White Lutherans for Racial Justice and ELCA Racial Justice Ministries invite you to a time of learning, reflection, and action as we prepare to honor the Emanuel Nine. Come be inspired to deepen your congregation’s commitment to racial justice.
Thursday, May 15, 2025 6:30-8 pm Central
To register, click: here
May 5 is National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s (MMIW) Awareness Day.
In 2021, as a follow-up to the 2016 Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, the ELCA Church Council adopted the Declaration to American Indian and Alaska Native People by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It reads, in part:
“…We commit to advocacy for and being in solidarity with Tribal Nations, MMIWGR organizations, families, and friends who have gone missing or who have been murdered.
“Indigenous women and girls go missing at a much higher rate than any other group in the United States. Indigenous men also disappear at a higher rate than other males. There are 2 foci in this commitment. One is advocacy. Tribes, states, and the US government can and should pass legislation to coordinate work to alleviate the problem. The second focus is relational. Synod leaders can establish relationships with Tribal Nations, express solidarity, help with prevention, with search and rescue, with comforting the anxious and bereaved. Congregations can, as well.”
How to honor MMIW Awareness Day (May 5) in your congregation:
This resource guide provides an extensive list of resources that you and your community can use to learn more about MMIW & ways to take action! To download, click HERE.
For information on MMIW events for 2025, click here and scroll down to upcoming events. For more information on Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations of the ELCA, please visit: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org) and Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org)
ELCA Racial Justice Ministries and ELCA African Descent Ministries invites you to join us at the Rise & Remember Festival in Minneapolis, MN. The 3-day, annual event “exists to hold in remembrance George Floyd and those we have lost unjustly to the pervasive impacts of systemic racism. Activities focus on education, empowerment, healing, celebration, and our collective pursuit for racial justice and equity.”
We hope you will join us for the gospel concert and candlelight vigil on Sunday, May 25. We will meet in front of Calvary Lutheran Church (clchurch.org) at 5 pm.
If you plan to attend, please let us know by completing this short, 6-question survey: https://forms.office.com/r/d3ZW4T7iWs
Indian people have unique and beautiful ways of understanding the world. Indigenous wisdom – as it relates to living in relationship with the Creator, Mother Earth and other created beings – should be centered if we want to provide better care for our home and all our relatives. Indigenous Thought & Theology introduces participants to this wisdom and examines Indigenous ways of understanding, respecting and interacting with this wondrous world we inhabit.
No pre-registration is required to participate. Just click “join the class” to attend.
Class: Indigenous Thought & Theology
2 – 4 p.m. Central time
Presented by Vance Blackfox
For more information:
The Truth & Healing Movement: Truth & Healing Movement – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations: Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
In May, we celebrate National AAPI Heritage Month. The Asian and Pacific Islander Ministries of the ELCA, in conjunction with the Minneapolis Area Synod, the St. Paul Area Synod, and their API leaders will be hosting a 4-person panel on Thursday, May 23 at 7pm to discuss the joys and challenges of being API. The panel will be live streamed on zoom and you can log on by clicking here.
For more information about this event contact: Pastor Jenn @ jennluong426@gmail.com
For more information on ELCA API Ministries, visit: Asian and Pacific Islander – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org) and Association of Asians and Pacific Islanders of the ELCA