New Racial Justice Learning Cohorts Offer Support, Community, and Practical Tools for 2025

Four national Racial Justice Learning Cohorts begin in January, offering pastors, church councils, youth leaders, and synod staff an 8-week, faith-rooted space to learn and grow in justice work without guilt or shame. Created and led by racial justice educator David Scherer (AGAPE)*, these weekly noon gatherings focus on real-life ministry challenges, biblical grounding, and developmentally appropriate tools for leading change in polarized times. Early-bird registration ends Dec. 1. Flyers and registration links for all four cohorts are included.

Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardNovember 21, 2025Racial JusticeComment

Bishop Eaton: Juneteenth and the Tuskegee Airmen

On Juneteenth Day, we celebrate the end of slavery and the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. But that freedom granted to all enslaved people in 1865 was short-lived. In her video, Bishop Eaton recalls the stark differences experienced by White American soldiers, like her father, and African American soldiers after World War II.

“Like my father, after the war, the Tuskegee Airmen came home to start families and build a life. However, despite their sacrifices, despite wearing the same uniform and flying the same missions, they were denied the benefits of the GI Bill because they were African American. This is white supremacy.” Watch the video on YouTube here, download at bit.ly/4eapi9h.

Bishop Eaton, ELCA, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 19, 2025Juneteenth, Racial Justice, Bishop Eaton LettersComment

Office Closed Today in Observance of Juneteenth

In honor of Juneteenth, the Office of the Bishop is closed today, June 19, 2025. We mark this federal holiday with reverence, commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. and recommitting ourselves to racial justice. Join us in a prayer for liberation and healing.

Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 19, 2025Juneteenth, Racial JusticeComment

June 17: Marking Ten Years Since the Martyrdom at Mother Emanuel

June 17 marks the 10th anniversary of the murder of the Emanuel Nine—nine Black disciples gathered for Bible study at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. The ELCA commemorates this day as a time of repentance and renewed commitment to racial justice. Resources are available for use in worship, study, and personal reflection. Click here to explore materials and read the full remembrance from Presiding Bishop Eaton.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJune 18, 2025Emanuel 9, Racial JusticeComment

Bishop Eaton: Emanuel Nine 10th Anniversary Remembrance, June 17, 2025

In observance of the 10th anniversary of the tragic shooting of nine martyrs at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, Bishop Eaton calls on us to “lament the wounds of the sin of racism that sow seeds of fear, division, and hatred. Remembering the nine murders in Charleston is a commitment that our church must never forget. As the ELCA, our story is forever bound to the story, people, and community of Mother Emanuel AME. They are us, and we are them.” Watch the video here, download: https://bit.ly/4dXdmrx

ELCA, News, Bishop EatonBrian FlatgardJune 11, 2025Emanuel 9, Bishop Eaton Letters, Racial JusticeComment

Book Study Amplifies Voices of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Join Region 2 Lutherans on June 5 at 6:30 p.m. MST for a powerful book study on Where They Last Saw Her by Marcie R. Rendon. Hosted by Women of the ELCA, this conversation will focus on how we as church can accompany Indigenous communities and respond to the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIW). Register now and be part of this faith-rooted call to action.

A Message from Bishop Eaton for the Fifth Anniversary of George Floyd’s Murder

May 25, 2025 marks the fifth anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. In her message to the church honoring George Floyd, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton calls our attention to how this “horrific act revealed the deadly reality of racism in the United States for many across the world.” Eaton stresses that “racism is one of many tools of white supremacy and a sin that distorts God’s image in all of us, and it stands against the Gospel we proclaim.”

Bishop Eaton, ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardMay 19, 2025Racial Justice, Bishop Eaton LettersComment

Marking the Anniversaries of George Floyd and the Emanuel Nine with Prayer and Reflection

As we approach the 5th anniversary of George Floyd’s murder (May 25) and the 10th anniversary of the Emanuel Nine (June 17), the ELCA offers worship resources to support congregational prayer, remembrance, and action. These include special collects and petitions for use in services on the Sundays nearest each date.

We are invited to remember the lives lost, confess the church’s complicity in racism, and recommit to justice through our worship and witness. Click here to view the full article and download the prayers.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardMay 12, 2025ELCA Worship, Racial JusticeComment

Join Us in Honoring the Emanuel Nine: A Call to Reflection and Justice

Join White Lutherans for Racial Justice and ELCA Racial Justice Ministries for a national online gathering on Thursday, May 15, from 4:30–6:00 p.m. Arizona / Pacific Time, to honor the Emanuel Nine through learning, reflection, and action. This 90-minute event offers inspiration and practical tools for deepening your congregation’s commitment to racial justice. Register here.

Let Us Be Changed: What Arab American Heritage Offers the Church

In honor of Arab American Heritage Month, ELCA Racial Justice Ministries is uplifting voices from Arab and Middle Eastern descent within the church. In My Take: We Are Not Newcomers, Khader Khalilia shares a powerful reflection on the deep faith, hospitality, and history of Arab Christians—and calls us to move beyond celebration to true belonging. Let us not just observe a month; let us be transformed by the witness of Arab American Lutherans. Click here to read the full post at ELCA.org.

May 5 Is MMIW Awareness Day: Honoring and Advocating Together

May 5 is National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s (MMIW) Awareness Day—a time to honor the lives of Indigenous women, girls, and relatives who have gone missing or been murdered at alarmingly high rates. In line with the ELCA’s Declaration to American Indian and Alaska Native People, congregations are invited to wear red, host prayer vigils, include MMIWGR in worship, and build relationships with local Indigenous leaders and musicians. Click here to learn more and access resources from the ELCA.

