Below is the outline from the Pub Theology St. Stephen did, after the shooting of Trayvon Martin, on the ELCA's Social Statement on Race, Ethnicity and Culture.
As we experience the events in #Ferguson surrounding the shooting of Michael Brown it is our duty as a church who considers moral deliberation to be part of our faith, to struggle with racism, white privilege, black oppression, and the "post-racial" dystopia we find ourselves in.
"Am I wringing as much bias out of myself as I
can?"—The President
ELCA Social
Statement: “Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture”
One God, One Humanity
Babel/Pentecost
Simul Justus et Peccetor
Already/Not Yet
Scripture: Ephesians
2:11-20 (words that strike you?)
Lutheran experiences
of Racism:
Benjamin Franklin
WW1
ELCA’s goal by
2003—Grow non-white membership of ELCA to 10%
Demographics (% don’t
fit in So.Plf. because Latino is double categorized… also I’m bad a math)
|
|
St. Stephen
|
National
Church
|
South Plainfield
|
|
White
|
90%
|
94%
|
67%
|
|
African American
|
7%
|
1%
|
10%
|
|
Asian
|
0
|
1%
|
14%
|
|
Other
|
0
|
1%
|
5%
|
|
Multiracial
|
1%
|
1%
|
3%
|
|
Latino
|
2%
|
1%
|
13%
|
Does our congregation make up reflect the neighborhood or
wider community in which we are located? Why or why not? (Same
question—national church)
In what ways are the doors of St. Stephen closed to
people who are racially or culturally different than the majority of our
members?
Did you know the ELCA has cultural associations for African
American, American Indian, Arab, Asian, European, and Latino Lutherans?
“We expect our
leadership to name the sin of racism and lead us in our repentance of it.”—pg 5
What is Racism?
Racism is a mixture of power, privilege, and prejudice. It
is more than a matter of personal attitudes…it spreads like an infection
through the whole social system.
Voices—ELCA (Are you struck by any of these? Why)
The Invisible Backpack—White Privilege (Are you stuck in
particular by any of these?)
Have you thought of anything new tonight?
1 comment:
There are many congregations of mixed races, as I have visited many denominations over my lifetime. Some churches do not have many African Americans present, and the reason seems to me due to the tendency of black people to seek out mostly Baptist and Pentacostal bodies because of the lively, soulful music, gospel songs, and type of preaching mostly delivered in the style and street manner of the emotional southern or urban preacher. Lutheran pastors tend to be more subdued, so you might say it is more of a cultural issue....and white dominant churches cannot overcome this hurdle...but should not feel guilty if few blacks come to your church.
Post a Comment