On November 21st our Delaware-Maryland Synod Council participated in Racial Justice training focused on understanding racism in ourselves, the country and the Lutheran Church; understanding our role as leaders in our Synod to help end racism; plus exploring resources and potential action steps to move the Synod towards being anti-racist. It was a jam backed three hours of establishing common language and definitions, exploring national data and history on race, learning about church and Lutheran history in fighting and promoting racism. Throughout the training, council and staff had the opportunity to meet in small groups and share our own experiences of racism or white privilege as well as discuss steps the council could take to move our Synod toward authentic diversity.

One of the many valuable resources was the ELCA Strategy for Authentic Diversity that sets out a strategic plan of actions that calls for work in Healing Action, Structural Accountability, Theological Education and Leadership, and Ecumenical and Interreligious Partnerships. Our council will be reading this document and discerning the ways it can inform and inspire us to set up steps that will lead us to authentic diversity in our future. As we closed our time together, we talked about how valuable the training was in enlightening us, urging us to be vulnerable, and considering how racism and white fragility shape our selves, our congregations, our systems and nation. John Auger, our Synod VP, said this: “The recent Council and Staff racial justice training is a start on a journey within our Council leaders to a new and better place in our Synod and beyond. The training opened our eyes to the many issues that we need to help resolve and make positive progress on, each day, week, month and year, as we work to bring love and dignity to all God’s children.”  Not easy conversations but faith filled conversations, calling us into the way of Christ Jesus to seek justice, community, and love.

A bit more about our Synod’s Racial Justice Ministry Team: The Racial Justice Ministry Team seeks to raise awareness about racism and to support congregations who are ready to take actions towards dismantling racism. Over the Summer the team offered a variety of Listen & Learn About Racism sessions, partnered with CLAIM on a series of book studies called Critical Conversations exploring books by Ijeoma Oluo, Ibram X. Kendi and Pastor Lenny Duncan. In October, the team started hosting a movie-a-month, where they facilitate a faith-based discussion about a movie that delves into a racial justice issue or story. We will be watching “Do The Right Thing” in December. To get detailed information about participating in a movie discussion, click here to sign up for the Racial Justice Events and Activities mailing list. The team has also produced a Yard Sign that says “Think, Pray and Act to End Racism”. The signs have an option to include your Congregation’s logo in addition to the Synod logo. Click here to see a sample and place an order. To access even more resources and information check out the Racial Justice Ministry Team webpage.