03/26/2015

ELCA presiding bishop continues call for conversation on racial equity

CHICAGO (ELCA) – Citing recent events across the United States, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), noted that “we are not living in a post-racial society.” In a March 25 letter and video message to the 3.8 million-member church, Eaton expressed the need for conversation – not only among Lutherans but “all Americans” – about racism in “honest and productive ways.”

“I know it’s difficult to talk about race because too many Americans do not want to believe racism still exists in our country,” Eaton said. “Yet, as always, Christ promises to be alongside us, even in the most difficult of times, working for our reconciliation. Because of God’s promise, we can and must have a deep, honest and even painful conversation about racism.”

In her letter and video, Eaton commends a list of resources and background materials to help the nearly 10,000 congregations of the ELCA to engage “in this important conversation.”

The full text of the letter is available at http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Bishop_Message_RacialJustice.pdf and a video message at http://youtu.be/9YuMSc6XlzA.