working against the structures that harm our global neighbors.
She shares insights from her involvement with the ELCA's racial justice initiatives and invites others of European descent within the ELCA to join in the anti-racism efforts. Discover more about the ELCA's Truth and Healing Movement and find resources to support your congregation's journey towards racial equity.
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What is your response when someone asks, “Where are you from?” Mine is a joke and reality. I often reply with my Eswatini accent, “I am from Decorah, Iowa.” I was raised in Eswatini, attended Luther College in Decorah and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and am now a Lutheran pastor in Jersey City, N.J. For most people in America, “Where are you from?” is a tricky question. We need a different question if we are to be hospitable to one another.
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Produced by Lutheran Film Associates in 1966, A Time for Burning is a 58-minute, black-and-white cinema verite documentary that chronicles the struggle between the pastor of Augustana Lutheran Church in Omaha, Neb., and his all-white congregation as he encourages members to reach out to a neighboring Black church. Bill Jersey, one of the pioneers of cinema verite, and Barbara Connell directed the film, which was nominated for an Academy Award. The film is streaming on The Criterion Channel.
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Raise your voices in song at the Grand Canyon Synod’s MLK Celebration! Join us on January 14 at King of Glory Lutheran Church for a worship service filled with soulful Gospel music in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Under the direction of vocal coach LaRiche Lamar, we'll perform classics like Total Praise and His Eye is on the Sparrow."Choir members and directors, sign up now at htlutheran.com/mlk for a chance to be part of this spiritually enriching experience.
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On November 13-15, 2023, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) hosts its annual Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium, a virtual event dedicated to the vital discourse on tribal sovereignty. Named in honor of Vine Deloria Jr., a pivotal figure in the American Indian Movement, the symposium is a testament to his enduring legacy in the fight for Indigenous rights. Read more at ELCA.org.
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In the United States, November is Native American Heritage Month. Racial Justice Ministries would like to elevate the voices and work of our Indigenous siblings by bringing attention to the multitude of events by the ELCA’s Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations. A full list of offerings for this month can be found here, but there are two events that ELCA Racial Justice Ministries would especially like to highlight: the Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium on 11/13/2023 and the 11/23/2023 Day of Mourning. Read more here.
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To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we present a thoughtful conversation with Rev. Alejandro Mejía from the Delaware-Maryland Synod, exploring his connection with the ELCA and his reflections on the representation and inclusion of the Latiné community within the church. Rev. Mejía emphasizes the importance of amplifying Latiné voices, fostering diversity, and promoting bilingualism, and he shares his hopes and prayers for the future. Read the full post at ELCA.org here.
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Mark Raabe, a long-standing member of First Trinity Lutheran, shares a firsthand account on ELCA.org of the pivotal March on Washington in 1963. Experience the powerful serenity of that day through Raabe's memories, emphasizing the undeniable impact of peaceful protest and the unparalleled influence of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
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Reflecting on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, the ELCA Racial Justice blog emphasizes the lasting impact and current relevance of the fight for racial and economic justice. The post highlights the ongoing challenges of systemic racism, such as redlining and voting rights restrictions, and calls for continued advocacy in line with ELCA’s commitment to racial justice.
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Read your copy of US: The Resurrection of American Terror, and be ready to join Simon’s Project for the final discussion with Rev. Kenneth W. Wheeler about his new book. Reading the book is encouraged, but not necessary. Click here to join the Zoom meeting on August 1, 2023, 10am MST/PDT, 11am MDT.
We also call your attention to a recent article from Living Lutheran featuring Rev. Wheeler.
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In turbulent times, our shared faith is both a source of solace and a beacon, guiding us towards the path of understanding and unity. With our nation grappling with all sorts of divisions, it is vital that we seek not to fight one another, but rather to engage in open and compassionate dialogue.
This comes after recent events have left our hearts heavy. Reports of church burnings in Southern Arizona, protests at our churches that openly welcome LGBTQIA+ members, and ongoing racial tensions nationally have underscored the urgent need for us to live out our call to be peacemakers and bridge builders.
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In this article from Living Lutheran, we read how Rev. Kenneth Wheeler was compelled to write his new book US: The Resurrection of American Terror (Precocity Press, 2022) after connecting the trauma he’d experienced under Jim Crow segregation to the rise in Christian nationalism he’d seen in recent years. Read the full article in this post, and be sure to participate in our Conversations with Rev. Kenneth W. Wheeler, July 11 and August 1, 2023, at 10 am.
Read MoreRead your copy of US: The Resurrection of American Terror, and be ready to join Simon’s Project for discussions with Rev. Kenneth W. Wheeler about his new book. Reading the book is encouraged, but not necessary. Click here to join the Zoom meeting on Tuesday, July 11 2023, 10am MST/PDT, 11am MDT. One final conversation will be August 1, 2023.
We also call your attention to a recent article from Living Lutheran featuring Rev. Wheeler.
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In remembrance of the martyrdom of the Emanuel 9, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and National Council of Churches President and General Secretary, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, urge us to study, pray and act so that we can make a real difference in our communities and country to end the scourge of racial, economic, and social injustice and violence. For more info, go to: ELCA.org/Emanuel9 and nationalcouncilofchurches.us.
Read MoreStart reading your copy of US: The Resurrection of American Terror, and be ready to join Simon’s Project for discussions with Rev. Kenneth W. Wheeler about his new book. Reading the book is encouraged, but not necessary.
Our first discussion is Tuesday, 4/4/2023, 10am MST/PDT, 11am MDT. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
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In observance of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Bishop Eaton reminds us to tell the stories of our historical truth: stories of suffering and pain, but also stories of awe-inspiring resistance and hope.
Read MoreStart reading your copy of US: The Resurrection of American Terror, and be ready to join Simon’s Project for an April discussion of Rev. Kenneth W. Wheeler’s new book.
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Welcome to Episode 4 of Talks at the Desk, season 2. We travel to Ghana and hear from students attending the All Africa Youth Congress. We visit a slave castle and hear about the what enslaved ancestors endured. Also, Pastor Nicolette Penaranda sits down with three legends of Black Lutheran theology.
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