From Lament to Hope: ELCA Leaders Reflect at Montgomery Racial Justice Retreat

In honor of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Dr. Robin Lauermann reflects on a recent ELCA Association of White Lutherans for Racial Justice board retreat in Montgomery, Alabama. The group visited the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, deepening their understanding of white supremacy’s legacy and the call to faithful advocacy. Stories of injustice and resilience, like that of Anthony Ray Hinton, challenge and inspire us as people of faith. Click here to read the full reflection.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardMarch 26, 2025Racial Justice, ELCA Racial Justice MinistriesComment

Dismantle: An Anti-White Supremacy Lenten Devotional

ELCA Racial Justice share this devotional, created in response to the call of the 2019 Churchwide Assembly to condemn white supremacy and racist rhetoric. As you journey through Lent, this resource will challenge you and bring you closer to the radical neighbor-love that Christ demands in the Gospels.

Still Black. Still Lutheran: Confronting the Challenges of Leadership in the ELCA

In honor of Black History Month, ELCA Racial Justice Ministries is amplifying the voices of African Descent Lutherans, highlighting the ongoing challenges Black women face in ministry and leadership. In Still Black. Still Lutheran, Nicolette Peñaranda reflects on the systemic barriers that Black women encounter within the ELCA and broader professional spaces. As we celebrate Black history, Peñaranda calls on congregations to move beyond conversation into action—watching Talks at the Desk, engaging with discussion guides, and committing financial support to Black-led ministries. Read more to explore the realities and ways to create lasting change.

ELCA, News, LettersBrian FlatgardFebruary 6, 20252025 Black History Month, Racial Justice, ELCA Racial Justice MinistriesComment

Join the Movement: ELCA’s 2025 National Day of Racial Healing Event

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, the ELCA will host a free online event from 9am-1pm MST, 8am-noon PST, featuring worship, workshops, music, and guided reflection. Centering the voices of ELCA leaders of color, the event seeks to raise awareness of the need for racial healing and inspire collective action toward justice and equity. Open to all ELCA members and partners, this event aligns with the work of Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation. Visit ELCA.org/NDORH to learn more and register today!

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJanuary 13, 2025Racial JusticeComment

Join Us in Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy at Our Celebration of Diversity

Save the date for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration of Diversity on Sunday, January 19, 2025, from 3-5 pm in each respective time zone. Hosted at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe, with Bishop Yehiel Curry preaching (watch live on King of Glory’s YouTube channel or at kogaz.org/watch), and Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Las Vegas with a keynote from Elder Ender Austin, III (COGIC), this event invites us to come together to honor Dr. King’s legacy of justice, love, and unity. Join us as we celebrate our shared mission for equality and diversity within our faith community.

Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardJanuary 13, 2025Racial Justice, MLKComment

Join the Movement: ELCA’s 2025 National Day of Racial Healing Event

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, the ELCA will host a free online event from 9am-1pm MST, 8am-noon PST, featuring worship, workshops, music, and guided reflection. Centering the voices of ELCA leaders of color, the event seeks to raise awareness of the need for racial healing and inspire collective action toward justice and equity. Open to all ELCA members and partners, this event aligns with the work of Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation. Visit ELCA.org/NDORH to learn more and register today!

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJanuary 8, 2025Racial JusticeComment

See Me, Believe Me: A New Call to Authentic Allyship in Our Congregations

In See Me, Believe Me: A Guide to Deepen Allyship With Congregational Leaders of Color, Pastor Yolanda Denson-Byers calls the ELCA community to step into true allyship. Through powerful stories and practical steps, this new book addresses the unique challenges BIPOC leaders face in predominantly white congregations and invites white allies to engage in courageous, anti-racist action. Denson-Byers’s reflections challenge us to go beyond performative support and commit to the “soul work” of allyship. Discover how See Me, Believe Me can be a transformative resource for congregations in Living Lutheran.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 5, 2024Living Lutheran, Racial JusticeComment

Facing Our Past: Churches Take Responsibility for Indian Boarding School Harm

November is Native American Heritage Month—a time for learning, honoring, and reflecting on the rich contributions of Indigenous communities. This month, ELCA’s Racial Justice Ministries is spotlighting events that call us toward truth and healing. Join online discussions on church accountability for Indian boarding schools, reflect on Vine Deloria Jr.’s work at the Theological Symposium, and, for those able, participate in the National Day of Mourning in Plymouth, Mass., to stand with Indigenous communities. Learn more about how we can walk together toward justice and understanding.

Truth, Healing, and Reflection: Indigenous Heritage Month in the ELCA

November is Native American Heritage Month—a time for learning, honoring, and reflecting on the rich contributions of Indigenous communities. This month, ELCA’s Racial Justice Ministries is spotlighting events that call us toward truth and healing. Join online discussions on church accountability for Indian boarding schools, reflect on Vine Deloria Jr.’s work at the Theological Symposium, and, for those able, participate in the National Day of Mourning in Plymouth, Mass., to stand with Indigenous communities. Learn more about how we can walk together toward justice and understanding.

News, ELCABrian FlatgardNovember 4, 2024Racial Justice, ELCA Racial Justice Ministries, American Indian and Alaska NativeComment

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