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.
Read MoreWhy 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.
Read MoreIn 2014, during the lead-up to the commemoration of the Reformation’s 500th anniversary, a group of African descent Lutheran theologians gathered to explore and reflect on Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. While affirming the catechism’s gift in the life of the church, they recognized the importance of broadening its explanations of Christian faith to address the experience of Lutherans of African descent.
Read MoreBefore going into the story of my racial justice work, let us take a detour and consider how becoming Lutheran was part of my overall journey of integration as a former refugee.
I was born in Burundi and resettled in Fargo, N.D., in fall 1998 through Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota.
Read MoreThis week, Bishop Eaton shares some of the rich contributions of Black Lutheran history.
Read MoreKen Wheeler wrote a reflection concerning Black Lutheran saints on “whose shoulders I stand.” He identified three pioneers of this church—Nelson Trout, Will Herzfeld and Rudolph Featherstone—who greatly inspired him and his vocation. Here is a closer look at the contributions of these saints.
Read MoreBlack History Month was the idea of African American historian Carter G. Woodson in the absence of a thorough picture of the contributions of African Americans to the larger American story.
The significance of this month ought not just be embraced by those of us who are African American. The history should be important to all of us. As an African American Lutheran pastor, I think of those Black Lutheran saints on whose shoulders I stand.
Read MoreLutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) offers virtual events each week of Black History Month to touch the mind, body and spirit through worship, academic discussions, poetry, artwork, and song. All events are open to the public with registration to receive the Zoom links.
Read MoreBaltimore is home to Johns Hopkins University, renowned for its hospitals, clinics and research facilities. But despite their proximity, some of the city’s African American residents have struggled to fight the coronavirus pandemic, said Louis R. Tillman IV, pastor of St. Philip Evangelical Lutheran Church in East Baltimore.
Throughout the pandemic, the historic African-descent congregation has ensured that masks and other safety items reach anyone in need.
Read MoreIn the first decades of the 20th century, African Americans faced grinding poverty and harsh racial restrictions. Many African American leaders fought against these evils and worked to bring justice to their communities.
One such leader was Rosa Young of Alabama, whose drive and determination enabled her to spearhead the development of Black Lutheranism in the South.
Read MoreAs 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.
Read MoreDr. Myisha Cherry presents “Racialized Forgiveness,” in which she explores how we can practice forgiveness differently.
February 16, 2021, 2:20pm-1:20pm MST, 11:20am-12:20pm, PST. Registration Link: tinyurl.com/HSClecture (free lecture, but registration in advance is required).
Read MoreI ask you consider what our church is missing when all the members of God’s world are not represented in our church. We are not whole when our church becomes a wall to our neighbor.
We are created in God’s image, and to see the pageant of humanity around the globe is a way to glimpse God.
Read MoreCal Lutheran’s Fifty and Better program is commemorating Black History Month by hosting two lectures.
On Saturday, February 6th, Daniel Newman-Lessler will survey the lives and music of Black composers from all over the world, and on Saturday, February 13th, Eleanor Schrader will explore the career of Paul Williams, “Architect to the Stars.” Register here.
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