Racial Justice

ELCA Anti-Racism Pledge
As church we are called to confess the sin of racism, condemn the ideology of white supremacy and strive for racial justice and peace. Beyond statements and prayers, we are also called to act and respond to injustices. We invite you to sign the pledge and commit to anti-racist actions at ELCA.org

Immanuel is following the Holy Spirit's calling to be actively involved in the Biblical calling to work for Justice. 

Three workgroups are focusing on different areas of justice:

1. Racial Justice: Advocacy
2. Racial Justice: Justice Awareness
3. Racial Justice Statement

What Can we Do?

June 2, 2020

Many of you in the community have reached out to me in the past week asking, “What can we do?” There have been some immediate needs for response and many of you have helped with those needs. Thank you. However, I have a bigger answer to that question that has been forming in my mind over the weekend. Many of you are not going to like what I have to say. I’m ok with that. I urge you to read what I have to say. Its ok to be uncomfortable. I am uncomfortable today.

This need to solve the problems and tragedies that we encounter in life is very real. It gives us a sense of control over that which we cannot control, and in many cases, eases our feelings of guilt (which are quite often unnamed feelings). If you are asking, “What can we do?” so that you can say, “I did my part,” and move on then I question your motives as guilt response. “What can we do?” in this case goes so much deeper and requires so much more work than donating clean up supplies. Please hear me when I say that, yes, those supplies are needed, but we can’t stop there. The bigger issues that have brought about this lament in our city will not be solved by my donation of a case of water bottles. In some cases, it feeds the white savior complex under which many of us operate: I can solve your problems with my solutions.

This past weekend in worship we celebrated the fire and winds of Pentecost and the new life the Holy Spirit brought the church thousands of years ago. I am hopeful that the Holy Spirit is still working and moving in our lives and that when the Spirit blows the result is change. Transformation of systems that are hundreds of years old begins with transformation in our individual hearts. My prayer is that you and I will be open to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, so that we can do the work of transformation in the wider world.

Transformation begins with listening. So listen. Our solutions are not working for the black community. I am challenged to listen and to try to understand and to not fall back on MY solutions to my neighbor’s cries for change. It occurred to me over the weekend that I was so drawn into the drama and chaos of the riots that I was forgetting why this is happening and what my black neighbors are asking for. I really had to dig to find out what the requests are from the black community. And to ask myself why these requests for change are being silenced. Justice for George Floyd is the catalyst that has sparked this movement. It is the tip of the iceberg. So I am challenged to continue to listen for the voices of black leaders who are calling out for systemic change. This is the time for us white bodied people to listen.

Here are my suggestions for listening:

• Stop. Stop trying to rationalize or theorize or jump to solutions. This is a difficult thing for us “fixers” to do. I know.

• Sit in that feeling of uncomfortableness. Ask yourself:
  • Why does this make me feel uncomfortable?
  • What am I afraid of? Is my fear probable or even rational?
  • Why is the Holy Spirit stirring my heart with uncomfortable-ness?

• Seek to understand. I have caught myself so many times over the past week thinking or saying, ”I don’t understand.”
  • Take ownership of the search for understanding.
  • Be curious rather than judgmental.
  • Although I can never fully understand the experiences of another person listening can help.

• Search out new sources for information (i.e. listen outside of your comfort zone). Ask:
  • Where do I agree with this information?
  • Where am I uncomfortable? (see questions above!)
  • What is the speaker/writer saying that I don’t understand?
  • How can I grow in my understanding? (read, watch, listen)

• Resist the urge to solve. When you go into problem solving mode check yourself. Listen for the solutions that our black neighbors are asking us to support. Sometimes it is hard to hear the solutions without judgement. Now is the time to make yourself do that.

If I haven’t lost you yet, I want to point you in the direction of some resources that have helped me try to understand which are listed below. There will be a time to “act” – and that will look different for each person. I am trying to be patient and listen for guidance from the communities that are suffering each day. Community organizers have also been thrown into this without a plan or without time to formulate a plan. I urge you to take this “in between” time to listen. To be uncomfortable. To let the Holy Spirit work in your transformation.

Let Justice roll on like a river (Amos 5:24)

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Resources to Support the Minneapolis Protests. This is a widely shared Google document, which also means that is it “live”. Things change on this document so if you are serious about learning bookmark this page and come back to it regularly. You could spend hours following every link and reading every article.

Anti-Racism Resources for White People. This is a great compilation of books, movies, articles, podcasts and more – practice listening to these brilliant voices.

MPD150 – A People’s Project Evaluating Policing. I can guarantee that for most of us this is a new way of thinking and will challenge you. It is important work in the community and includes a lot of information about what the black community in Minneapolis is asking for in terms of change: MPD150