Our Mission:  Toward Racial Justice seeks to actively encourage, empower, and equip members of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the ELCA in and for the faith-based Gospel call to racial justice.

Region 8 of the ELCA’s Racial Justice Training

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Trainings in areas of “Racial Justice and Healing”, “LGBTQIA+ Inclusion/Reconciling in Christ”, “Civic Engagement” and more are offered through Lower Susquehanna Synod’s partnership with Kindling Faith. Workshop calendar and registration is available HERE. Contact Assistant to the Bishop for Justice Ministry, Rev. Carla Christopher, with additional support needs or to schedule a training.

ELCA Resources

ELCA Racial Justice Resources

  • “God’s Faithfulness on the Journey” A collection of narratives by rostered women of color
  • “One Body, Many Members” A resource designed to equip congregations to reach out and fully welcome individuals whose race, culture and class is different than their own.
  • “Troubling the Waters for Healing the Church” A resource for white congregation members on white privilege and the history of an exclusive church.
  • “Now Is The Time” Study Guide for ELCA Declaration to People of African Descent

Global Mission Resources

  • Breaking Down Walls Toolkit
  • Glocals and Worship Faith Formation Resources
  • International Women’s Day Booklet and Bulletin Insert

Race, Ethnicity, and Culture Social Statement

  • Freed in Christ; Race, Ethnicity and Culture (ELCA Social Statement)
  • Freed in Christ Study Guide

Cross Cultural Conversations

  • Talking Together as Christians Cross-culturally: A Field Guide
  • Talking Together as Christians about Tough Social Issues

Women of the ELCA Racial Justice Advocacy

  • Historical Timeline on Race Relations
  • Listening to the Third Slave; A Bible Study
  • How to Have Helpful Conversations About Race in the Church

Upstate NY Synod Racial Justice Resources (Empathy activity and Birmingham/MLK activity)

NTNL Synod Racial Justice Resources (Level Playing Field activity, sermons, and video section)

Living Lutheran: Graceful Engagement (A racial justice activist and an LGBTQIA+ activist talk about intersectionality)

Using a Racial Equity Scorecard for Policy and Programs | Bread for the World

Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation | Bread for the World

Lament and Hope: A Free Year-Long Devotional Reflecting on the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and It’s Effects – Flipbook

Dialogues On Race

Speaking from the Heart: Embodied Blessing and Healing | Day of Lament Against anti-Asian Racism

ELCA Racial Justice

ELCA issues declaration to American Indian and Alaska Native people

Secular Resources

Implicit Bias 101

Implicit Bias and Its Actual Effects

Can We Change Implicit Bias by Creating Healthier Community Culture

Videos to Help Understand Systemic Racism

A Downloadable White Privilege Checklist

Articles Around How To Be A Supportive Ally

For White Allies in Search of a Solution to American Racism / When Folks of Color Are Exhausted

Commit to anti-racist action

Conversation Roadblocks and How to Surmount Them

The 4 Habits of Inclusive Leadership

The Anti-Racism Starter Pack: 40 books, films, TED talks, and articles to start conversations

A Link Hub of Anti-Racism 101 Resources and Current Action Items

Literature

Clint Smith III – How The Word Is Passed

Michael Eric Dyson – Tears We Cannot Cry

Heather McGee – The Sum of Us

Drew G. I. Hart – Trouble I’ve Seen

Ibram X. Kendi – How To Be An Anti-Racist

Ibram X. Kendi/Keisha Blain – Four Hundred Souls

Emmanuel Acho – Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man

Ijeoma Oluo – So You Want To Talk About Race

Simran Jeet Singh – The Light We Give

Wajahat Ali – Go Back To Where You Came From

Kamau Bell – The Awkward Thoughts of…

Nikole Hannah-Jones – 1619 Project

Austin Channing Brown – I’m Still Here

Cole Arthur Riley’s – This Here Flesh

Videos