In baptism we are joined to the death and resurrection of
Jesus,
and in Baptism we are all made one,
in Baptism we have forgiveness and that makes it possible
for us to speak and listen to each other even, and especially, when the
conversation is difficult.
Our nation and our church have been, and remain, deeply
besieged by racism.
Following the decisions by grand juries in Ferguson and New
York, it has become clear that we have different experiences of life in this
country.
We continue to struggle, we continue to struggle in our
conversation about race in our congregations, communities, and places of
business, even at our kitchen tables.
We as members of the ELCA have named Racism—a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice,
a Sin—a violation of God’s intention for our world.
We recognize that Racism pervasively affects all aspects of
our society and church.
Too often, Racism has not been acknowledged, particularly among
people with privilege.
The criminal justice system is in some ways broken, and can
perpetuate racial injustice.
The ELCA social statement The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries acknowledges the disproportionate racial and
economic impact within that system.
We are Church, we are in Ferguson, Staten Island, and Los
Angeles; this church acknowledges and supports leaders and members on the
ground making a difference every day.
We are Church Together, with resources to help turn the tide
of injustice:
Together, we can advocate for legislation that protects the
civil rights of all.
Together, we equip members through community based
organizing.
Together, we can teach about our faith practices that enable
us to live out our faith and grow in our discipleship
Together, we participate in the work of responding to
disaster in communities by bringing hope, healing, and renewal among people
whose lives have been disrupted.
Here are some actions that each of us can take where we are:
- Listen to and learn from the experiences and history of people of color and communities of color.
- Muster the courage to have, and stay in, difficult conversations about race.
- Respect and uplift the dignity and humanity of every person.
There are no quick answers or easy solutions, but we can
remain in it for the long haul.
As we anticipate the birth of the Christ Child let’s recall
our baptismal covenant to:
- Live among God’s faithful people,
- Hear the Word of God and share in the Lord’s Supper,
- Proclaim the Good News of God in Christ through word and deed,
- Serve all people, following the example of Jesus,
- And strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
