From Lutheran Freedom to Racial Justice: Watch and Join the ELCA Series
ELCA Racial Justice Ministries is offering a five-part webinar series to equip congregations, synods and ministry leaders with theological grounding and practical resources for dismantling white supremacy. The first two sessions are now available to watch—and the second features a theologian we’ll soon welcome to the Grand Canyon Synod.
“Freedom of a Christian: Reclaiming the Gospel for Justice” features the Rev. Dr. Carmelo Santos, PhD, our 2026 Fall Gathering speaker. A theologian, pastor and author of A Liberation Theology of the Brain, Dr. Santos explores a foundational Lutheran theological idea: Christian freedom, and how the freedom we receive in Christ calls us beyond ourselves and into loving service of our neighbors.
Watching the webinar offers a particularly timely opportunity for Grand Canyon Synod leaders to encounter Dr. Santos and his theological perspective ahead of our Fall Gathering.
The May webinar, “Naming White Supremacy in Lutheranism,” begins the series by examining white supremacy within the church and introducing resources for pursuing justice, accountability and beloved community.
Watch the first two webinars:
Naming White Supremacy in Lutheranism
Freedom of a Christian: Reclaiming the Gospel for Justice
The series continues with three upcoming webinars:
September 8, 2026: “Dismantle: Using the Devotional in Congregational Life”
November 10, 2026: “Now is the Time: Living Into Our Church’s Declarations and Statements”
January 12, 2027: “Commemorating the Emanuel Nine and George Floyd: Sacred Memory as Call to Action”
Congregations and leaders across the Grand Canyon Synod are encouraged to use these recordings and upcoming conversations for individual learning, leadership development and congregational discussion.