White Lutherans for Racial Justice

The ELCA marks June 17 as the feast of the Emanuel Nine, martyrs. They were murdered in cold blood by a Lutheran and self-professed white supremacist after they had welcomed him into their Bible study.

We mourn the loss of these nine souls. We confess our complicity in the systems and ideologies that allowed the killer to commit this act.

This litany of confession is adapted from the work of Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown in the African Descent Lutheran Association report from 2022:https://elcamediaresources.blob.core.windows.net/cdn/wp-content/uploads/African_Descent_Ministries_Annual_Report_2022.pdf

Board Member Rev. Dr. Joy McDonald Coltvet opens our June newsletter (out today!) with a reflection on Mark 4:30-31 as a way to ground us in this work.

Read the full thing here: https://mailchi.mp/0f6d9dce5a09/june-updates-from-the-association-of-white-lutherans-for-racial-justice

The ELCA's 2026 National Day of Racial Healing event, "An Evening of Centering Multicultural Voices," remains an amazing resource for your small group, Bible study, racial equity team, etc. If you're interested in engaging with your people on the topics of equity, inclusion, story-telling, or racial justice, these videos are for you.

You can access the recordings and reflection guides at https://www.elca.org/org-events/2026-national-day-of-racial-healing

Happy Pride! 🌈

We affirm that NOTHING can separate our LGBTQIA+ siblings from the love of God.

This image features the Q***r People of Color Pride flag. The Human Rights Campaign notes, "The Q***r People of Color Flag appeared at San Francisco Pride in 2019, but rose to prominence in 2020 during the Black Lives Matter Protests. While the designer and original year are unknown, the flag signifies how the struggle for racial equality and q***r equality often intersect. It also honors the many QPOC that have spent their lives fighting for both q***r and racial equity."

The Truth Seeking & Truth Telling Initiative on Indian Boarding Schools is hoping to expand to all synods and all 50 states in 2026. Visit tstti.org to support its work to ensure "members throughout the ELCA know[] and claim[] our complicity in the history of church-sponsored Indian boarding schools and these schools’ deliberate, devastating impacts on Native people and their communities, then and now."

One of our new Board members shares WHY he is involved with the Association and the work to dismantle white supremacy.

Check out the rest of his reflection here: https://mailchi.mp/48e9ccedd9e6/may-2026-updates-from-the-association-of-white-lutherans-for-racial-justice

Today, ELCA colleagues are joining with leaders in Minneapolis to honor the 6th angelversary of George Floyd, who on this day in 2020 was murdered by police.

For many White people, the murder of George Floyd was a wake-up call and a call to action in the struggle against police brutality and for racial justice. How has George's legacy shaped your life and witness?

SO MANY of you liked our post on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Day. Hello to our new followers!

We have good news: The work to end the epidemic of violence against Indigenous women isn't confined to one day. You can engage in learning and advocacy about this all year long! Here are some suggested resources from the ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations team: https://tinyurl.com/MMIWDContinues

Help out our friends at ELCA Racial Justice Ministries by completing a brief survey about our Church's racial justice resources (studies, liturgies, etc.). Access the survey here: https://tinyurl.com/TakeRJMSurvey

Our May drop-in gathering is coming up this Tuesday!

Register today to let us know you'll be there: https://tinyurl.com/MayDropIn