EDINA COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
ECLC RACIAL JUSTICE STATEMENT
Racial injustice continues to thrive in our country and communities. Our Christian response is to walk in solidarity with people of color, because standing silent sanctions continued violence. We recognize that those who are white are intertwined in a network of unearned privilege. We, as a congregation, are compelled to advocate for racial justice. We invite other congregations to join together in expressing their commitments to live out our shared faith—active in love—in the struggle for equity and justice.
Approved at ECLC’s Annual Meeting on February 5, 2017, during which the congregation made a commitment toward racial justice.
RACIAL JUSTICE JOURNEY
In February of 2021 over 250 ECLC members participated in a shared Racial Justice Journey. The first stage of the journey was led by Joanne K. Reeck, founder and lead trainer of United for Changing Consulting, LLC. With over 15 years of experience as a diversity, equity, and inclusion facilitator, Ms. Reeck is not only a sought-after DEI consultant, but also the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. See below to learn about the goals of our journey together as a beloved community. Click here to view specifics about this training.
RESOURCES
WHETHER YOU’RE JUST STARTING YOUR JOURNEY INTO RACIAL JUSTICE WORK OR HAVE BEEN A RACIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR FOR YEARS, CLICK ON THIS LINKS BELOW FOR RESOURCES THAT PROVIDE A CURRENT FRAMEWORK FOR DOING THIS WORK.
CASH BAIL
The ECLC Cash Bail Team works to reform the cash bail system in Minnesota
with the goal of systemic equity
Click here to explore the team’s plans, learn more about ECLC’s mission partner,
Minnesota Freedom Fund (mnfreedomfund.org), and see where you can help
CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF RESOURCES ABOUT PRETRIAL DETENTION & CASH BAIL
2020 RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY STATEMENT
With our sibling congregation Redeemer Lutheran Church, Edina Community Lutheran Church
affirms their statement and recommits to standing in solidarity with communities across Minneapolis:
“With our partners from Redeemer Lutheran Church and Redeemer Center for Life in North Minneapolis, Edina Community Lutheran Church grieves and stands in solidarity with George Floyd, his family, friends, and the South Minneapolis community, and we condemn police brutality in all its forms across the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and the United States. We long for justice and remain committed to building God's Beloved Community in our church, neighborhood, city, and world.”
Adopted by Redeemer, June 2020
and affirmed by ECLC’s Council of Ministers, June 2020
LINK: HISTORY OF RACIAL JUSTICE WORK AT ECLC
ECLC has a long history of being involved in many forms of justice work (i.e. LGBTQIA, EcoFaith, Gun Violence, and Racial Justice). This link provides a history of the our involvement in racial justice specifically.
PARTNER CHURCHES IN RACIAL JUSTICE WORK
(THESE LINKS WILL TAKE YOU OFF THE ECLC WEBSITE)
Redeemer Lutheran Church in the Harrison Neighborhood of North Minneapolis
St. Paul’s Lutheran in the Phillips Neighborhood of South Minneapolis
Cristo De Paz Lutheran Church in El Salvador
ECLC CONTACTS
Racial Justice Action and Advocacy Committee: Guiding ECLC toward becoming an anti-racist congregation. Called by our faith, we challenge ourselves and our entire community to acknowledge white supremacy and engage in anti-racist actions that help dismantle systemic racism. (Contact: Lauren Morse-Wendt)
Racial Justice Vision Committee: This committee seeks to live out ECLC’s Racial Justice Statement and help embed racial justice as a core value in every aspect of our daily ministry together. (Contact: Lauren Morse-Wendt)